The Importance of Building Your Book’s Setting to Entice Readers
Behind every great book is a distinctive setting that hooks readers into the world of the story. A book’s setting is the time period and physical place of where the story takes place. All genres of books use their settings to deepen the story being told, across fiction and non-fiction. Think of your favorite book; its setting probably played a part in making the story memorable.
It is immensely important to put care and consideration into your book’s setting. This starts from before you begin writing your first draft. You should start crafting your setting from the outlining step. Your readers will notice a difference in your writing when you spend time and care on the setting.
When building out the setting of your book, there are some factors to consider. You can use these tips to further engage your audience and create a stronger book.
Where Does Your Story Take Place?
One of the most important components of any book’s setting is the physical location of the story. You have to know where your story takes place to convey that information to the reader. Without any clue about the location, readers can become confused and be less engaged with the work. This guides the audience through the reading process, helping them visualize the story on the page.
When establishing your physical setting, plan before you start drafting. This will be crucial in directing your writing to fit into the intended space. You can include the location or locations of your story from the very first outline. This can always be changed later, but cementing your setting early sets you up for success.
After thinking of your setting, you can write to that space; your characters can then move within accurate parameters. It can even be helpful to draw a map of a given location, especially if you are juggling multiple locations. If the locations make sense, the story will flow nicely.
When Does Your Story Take Place?
Next comes the time your story takes place in. Instead of focusing on the physical location, this is the when of your story. Without specifying a specific time period, most readers will assume the story takes place in modern day. Often, that is a correct assumption. However, if your story takes place in the past or future, you have to make that known.
The temporal setting of your book is just as important as the physical setting. If a reader goes through your story not knowing when it is set, they will be confused. References can be overlooked, and plot points may be confusing. Further, if a book takes place over a long period of time, it is helpful to keep the reader informed. Your book should probably not jump around in time without having a clear sense of logic.
To accurately convey this information to the reader, you need to have a full understanding of it as the author. From the beginning of the outlining, you should make note of any significant time periods in your book. Ensure consistency throughout your writing process; for example, you do not want characters acting inconsistent with their time.
Taking Real-Life Inspiration
Not every book is going to come completely from your mind; they can be inspired by real people or events. When this is the case, you can take inspiration from real life. This can apply to historical dramas, generational sagas, non-fiction work, and beyond.
As with fully fictional settings, make sure you understand your setting before writing. Also make sure to convey any relevant information to the reader. When taking inspiration from real life, you can find any research you want online or in a library. Throughout writing, keep your setting as clear and accurate to real life as possible.
Using Your Own Life
Writing a book is often a very personal process, even more when you are writing based on your own life. Nobody knows your story better than you, and that will be conveyed on the page. You want your reader to understand the people, places, and time of your life. If you write based on what you have experienced, your writing will be stronger and more engaging.
If you are writing a devotional or other self-help guide, your faith can guide the entire process. These books are often heartfelt and inspired by true stories of overcoming life’s trials and tribulations. Accurately and fully capturing the settings of the stories you tell will allow the reader to understand your lived experience. Cloverly Christian will be there with you every step of the way to make your book true to your vision.
