15 Ways to Improve the Setting in Your Fiction Writing

Setting is arguably one of the most important aspects of fiction writing because it makes the story real for your readers. Setting is defined as the time and place at which an event occurs, and all of the details that might describe those characteristics. Creating a setting for your fiction writing takes imagination, creativity and knowledge.

Following are 15 ways to improve the setting in your fiction writing:

Improve the Setting in Your Fiction Writing: Weather

Weather is one of the most overlooked parts of setting because we don't think about it much. Most authors will describe a rainy day or a particularly hot evening, but other elements of weather are ignored. To use weather effectively in your fiction writing, spend some time watching the Weather channel on television. Familiarize yourself with different types of weather in different areas of the world, and learn the names of weather-related phenomenon. Remember, the weather doesn't have to be remarkable in order to deserve recognition.

Improve the Setting in Your Fiction Writing: Streets

The streets in the city or town in which your story takes place can be great cornerstones for a realistic setting. Fiction writing is all about creating a world that seems to exist to your readers. If the setting is a make-believe place you've created in your mind, you can feel free to name streets whatever you'd like. If, however, your fiction story takes place in Chicago, you need to familiarize yourself with the actual street names (and the directions they run).

Improve the Setting in Your Fiction Writing: Architecture

Every city or town in the world has its own unique blend of architecture. Visit Web sites like greatbuildings.com to get an idea for the different types of architecture that exist, then decide what types will be appropriate for the setting in your fiction writing. For example, you might talk about the Baroque buildings in Italy or the Neo Classical stylings of the county library.

Improve the Setting in Your Fiction Writing: Furniture