Where and when a story takes place is crucial for the reader’s enjoyment and understanding and provides a backdrop for the action. It creates atmosphere and sets the scene for the narrative.

Setting can also give an idea as to what genre the novel is. A gritty, urban setting lends itself to crime fiction, for example. A dark, misty environment suggests a ghost story. Historical novels, of course, must include authentic detail from the period in which they are set in and an imagined world far removed from reality denotes fantasy.

As a writer you should aim to draw your readers in using convincing description which enables them to see, hear, smell and taste each location, giving them a strong sense of place.

Tips for creating setting

• Research: If your story is set in a real place, or a fictional setting inspired by somewhere real, it’s vital to research that location. If possible, spend some time there, absorbing the sights, sounds and smells of the place. If you cannot get there physically, do so virtually, and read as widely as you can about the location.
• Use the senses: Even if your setting is entirely fictional, such as a fantasy world, use your imagination to immerse yourself in that world, experiencing it through all the senses.
• Use different perspectives: Describe your setting as though viewing it with a wide angle lens, then zoom in on minutae. Broad brush description with small detail woven in brings the location to life.
• Interweave setting and character: Think about your main characters in relation to the spaces they inhabit. Where are they most comfortable? What environment do they choose to spend time in? What objects do they surround themselves with?
• Create atmosphere: think about what mood you want to evoke and adjust your setting accordingly – eg dark or light, fair weather or foul.

Exercise 1

• Go back to your character from the last workshop, or choose a different character.
• Describe a room in your character’s home.
• What objects are in the room?
• Is the room messy, chaotic and cluttered, or minimalist and orderly? What is the decor like?
• What are the sights, smells and sounds of the room?
• Is there a window? What does it look out on?

Exercise 2

Choose one of the following settings:

• A market in your home country or abroad
• A teenager’s bedroom
• A bar
• A hair salon
• A city street
• A garden or yard

Describe someone entering the place. What are their emotions as they enter. What do they see, hear, smell, touch. How do they feel?

Exercise 3

Look at the image. Put yourself (or someone else) into the picture, imagining you are a character in the scene. Write about it from your character’s point of view.

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