Quick Tips: How to Brainstorm & Research the Setting For Your Novel

The setting of a story should be treated with much attention as if it were a character in itself. Think of your favorite book--how would the plot differ if it were set in snowy mountains? Or in a dry desert? When a writer accurately portrays a believable setting for their novel, the reader becomes sucked into the story. This should be done in a way so that the story would not be the same if it were set in another location.

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For example: The setting is a crucial element in the movie The Titanic. It would be impossible to set that story in another location; the entire plot would unravel. People fall in love with books that present well-developed settings and story worlds. What would The Chronicles of Narnia be without Narnia? Or Anne of Green Gables without Green Gables? This is why us writers should never rush the process of brainstorming a setting.


So, when choosing a setting, ask yourself...

• What is the mood and theme of this story? What kind of setting—a small town, big city, another planet, etc.—would best portray this?
• How will the setting affect the plot of the story?
• Will I use a real location or invent one?
• What places—including my hometown—am I familiar with? Out of those, which one am I most passionate about?
• How can I weave symbolism into this setting?
• How does the setting influence who my protagonist is and what is his/her attitude toward this location?

Then, once you have chosen your setting, it's time to collect as much information as you can about this place--even if you've invented it. You should know it just as well as your characters do.  

Here's how you can research your setting: 

• Take a research trip (if feasible).
• Watch YouTube videos. Many times, people will give a “virtual tour” of a certain place. As you watch, pay close attention to the sights and sounds.
• Research the location and its history through various online resources. (Keep in mind, however, that some websites, such as Wikipedia, may not provide 100% accurate information.)
• Read books about the location, including memoirs.
• Read the online newspaper of the location.
• Find pictures via Pinterest. (Make sure to pin them to your storyboard as well!)
• Interview people who have a connection to the location.
• Research the city through www.areavibes.com. This website allows you to explore a location and discover its amenities, housing and neighborhoods, population, economics, crime, weather, etc. It will even compare these results with another location as well.
• Take advantage of Google Earth and its street view feature.

When researching (or inventing!) your setting, take note of the following:

• What unique elements can contribute toward the personality of my setting? Have you chosen/invented a town that is popular for its rolling hills? Are there willow trees that form a canopy over a certain street? Farm animals held behind fences? (Cough ... Unwritten Melody reference.) ;) 
• How do the locals speak? What is their dialect and popular slang?
• Where is the place located geographically?
• What is the climate in every season?
• What is the history of the location, and how has it shaped the setting into what it is today?
• What is the most popular religion? (For instance, have you chosen a town that's located in the Bible belt of the US?)
• What are the socioeconomics?
• What is the atmosphere? Is it a laid back town in the south, where people are accustomed to a slow-paced lifestyle--or does it take place within the hustle and bustle of NYC?
• What is the popular fashion and hairstyles?
• Where do people shop for food, coffee, groceries, clothes, ice cream, etc.?
• What are the significant landmarks and parks?
• Where do the teenagers hangout?
• What kind of animals can be found in the location? Plants? Insects?
• If it’s a small town, what big city is it located near?
• What are the popular street names?

Remember: 

The setting of a story should be treated as if it were another character, so make sure to research it beforehand. 


Then, when you begin to write, highlight on the specific details that will breathe life into your setting. However, make sure that this is presented through the eyes of your POV (Point of View) character. 


Through proper developing and portraying your setting, you will give your readers the opportunity to become transported into the story’s location . . . and they’ll never once have to leave the comfort of their own home. ;) 


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What's your favorite way to brainstorm and research the setting for your books? 

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How to Choose, Develop, & Research a Setting: Part 1

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Setting is far more than the backdrop of a novel. It’s the environment that breathes life into a story. It can paint hues of emotion, provide necessary backstory, enhance characterization, and serve as a tool to unfold significant plot elements.

When a writer prepares to write a book, they should spend just as much time researching and developing a setting as they do with their characters. In fact, setting should be treated with much attention as if it were a character in itself. 

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Taking A Field Trip To Your Setting

Field trips are always an adventure to kids and teens. Whether the location of the trip is a local farm or New York City, there is always new and interesting information that is learned by the student.

Fortunately for writers, we don't need a car in order to take a field trip to our setting. Of course, that would be nice. But why waste valuable time and money when you can be transported to your setting with only the tap of a few keys? With the technology available today, you shouldn't have to visit your library in order to research your setting. However, you can if you'd like. But the internet is a valuable source with tons of information, and it might have almost everything you need to know about where your story takes place.

Research is vital for a writer. Before you begin writing your novel, and during the process, you should constantly be gathering information based on where your story takes place. Even if this place is only fictional, there are a several things that you should take note of during your research or creation of the setting:

• The population. Does your setting have a large population, or is it small?
• The climate. Does it rain often, or is it too dry? Is it constantly snowing during the winter, or does it only get a few drops of snow every couple of years?
• The historic background of your setting. Are there any important details that would be nice to include in your story explaining how this place came to be what it is today?
• If your setting is in a small town, but near a big city, jot the name of that city down and and do a quick research on that city.
• Places to eat and shop. Where can your characters hang out?
• Are there certain landmarks at this place that could make your story unique? For example, is there a popular bridge or a waterfall that attracts tourists to the area?
• Lastly, explore your setting on Google Earth. What is the layout of this town? View the satellite images and travel down the roads. Take note of any of the houses that you may pass by. Are there mostly mansions, cottages, or just average-sized houses? You could even do a Google search of the houses for sell in that area, and take a quick little tour inside those homes.
  

After gathering this information, ask yourself these questions:

1. How can I bring out the unique elements of my setting?
2. What made me choose this place my setting?
3. Are my characters interacting with the setting, or is the setting only part of the background?
4. How has the setting affected my main character, making them who he/she is today? (Example: A setting in Arizona would be more likely to have a cowboy live there than an Eskimo.)
5. Finally, what is the MC's attitude towards this place? Does he/she want to escape as soon as possible, or are they in love with it and never want to leave? How can I tie this into the plot of the story?

Play around with your setting. There are many ways that you can use your setting to be part of the plot, and not just in the background. It should be just as realistic to your reader as the main character.

After you have taken a field trip to your setting, how do you begin to weave in the details to your story? Click here for a post I wrote a few months ago explaining ways to do this.

Remember, your setting shouldn't only be where your story takes place, but a part of the story itself. Don't push it away, but bring it out.

Have fun on your field trip adventure!

"Any settings can potentially acquire this vividness.

It slowly arrives during the period of research,

until it is as immediate to me as my own real surroundings."

~Rose Tremain

~~~
What are some other things that writers should take note of during the process of research?
How long do your "field trips" usually take?

Why do you think gathering all of this information is so crucial for a writer?

Painting Your Setting

"If the setting is very significant, you should know it well and weave details carefully in the fabric of events. If the setting is not very significant, do not burden your reader with unnecessary details. Too much description can get in the way of the story."

~ Robert Demaria

Every artist has a variety of different colors in their paint pallets, pastels, charcoals, etc. These colors help the artist bring their pictures to life. Without the color, their art would be dull. Plain. Look around - the world is full of color! The different shades of blue, orange, and yellow that the artist used in this painting helps bring the sunrise to life.

Writing scenery is much like painting scenery. Instead of writing a black-and-white, never-ending setting description, add a few colorful setting details. We also have to choose carefully the words we use to paint a setting if we want to relay a certain emotion. For instance, let's say an author is writing a scene where the protagnist's boyfriend is breaking up with her at a park. Obviously the author would want the reader to feel sadness, disappointment. How would she do this through weaving in setting details?

Here is a wrong example of how the author should write this scene:

He turned and starred at me for a while, his watery eyes washing my smile away. Clasping his hands through mine, he said, "Listen, I'm really sorry. But... I want to break up."
My heart dropped. I slowly shook my head as I backed away. Then, after giving once last look into those piercing brown eyes, I walked off.
As I headed toward my car, giggles rolled out of me while passing a group of kids playing tag.

Yes, it's good that the author included a setting detail in this scene - but don't you think the girlfriend would be a little more annoyed at the playful kids since her boyfriend just broke up with her? Your protagnist's attitude toward the setting helps bring out the emotion you want to relay through a scene. Simarly, an artist wouldn't paint a dandellion if he wanted to express sorrow. Choose your colors carefully.

Other ways that you can show your setting without writing long description paragraphs are through the way people are dressed, dialogue, how people speak, description of weather and temperature, etc.

Here are a few other specific ways to help add setting description:

1) Sensory details.
Instead of telling the setting to the reader, let them feel as if they are there. Put yourself in your protganist's shoes. What do you hear? See? Smell? What's it taste like, or look like?

2) Personification.
I'm not sure how other authors feel about personficiation, but I love it. Not only does it give imagery, but personification can also help with the mood of the scene. Make sure your personification isn't cheesy, though. Robin Jones Gunn does a great job of using personification through setting in her stories.

3) Metaphors and similies.
When I was in second grade, my stories consist of one similie after another. My teacher taught that similies were a great way to explain something, so I thought the more, the better. However, I have now learned that adding too many similies can weigh down your story - not to mention they become really cheesy. But when used carefully every now and then at the right places, similies can be beneficial to your imagery.

What are some other ways that you paint your setting without writing black-and-white description paragraphs? Let me know!

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An artist's colors, brush strokes, and title all help benefit the message he/she wants to relay through his painting. He wouldn't paint a picture of a storm cloud if he wanted the mood of the painting to be cheerful, would he? The setting of a story has more to do with than just where the story takes place. Think about the conflict and the important details. Is your setting necessary relating to the conflict? Does it impact your story?

Remember: Don't just sketch your setting. Paint it.