The Best Setting
A setting in a book has many elements, from the furniture to the people to the part of town. How does a writer choose the best one? I have found that the setting should support the story rather than the story supporting the setting. This means that if the story centers on a rough biker, the story should take place in a biker bar. Right?
Well… take my life as an example. I live in a quiet house on a quiet street, so how could I relate to a story that begins with a character calmly walking into a rough biker bar?
Yet, I am flexible, imaginative, and enjoy stories set in another city or featuring characters who are radically different from me. They can even live in inconceivable realities, have improper physics, or crazy bodies. Yep, Superman can point his hands up and fly away.
Thus, I put great effort into taking (writing) my character (and readers) from their quiet existence into an unfamiliar setting. This means details! For example, Superman can fly because he is from a different planet. This explains why I cannot fly. (Well, this makes as much sense as a far-out character like Superman can make.)
What is the best place for a story to begin? I like the classics. Teenagers should be in high school, and adults should be at work. Drama occurs at home, and conflicts arise elsewhere.
While not too exciting, this is a solid foundation to jump from. How about a pleasant trip to the woods? Let’s go on a jog. How about a visit to the neighbor’s house? What does that look like?
Hmm, as a writer, I want my neighbor to have spider powers. I would begin with the basics: a blender in the kitchen, a tan blanket, and a television with the local news playing. And then get into the differences. Spiders can walk on ceilings, so there might be a sofa attached to the ceiling. That’s probably normal for them. Then there are little details like spiderwebs in the corners, stubborn spiderwebs on clothes, and perhaps an egg sac from a prior batch of children. Lots of things for readers to latch onto.
What city is this house in? I get an idea and do extensive research to identify interesting aspects. For example, it would be essential to point out the Eiffel Tower if a character traveled to Paris. As for locations, I have one rule: avoid San Diego. Why? I live here.
I have learned the ultra-hard way that writing about a person/location/job that I am intimately familiar with is a big mistake. Everything reads all wrong because I am too familiar with the topic.
For example, I am an electrical engineer. So, if I casually had a character casually discussing high-side current measurement, you as the reader would ask, “What the heck is that?” Yet, having such conversations with my engineering friends seems perfectly natural. Meaning I am blinded to what my readers would find normal or abnormal. And don’t get me started on the differences between RS422 and RS485. Yikes!
Now, take Paris. I have been there twice, but am not too familiar with the details that any resident of that beautiful city would know. Thus, I would have to do extensive research to craft the setting. Well, you might think that would read awkwardly. That is kind of my point. When a character enters the city, they are new to it, and so am I. So, this awkwardness is actually a bonus.
Another big element of the setting is the overall emotion (mood). If a character is kidnapped, they had better be frightened. Plus, one has to consider the weather, lighting, and people in the vicinity. In a kidnapping, they all better be dark.
I do have another rule that I suspect other authors would disagree with: I limit setting descriptions. Let’s say a character enters an office. I would describe the desk, what is on the bookshelves, and the furniture. Perhaps mention that there is a window or piece of artwork—no more.
Why? When I enter somebody’s office, I am more interested in the person and the conversation. Plus, I want to leave some space for the reader’s imagination. To me, a very detailed setting makes the author seem as though they are trying too hard. I also feel that it slows down the action.
Choosing the best setting is a careful balance. Give the readers just what they need and let their minds fill in the rest, which is how I am ending this article.
You’re the best -Bill
January 05, 2022 Updated May 24, 2026
Well… take my life as an example. I live in a quiet house on a quiet street, so how could I relate to a story that begins with a character calmly walking into a rough biker bar?
Yet, I am flexible, imaginative, and enjoy stories set in another city or featuring characters who are radically different from me. They can even live in inconceivable realities, have improper physics, or crazy bodies. Yep, Superman can point his hands up and fly away.
Thus, I put great effort into taking (writing) my character (and readers) from their quiet existence into an unfamiliar setting. This means details! For example, Superman can fly because he is from a different planet. This explains why I cannot fly. (Well, this makes as much sense as a far-out character like Superman can make.)
What is the best place for a story to begin? I like the classics. Teenagers should be in high school, and adults should be at work. Drama occurs at home, and conflicts arise elsewhere.
While not too exciting, this is a solid foundation to jump from. How about a pleasant trip to the woods? Let’s go on a jog. How about a visit to the neighbor’s house? What does that look like?
Hmm, as a writer, I want my neighbor to have spider powers. I would begin with the basics: a blender in the kitchen, a tan blanket, and a television with the local news playing. And then get into the differences. Spiders can walk on ceilings, so there might be a sofa attached to the ceiling. That’s probably normal for them. Then there are little details like spiderwebs in the corners, stubborn spiderwebs on clothes, and perhaps an egg sac from a prior batch of children. Lots of things for readers to latch onto.
What city is this house in? I get an idea and do extensive research to identify interesting aspects. For example, it would be essential to point out the Eiffel Tower if a character traveled to Paris. As for locations, I have one rule: avoid San Diego. Why? I live here.
I have learned the ultra-hard way that writing about a person/location/job that I am intimately familiar with is a big mistake. Everything reads all wrong because I am too familiar with the topic.
For example, I am an electrical engineer. So, if I casually had a character casually discussing high-side current measurement, you as the reader would ask, “What the heck is that?” Yet, having such conversations with my engineering friends seems perfectly natural. Meaning I am blinded to what my readers would find normal or abnormal. And don’t get me started on the differences between RS422 and RS485. Yikes!
Now, take Paris. I have been there twice, but am not too familiar with the details that any resident of that beautiful city would know. Thus, I would have to do extensive research to craft the setting. Well, you might think that would read awkwardly. That is kind of my point. When a character enters the city, they are new to it, and so am I. So, this awkwardness is actually a bonus.
Another big element of the setting is the overall emotion (mood). If a character is kidnapped, they had better be frightened. Plus, one has to consider the weather, lighting, and people in the vicinity. In a kidnapping, they all better be dark.
I do have another rule that I suspect other authors would disagree with: I limit setting descriptions. Let’s say a character enters an office. I would describe the desk, what is on the bookshelves, and the furniture. Perhaps mention that there is a window or piece of artwork—no more.
Why? When I enter somebody’s office, I am more interested in the person and the conversation. Plus, I want to leave some space for the reader’s imagination. To me, a very detailed setting makes the author seem as though they are trying too hard. I also feel that it slows down the action.
Choosing the best setting is a careful balance. Give the readers just what they need and let their minds fill in the rest, which is how I am ending this article.
You’re the best -Bill
January 05, 2022 Updated May 24, 2026
