Class

Fiction Basics: Setting

For this session on setting, keep in mind what Elizabeth Bowen said “Nothing happens nowhere.” While many writers shy away from describing their settings, the lack of an atmospheric setting can easily bore and confuse readers. The well-rendered setting can create harmony or conflict, characterize, symbolize, play to or against readers’ expectations, and make the familiar unfamiliar or the unfamiliar familiar. We’ll review strategies for creating and presenting settings (significant and characterizing details, figurative language) and practice these strategies with writing exercises.