Setting. It’s just that location in which your plot takes place, right?

Sort of.

Setting can be intrinsic to plot: your characters’ reactions to their surroundings show different depths of mood than just “telling” your readers how those characters feel. The setting can mimic the emotional state of the character, through storms or rainbows (so to speak, haha).

In the advice category, for new authors: choose a setting you could navigate with your eyes closed!

When I initially wrote Blessings I wanted to set the story in New Orleans. It seemed appropriate. Here’s the problem, though – I’ve never been to New Orleans. I haven’t even been to the entire state of Louisiana.

So, my novel was an uphill battle.

Until I tweaked the setting. Once I did that, and set the novel in Santa Barbara, where I attended University, the rest of the tale simply flowed.

I kept this in mind when I wrote the sequel. On a vacation as a teenager, I visited Galway, Ireland. So, Finola did as well in Damnation.

In the absence of first-hand knowledge of setting, it doesn’t hurt to either invent a location entirely, or choose a location that is very well known to someone to whom you can have daily access. Interviewing never hurts! 🙂

As authors, we craft a tale that consists of character, plot, AND setting. Don’t neglect the “where” in the story you tell.

Blessings, and happy Monday!