Set the Setting
I'll be honest. Until a few years ago, I would have rather worked with dial-up internet for a week than undergone the torture of trying to grind out a setting that was better than four walls or a sidewalk. In fact, had I played a game of Would You Rather at that time, it would have gone something like this:
Would you rather guzzle hot sauce or describe a setting?
Hit me with the heat.
Would you rather embarrass yourself in public or establish that there's more than just a table in the room?
Watch me make it viral.
Would you rather be chased by clowns or cross your fingers that whatever your readers are imagining is one thousand times better than the blank space you've set, which is the best you can possibly hope for because clearly your creativity has died, and man, are you even a writer anymore?
(Panic.)
To say the least, I was not a fan of crafting my characters' surroundings. Now? I can't get enough of them. So, what changed?
I discovered the fantastic element that is the setting's feature. Once this is pinpointed, it's like everything else about the setting falls into place.
What do I mean by the feature of the setting? It's the one thing that really sucks you into the moment, the thing that stands out above all else. It carries the setting, leads in new details, or has other details lead to it.
Features can be anything. Including:
An ITEM
The ATMOSPHERE (such as mood or weather)
A SENSORY detail
INFORMATION
The feature also tells the reader what to expect. For instance, if the main character (MC) walks up to a house, and it's boarded up, this suggests the place is abandoned. Now, you can build on that. Is it actually abandoned (with giant weeds, a broken fence, and graffiti), or does it just look that way (there's boarded windows and a busted fence, sure, but the boards aren't weathered and the shrub is trimmed, and maybe the garden tap is leaking, which suggests the house still has utilities)?
As your MC enters the house, make sure the feature changes with the new environment. What is that stench? A rotting body or a bad recipe brewing on the stove?
This is where knowing the direction of your story is important, because the plot tells you what the feature detail should be. Did a character receive horrible news? Let a cool breeze run extra chills through their body. Are they about to pour out their true feelings to their secret love? Let that same breeze energize the tingles they're feeling in anticipation.
By emphasizing this one feature, it gives the reader a point to anchor to in the setting and embellish on their imagination because you've been able to imagine it yourself.
In the pictures below, what's the first thing that grabs your attention? Now, imagine yourself there. Does something new stand out more? Try writing a short scene taking place at one of these locations. I'll pick one of these images as well and detail a feature to show you how I would go about this.
I've chosen Image 4 to inspire me with the sea being the main focus.
Salt water sprays my face. Someone shouts at me to get down from the rigging. I ignore them and close my eyes, inhaling the scent of the sea. Tuned in to the lift of the waves, I feel as they push against the boat beneath me in a battle for space. For a blissful moment, all other sensations drift away. I'm weightless, floating in the air and water at the same time. A hand yanks me down, and I stumble onto the deck, sticking my palm with a sliver from the weathered wood. Now, as the boat bobs, the waves make it hard for me to stand.
How did you fare describing the setting from the image you picked? Was it easier than usual once you selected something to feature?
On a side note, I just want to say that photo references are amazing for those times when you know what your scene is about but just can't picture it in your head. Photos can even help you discover other senses for the characters to notice that you might not have thought of on your own. If you have places your characters frequent, it can be handy to keep an image board of these settings. Also, keep in mind that these familiar settings can change with the seasons or natural disasters. If someone only goes to work in the summer, what do they notice now that they've been called in during the dead of winter? This can bring new life to an old setting.
I hope these tips and examples help you construct vivid settings.
Happy writing!
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