Setting is one of the key elements of any story not reliant on the story being fictional or non-fictional. Many writers believe a setting is merely a location but, in this simplistic definition, they fail to truly understand what a setting is. The setting of a story is, in fact, not just a location, but also everything that would define the location as a place in a way that would allow a reader to picture it clearly in his or her head. Actually going to the place that the writer plans to use for their setting is by far the best way to get the feel for the setting, especially if the setting is a town or city as opposed to a single location like a mall.

Town or City

One of the best reasons to travel to the setting when the setting is going to be more than a single location is to get a feeling for the locale and to talk to the locals themselves. Many towns and cities have places that are considered local places. These local places are generally restaurants or bars that are in out of the way places that a tourist would not normally wander into. These locations can best be found by just talking to the locals and asking if there are any great hole in the wall types of places around. When a writer includes these smaller local places in the setting, it makes the setting seem all the more real and can serve to get people who live in the area interested in the story.

What to Include

When a setting is a larger location, it is important for the writer to explain the whole setting in way that gives the reader a clear picture in his or her head. In order to accomplish this the writer needs to include descriptions of:

1. Local Restaurants

2. Local Shops

3. Local Events

4. Local Activities/Entertainment

5. Culture

6. Day/night Differences

7. People

These seven elements are the main descriptors that a writer needs to focus on in order to make a town or city feel like a fully fleshed out setting. If the writer does not include these seven elements in their story, then the setting of the book will likely feel smaller than it actually is as the reader will not get a feeling for everything that goes on in the setting.

Timing

While all of these seven elements should be included in the story by the writer, they do not all need to be included at once. Instead, they should be spread throughout the story so as not to overwhelm the reader all at once. The writer might begin by describing the town or city’s physical appearance as a character drives through, at a particular time. Then later, the writer might talk about the nightlife and some local events. The spreading out of the setting information will allow the reader to slowly learn more about the setting in a way that will intrigue instead of overwhelming them.