How would you describe the setting for your story?

Answer 1

A setting can be several things:

• Time - when is the story taking place?
• Place - where is the story taking place?
• Social Setting - in which culture is the story taking place?
• Historical Period - in which century or millennium is the story taking place?

You will need descriptions of each, so that the reader knows where and when things are happening. You don't need a lot of wordy descriptions, though.

Here's a good example of setting description:

"The skiff was black, its gunwales scant inches above the waves. Like my two companions, I was dressed in dark clothing, my face smeared with lamp-black. The rowlocks were wrapped and muffled; the loudest sounds in all the night were the light slap of water on wood and the rhythmic rustle of Steven's clothing as he pulled at the oars."

In this selection from O Jerusalem by Laurie R. King, you know these things with only one paragraph of description:

• Time: night
• Place: in a heavily loaded skiff on the water, with companions and a man named Steven rowing, and everyone trying to be quiet and not be seen

Answer 2

the location and timeframe of a story.

The best way to describe the setting is to show it - have the characters interacting within the setting, or have some sort of action going on. If you must write a descriptive paragraph, make it very short and very vivid. Include all of the senses, not just sight!

Answer 3

The same way you explain any other setting! You show details as the action progresses so that the reader knows where the characters are. In a contemporary story, the reader will be more familiar with settings like New York City or London, but you still want to give those little details that bring the setting alive. Start with a simple statement of where they are if it's a contemporary setting the readers would recognize, like "Bill strode the streets of Hong Kong as if he'd lived there all his life." Then add bits and pieces of interesting material as you go along, not all in one big lump. Show the sights, sounds, smells of the city - show the time as well, both time of day and time of year. Give the reader the feeling that they could find their way around that place if they visited it.

Answer 4

The story is set in a small coastal town with rugged cliffs and rolling waves crashing onto the shore. The town is quaint, with cobblestone streets and colorful buildings lining the waterfront. Surrounding the town are lush forests and misty mountains, creating a sense of mystery and adventure.

Answer 5

Setting is the time, place, and social context of the story. Just describe when and where it takes place.

Answer 6

A gigantic, dark, threatening wall of clouds tumbled in from the west.