How to write a Setting!

For all of you who've followed the Building Blocks of Writing project, thank you!

As promised, here's a breakdown on the concept of settings!

1. What IS setting exactly?

Your setting is your backdrop. It essentially sets the tone, mood and overall atmosphere of whatever scene you're trying to write. Establishing this is important, since the first thing characters usually notice is where they are. Especially if it's a place they never been to before.

2. How to pick a setting

The good thing about a setting is that it can essentially be anywhere at anytime. But with so many possibilities, it might be pretty overwhelming to pick one. But there are several ways to narrow it down.

A. Think of what is going to happen in the scene. Let's say you're trying to write a scene where the characters go swimming. They could be at the beach or a pool. Or if they're going to go somewhere to eat, they could go to a restaurant, or go for a picnic out in the park. Be sure to give yourself choices!

B. Sometimes picking a setting isn't that easy and you have to give it a bit more thought. This rarely happens unless you haven't established where your story is taking place before you start. When writing a story, you should have a rough idea of where things are mapped out in your mind or written down. Especially if it's a long story. Readers will notice uncontinuity in distance, trust me. Being familiar with what genre you're writing also helps a lot.

C. Maybe you don't have a spacific event you need to happen, but maybe you want a certain tone instead. If you want a sadder tone, maybe the scene is set at a graveyard or on a rainy day. But if you want it to be happier, you should try a sunny day or a colorful place to match.

3. Actually writing a setting

A setting is very much like a character itself. It has to have personality in order to stand out. How is this done? Several ways:

A. Details: How would someone who's seeing this setting for the first time describe it? More often than not, this will be the case when introducing a new setting not seen in the book. Someone will always be seeing it for the first time. The reader. Always that the reader has to get absorbed in the world you created. Best way to do this is to incorporate the senses. What do they see? Hear? Smell? Feel?

B. How it's described: when a character describes a setting, they'll likely have a certain emotion towards it. If it's a place they've been to many times before, they'll describe it with familiarity. If it's brand new to them they likey describe it in awe if it's a spectacle or in disgust if it's something they're uncomfortable with. what i said about a setting being like a character? That's because different characters will act differently towards it's presentation.

C. Dont be afraid to compare!

Not all settings are easily explained through colors and shapes. Some are more abstract and out there and will require a bit more creative thinking. Some settings that are close to each other will drastically differ in tone and presentation. Comparing two settings is a good tactic, especially if a previous one was concidered the norm and the next is a drastic change.

4. Tips!

- Be careful not to describe to much or too little. It's easy to go overboard with details pages long about a place. Be sure to focus on the main aspects of the setting that matter to the story. At the same time, don't try to rush it. Just ask: "why am I adding this? Is this needed for the reader to understand or show how the character feels towards it?"

- Similes and metaphors are your friends.

Ex: " Her hands were cold like the snow that crested the edges of the windows."

They are good for adding unique variety when sometimes just saying the words is lackluster.

- WHO'S describing the setting. Different people notice different things!

Ex: "The forset was so green and lush. The shaded canopy of the oak trees really made me feel at peace. But Rebecca just complained about how many bugs there were."

- It's not cheating to look up pics on the web of settings to get an idea of how to write them. Go ahead! It helps!

I hope you found this guide helpful for writing settings! Did you like it? Not like it? Have stuff to add? Tell me in the comments below! I'd love to hear from you!

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