Setting of a Story

Give the setting of a story due respect...

Take a moment and think back to the great children's stories you’ve read and consider the story setting...

Ah, what an interesting and curious world!

The setting of a story contributes a lot to the readers’ experience. When you’re reading a mystery novel, you look at everything in the setting for clues. When you’re reading a horror story, the setting practically becomes the second main character. And imagine what Hogwarts from the Harry Potter series would be like without the magic…what an appalling thought!

Every setting has something to contribute to the story. What type of story are you creating? How can you change the story setting to cater to the purpose of your story?

Although there are many possibilities, here are some suggestions:

• The Weather - Do you want a swampy fog or a scorching dry hot air? How about rain or flooding avalanches?

• The Stink - The spring fragrant or smell of a rotting corpse under the floorboard?
• Light - The subliminal messages that you can add with light and dark story settings.
• Storybook Homes - The sweets-made edible home Hansel and Gretel discovered is the ultimate storybook home, hands down. But don’t forget the castles/dungeons!
• Time Frame – Are you planning a time piece (medieval, modern, future) or a out of reality time frame (mixing a time period…).
• The World (sfx: dun dun dunn) – What kind of world would you create? It’s all up to your imagination and the sky isn’t the limit ;).

What other elements of your setting can you adjust for your story? Strive towards your visionary world but remember not to create a wacky world just for the kick of it. If your story works with a plain setting, then use the plain setting.