Writing the Urban and Rural Setting Thesaurus books taught Becca and me something big: that the Setting really is the Swiss Army Knife of Storytelling.
Whaaaat, you say?
It’s the truth.
Check out all it can do:
- create conflict or tension
- foreshadow a coming event
- encourage an emotion-driven action or choice
- remind a character of the past (good or bad)
- poke at an old wound
- challenge the hero to face his fears
- recreate a wounding event so the hero can navigate it successfully & let go of past pain
- show or reinforce the story stakes
- characterize one or more characters
- display symbolism or motifs that reinforce a deeper message or meaning
- reinforce a specific mood
- help steer the plot
- test through obstacles and setbacks
- give the setting an emotional value & deploy emotional triggers
- deliver important backstory
(click here to save this as a checklist)
Are you suitable impressed? I hope so!
The setting is versatile. It allows us to show, not tell in so many important ways.
Learning how to use it fully is one of the best things we can do to elevate our writing. 
To see an example of setting in action, pop by Seekerville to find out How The Setting Can Steer Your Plot. There might just be a giveaway involved…*wink*
And, if you are rounding the horn into Fall with plans to give your writing career a boost by attending a writing conference, stop by Writers Digest where I show you how to get more out of your conference pitches, workshops and networking opportunities by thinking like an extrovert…even though you happen to be an introvert.
Angela is a writing coach, international speaker, and bestselling author who loves to travel, teach, empower writers, and pay-it-forward. She also is a founder of One Stop For Writers, a portal to powerful, innovative tools to help writers elevate their storytelling.
This pair of guides travel with me every day. Whether I’m working on a first revision, plotting the next scene, or looking to resuscitate a flat narrative, these books are endlessly helpful.
great blog post for my teen writing class. Thanks