Challenge Yourself to Create a Setting
31 Day Ninja Writer Challenge 2019: Day Twenty-Six
Over the next couple of days, we’re going through the steps of How to Develop + Test a Story Idea.
Yesterday we talked about all of those characters populating your writer brain. Today we're going to talk about setting. The second W of your story idea: Where.
Also, believe it or not, the third W is tied tightly to the where: When.
I want you to think today about where and when your story is going to take place.
There are all kinds of ways you can approach setting. I love to write about Nevada. I love my home state and I get excited about introducing readers to it. Some people love to do the research necessary to write about a place they've never been before. If you're writing speculative fiction, you might just make a setting up all together!
Today I want you to do two things.
One.
Get out your notebook and start writing down every setting you've ever considered for a story. Every location you've seen in your dreams. Every place you've ever spent some time that you think maybe someday you'd like to set a story.
While you're making this list, think about how setting relates to the other W I mentioned: when. Like I said, I write a lot about Nevada. I would definitely put 'Virginia City during the Gold Rush' on my list. And 'Las Vegas in the 1950s.' Are there place/time combos that just appeal to you as a writer? Add them to your list!
Your setting can also be much smaller or bigger than a town. You might want to write a story set in a 300 square foot apartment in Manhattan or a weather station in Antartica.
Once you have your list, pick just one setting to work on for this particular story idea. Don't forget that it needs to be a setting that you want to place your character from yesterday in.
Two.
Now, just open your notebook and start freewriting again. Start with the basics: the name of the place, a description of it. Then start asking yourself questions.
- Is this the ordinary world setting for your hero, or the special world setting, or both?
- How does the setting uniquely belong to your MC?
- How did your MC get to this place?
- Why is this setting important to your MC?
- Who do they share it with?
- How do they feel about this setting? Claustraphobic? At home? Calm? Aggressive?
- Will they end up in this place as their new ordinary world when the story is over?
- What does the setting look like? Use as many details as you can.
- What does the setting smell like?
- What does the setting sound like?
- Is there a taste or touch sensory experience related to this setting?
- What role will this setting play in your MC's story?
- How would a stranger coming into this space feel? What's the vibe?
Don't worry about making a list and answering each question. The goal here is to get your creative juices flowing. Use the questions to guide your free writing.
Assignment Twenty-Six
Once you have your setting all mapped out, come on over to our Facebook group and share. Other Ninja Writers will be there, so you can comment on what they're sharing, too. Fun!
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Don't forget to read and write for ten minutes each today!
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Shaunta Grimes is a writer and teacher. She is an out-of-place Nevadan living in Northwestern PA with her husband, three superstar kids, two dementia patients, a good friend, Alfred the cat, and a yellow rescue dog named Maybelline Scout. She’s on Twitter @shauntagrimes and is the original Ninja Writer.
