A Bit More On Setting

The setting can set the tone of the story, but the tone must match the action. A Gothic horror story rarely takes place in a one-bedroom stone cottage by the sea. That’s not to say it couldn’t, but it would be more effective in a different sort of house. That’s not to say that you are locked into certain settings for a particular genre, but making your setting fit into the story just makes it work better.

Setting doesn’t have to be a simple backdrop. There are ways to use your setting to add suspense and conflict to your story. A snowstorm can make it hard to leave a dangerous situation. That adds tension and suspense to the story. A severe storm at sea can endanger a ship. These are just a few ideas on how to use your setting as a way to affect your story’s action.

Play with your setting. See if it is just a static backdrop or if it can add drama or even comedy to your story. If you can change the setting without changing the story, your setting is just a backdrop. If you have to change the story when you change the setting, you might be able to use your setting to affect your story’s action. If you have a hole in your plot, see if your setting can help you plug it. Sometimes all you need is a little bit of set to get in the way to make a story work. Have a character get into an accident because of icy or slippery conditions. Have a character be snowbound and unable to escape. I once had a character in a chase on the side of a mountain. Falling rocks can be a problem or a salvation. You never know what you can do unless you look hard at your setting. Have fun with your story’s location and see if it can solve a plot problem. Good luck.

About pebblepup

I am not one who is comfortable talking about myself but here goes. I enjoy writing, family history, and reading. I decided to do this blog because I wanted to try something new. I decided to make it a weekly blog because I wasn't sure that I could keep up with a daily one, and monthly seemed like I was writing a magazine. I think I did ok with my choices. You'll notice that there are not a lot of graphics on my site. That's because there are graphics plastered everywhere on the Internet and those sites sometimes take forever to load. This blog is a place where you can kick back, relax and be ready to be amused. At least I hope I willbamuse you. This blog is on a variety of subjects from my ficitional cat agency, the FFL, which is monthly, to instructional blogs to editorials, which are my opinions only. I admit that I don't know everything and could be wrong -- I frequently am. Now, stop reading about me and read what I have to say!