How to Describe the Setting of a Story

One of the toughest nuts for you to crack as a novelist is where to start.

Two-thirds of my more than 200 published books are novels, so I’ve faced this dilemma more than 140 times.

Trust me, starting never gets easier, no matter how many times you’ve done it. But there are common errors to avoid. I know because I’ve made them. And I’ve also asked agents and editors what mistakes they see in beginners’ manuscripts.

Ready for one of the most common errors?

Starting by describing the setting of yo...