ABSTRACT
Places and settings tend to stir writers of all genres. Fiction writers are often similarly inspired by setting. There is a more functional, technical way to think about setting, too. The trick to writing about setting is to imaginatively immerse yourself in the sensory experience of a place, but then select only a few vital details for the page. One of the most effective ways of revealing characters is through the spaces they inhabit and the possessions they have chosen. A character’s home and belongings can act as an index to their personality. Characters may find settings supportive or oppressive; either response can advance a story. Exotic locations can of course be interesting, but domestic settings can be just as dramatic.
