The Importance of Setting
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There is something about the setting of a story I’m writing that means a lot to me. I find myself drawn to places that have meant something in my life. In several of my books, or short stories you will find that the forest plays a central role. Growing up in New Hampshire, the woods surrounded me. It wasn’t until I was older that I realized how important the mystery of this world was to me.
In my novel, The Weaver, I use the forest behind my college campus as the place where Laney not only encounters danger, but also love. My freshman year in college, I took an adventure class where we spent a lot of time on the ropes course in the woods. I had to face my own fears by climbing the “pamper pole.” This was a large pole, kind of like a telephone pole with rungs. Nailed to the top sat a one-foot by one-foot box that I had to stand on top of with the pole swaying beneath me. To make things worse, our goal was to jump and try to catch a trapeze about five or six feet away. Not easy for someone afraid of heights! I also spent time by the pond with a good friend one night talking about our future and our hopes. This setting engrained itself in my heart.
In my short story, Cabin 5, that is now available in the anthology Dark Visions, the camp used in the story is the camp I worked at as a counselor during my college years. My experience at camp was vastly different from Brittney’s. I stayed in Cabin 5–the furthest cabin out in a place called the Village. The forest at camp served as a place for nighttime “big games.” I also spent one night sleeping outside on the mountain with a pillowcase over my head to protect myself from mosquitoes. Friday evening bonfires was a place where many campers opened their hearts to God.
As I write more stories, I continue to turn to place as an important writing tool. By using places that mean something to me, I am pouring my heart and should into my writing.
How has setting effected your writing or reading? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
