Setting as a character

In writing, a lot of the component parts of a story work together to form the whole – the plot progresses alongside the character’s journey, the story arcs develop and make themselves known alongside tone and other aspects of story development. But there are also ways to strengthen the relationships between the parts – by tying them in together and using a technique to act as a character in the story.

Setting is often one of the most prominent parts of a story – and many writers rely on strong descriptions to paint an evocative image of their world. However, you can also use the setting as its own character to really embody the tone of the writing.

The strength of the setting

The setting of a novel is already a strong part of the work – it not only gives readers a sense of escapism, but it can also pair with the tone of the book to add extra pizzazz. Depending on whether your setting will be relatable for some readers, such as a quaint English town, or an otherworldly alien planet, it can also intrigue or comfort the reader.

A large amount of the power behind a setting is in its level of belief – whether or not it is feasible or even sensible doesn’t matter, as long as it is believable. So what if people age backwards, or if people’s heads are on the bottom of their bodies – as long as it’s consistent and matches with the theme of the world, go for it!

Further developing a setting

Focus on specifics to really bring forwards a main feeling – spooky graves and chilly winds are quite stereotypical, but they do get a clear theme across. Bleak, desolate landscapes can convey hopeless situations just as well as lush, viridian forests or armies of butterflies can represent growth or freedom.

Personality and emotion are great ways of characterising anything, and you can even make sparse descriptions feel a little more human with every unfamiliar, dark corridor or every crumbling ancient building your character traverses. You could have the protagonist react to the setting, whether it is at odds or in line with their current state, to really reflect and capitalise on your previous descriptions.

Zooming in on specifics

It also gets a lot easier when, as mentioned before, your focus is on specific and tangible parts. Seasons, feelings, time, senses and other facets of being human are good ways to slowly build up the credibility of your world in a reader’s eyes. 

Also, sticking to the basics isn’t necessarily a bad thing – as with hugely relatable things like the temperature, recognisable foliage or other objects, the reader can immediately picture this setting and what it may be representing. Additionally, you can even subvert these or create unexpected tangents in order to rouse your audience’s intrigue. 

Mixing components into one

A lot of the power behind a setting is in its congruence with other aspects – like a dovetail joint, each piece of the puzzle fits together nicely. By establishing your story’s mood, tone, timeline, atmosphere and other key aspects, you can also focus your efforts more clearly on characterisation.

Simile and metaphor are good ways of introducing human characteristics to a setting. Using these indirect comparisons means that you can subtly mention the ‘glaring lighthouse’ of an unfriendly island or the ‘bright joy which seeped right from the yellow walls’ at a surprise party.

Err, I don’t like this creepy forest…

So, that was it! Writing your story’s setting as a character is a unique way to insert an extra layer of intrigue or mystery to your plot, as it will form an extra recognisable descriptor for your audience. It’s all part of the show, don’t tell philosophy – more on that later!