Developing Character Settings
7 Tips that Help Engage Readers
Whether you’re writing fiction, screenplays, or any other form of storytelling, character settings are an important part of the process. Locations and props can provide background information about your characters without cluttering the narrative. It allows readers to get to know your characters on a deeper level. Whether you’re writing about people who live in the woods or people who work in the city, you need to let the reader know exactly where your characters are so they can fully immerse themselves in your story. Here are seven tips for developing character settings that engage readers.
ONE | Location is Important
The location you place your character in can have a dramatic effect on the reader's engagement. For example, if the protagonist of your novel lives in Los Angeles, California and is driving to Las Vegas, Nevada to meet someone who could incriminate them, readers will be highly engaged because they know the character is literally heading into danger. If the same protagonist lives in Seattle, Washington and is driving to Los Angeles with no thought of what lies ahead, readers might not be as engaged because there's no sense of impending danger, or anything else. As far as the reader is concerned, it’s just someone making a boring drive from one city to another.
TWO | The Scene Backstory
Give your scene some historic significance. When you do this, readers will feel a stronger connection to the story. They’ll be able to envision the characters living in a world where they have long-standing customs and traditions. Don't be afraid to introduce a level of fear. What does it look like when fear has taken over your character? What would happen if their worst fears come true? Haunting scenes engage the reader. In order to create an emotional response from the audience, writers need to write about what scares them as well as what's comfortable for them. You want to engage both sides of their senses - comfort and discomfort - because then they crave more of what you're writing about.
THREE | Plotting Your Story
Develop your plot in ways to keep the reader interested. Introduce settings that gradually build suspense. For example, open with a crime scene and then shift to the daily routine of a police officer; or start with an exotic vacation destination and then show the traveler’s day-to-day struggles while away from home. Introducing settings helps readers understand character relationships. It’s a way to establish where they live, work, vacation, etc.
Another way is developing back stories: what did these characters do before the story began? How do their backstories shape who they are now?
FOUR | Who Else is there?
Here's where you can create mystery.
Is your character in the setting to meet someone she knows, or could she unknowingly be in danger?
Did she have a preconceived plan of what she would do once she got there?
What is she doing while she’s waiting?
The answers to these questions will vary depending on the genre and story type you're working on, but knowing them ahead of time will allow you to add depth and intrigue. For example, if this is an urban fantasy novel set in a coffee shop at night, it might make sense for the protagonist to be on alert for supernatural beings who might come out at this time of day/night.
Five | What Time of Day
Time of day can be important. For instance, a meeting on an abandoned shipping dock at midnight would most likely give cause for alarm. An early morning jog in the same area may not have the same effect. If there is no time given to establish what time it is, then readers may not know how they should feel about the setting or specific moments in the story. They become less engaged.
SIX | The Setting
Where does the story begin? What city, country? Is the area rural? Urban? Wealthy? Poor? How about its time period or era—is it contemporary, historical, futuristic? What year is it?
These are just some questions you should answer while developing your plot. You'll want to make sure they're logical and lead to an interesting and believable setting. Exercise caution, though. Too many details will bog down a story, so understand what details readers need in order to connect with the characters on a deeper level. If the setting doesn't directly affect one of your character's lives, then don't include it.
SEVEN | Building on Suspense
Building on suspense can be as much fun to write as it is crucial to the story. It's one of those things that many writers don't pay enough attention to, but it really makes a difference when you read a book and do not know what's going to happen next. The reader might know how the story ends, but by providing twists and turns along the way, the suspense will keep him guessing. Suspenseful stories keep readers engaged and wanting more. Suspense doesn't have to be life-threatening or scary; any unexpected twist in the plot will engage readers if it gives them new information about the character's motivations or brings up new questions about what may happen next.
Conclusion
Developing character settings is a crucial part of the writing process. And while it may seem daunting, there are many ways to make this task easier. These seven tips will help you with your character and setting development. Remember them when you begin your next novel. Keep them in mind as you craft your story. Use these tips to develop well-rounded and interesting characters in your story’s world so that readers will have an enjoyable and engaging time exploring it.
