Story Elements (Setting)

Where your story takes place is sometimes just as important as who is in it. In fact, some folks say that your setting is just another character, but remember, the where includes not only the location, but also the time and environment. Location can include the room they are in, the town, the region, the country, and in some cases, the entire world. Time involves time of day as well as time of year. When you consider the environment, remember to take into account the geography, culture, society, and weather.

We’ll tackle each of these now:

Location

Does the story take place in a small town or a large city? Is it a place we already know or will you have to describe everything?

Picking the right spot can affect the mood of the whole story. Consider the difference between a small, dark mining town, under the domination of a harsh taskmaster and a bright, airy townhouse in a skyscraper.

Time

Midnight in the middle of winter is different from morning in early spring but so is dinner on a fall evening. A story in 500 BC is going to be poles apart from one in the 19th century…and how different will the 23rd century be?

Again, the mood will change depending on time…early colonialism compared with interstellar exploration. What technologies will you be allowed to use, or even mention? Cell phones? Quill pens?

Also consider the passing of time throughout the story. Do we start in the Industrial Age and progress to visiting other planets? Or does the entire story take place in one afternoon? It makes a difference.

Environment

Are we on a beach? Or at the top of a mountain? Is it rainy or hot and dry? Do folks congregate socially? Or does the upper-class insist that the peons remain in their homes unless working?

How many folks live in this area? Are multiple families crammed into small apartments? Or do the children have to play with their siblings as the nearest neighbour is hundreds of miles away?

Do the characters hail from displaced natives? Or are they part of the conquering hoard?

World Building

If your story isn’t in a time or place that we all know, you may need to give descriptions that are more detailed. If your story takes place in a new and exciting world, one straight from your imagination, then you will need to spend some time fabricating everything before you even get started on the story (or stories!). Building a whole world can involve creating a new planet, a new city, a new society, even a new language. Maybe you will have to rewrite some laws of physics to make your story work.

Whatever it takes, spend some time creating a setting for your readers to enjoy.