Learn how to create a story setting.
NARRATOR
How to create a setting.
A setting of a story tells us where and when it is taking place. Letâs choose a setting, it can be absolutely anywhere.
Ah, excellent, a boat drifting aimlessly out at sea.
Use your words to paint a picture for your readers. Give lots of detail, along with plenty of adjectives. So, what sort of ship should young Jane here be on? It could be an old ship, and her story could be set in the past. And where is the boat?
The barnacle covered leaky galleon drifted across the shark infested waters, towards a rocky desolate looking island. That sounds like a great setting. She looks a bit nervous, doesnât she? Well, so would you be if you were her! Look at that large storm cloud â no, wait. Look at that towering storm cloud. The season or weather can have a big impact on your setting.
The more descriptive you can be for the reader, the better. You can use metaphors, comparing two things which arenât alike, but are something in common. The storm whips the sea up into great walls of water. You can also you can use similes, comparing things using âlikeâ and âasâ. The waves throw the ship around like a wild animal toying with its prey. Use all your senses to describe your setting, as this helps bring it to life for your reader. After the storm, the sea was calm. You can see it stretched out towards the horizon, like blue velvet.
[DOLPHIN NOISES]
NARRATOR
What can you hear? Seagulls calling on the sea breeze. Maybe you can smell something? The salt crusted sails? And I can almost taste that rotten looking fish stew! Haddock⊠with a tangy cat vomit aftertaste! Being on a ship means that young Jane is trapped, by this fearsome pirate and canât escape her horrible food!
Good authors choose their setting with care, and select a setting that is perfect for the story they want to tell. Would your story be as exciting if it wasnât on a pirate ship in the middle of the ocean? Would Jane be as scared of the pirate if she was on a fancy cruise ship? No, I donât think so. But that setting could work for an entirely different story.
(shouts) Look out for that iceberg!
[SHIP HORN, CRASH]
NARRATOR
°żŽÇ±èČőâŠ
A story setting is where and when your story takes place.
- Adjectives are describing words and you can use them to describe where and when your story takes place.
- The season or weather can have a big impact on your story.
- Use all of your senses to describe your setting.
- What can you see?
- What can you hear?
- What can you smell
- What can you taste?
- What can you feel?
More on Writing
Find out more by working through a topic
- count29 of 37
- count30 of 37
- count31 of 37
- count32 of 37
