How the right setting can improve your novel

The setting of your novel – the time and place in which you choose to set it – can sometimes seem like a bit of a background issue, while the plot and characters are in the fore. This isn’t the case. The setting you choose for your novel is crucial.

Depending on what you’re writing, it might not play a huge role in the novel, but it will still have an influence on the story that you tell. And in many cases, the setting can be an important role to play in the story.

For instance, setting a novel in a large city that’s full of life and feels electric will lend a different air to the story than if it was set in a sleepy little village somewhere. Setting a story in the present day will have an impact on your characters that is different to if you chose to set it fifty years ago.

It can also add to the tension and drama of the story. Setting a high-stakes plot in a small, confined town could, for example, heighten the feeling of claustrophobia and suspense in the story. Setting a story somewhere with perilous weather conditions can add an extra layer of tension and challenge for your characters to overcome.

The right setting will give your characters somewhere to react to and live in, not just exist against the backdrop of. Whether or not your choice of setting plays a big part in the story, whatever and wherever you choose matters for the outcome of your book.