The document provides tips for improving writing by focusing on story settings. It recommends thinking about where and when the story takes place to build atmosphere and mood. Descriptions of settings should engage the senses to bring the location to life. Settings can be based on real places with added fictional details. Manipulating settings can influence the reader's experience by making a location seem dangerous, frightening, or peaceful. Descriptions should not overwhelm the narrative and real or invented place names can enhance believability. Once established, settings provide context for introducing characters and advancing the story.

1. Story Settings
How to improve your writing!

2. You can start your story by thinking
about the setting.
Where does your
story take place?
Which of your
Is it inside What is the senses can you
or outside? weather like? use to describe
the setting?
When does your
story take place?

3. Manipulate
the reader with the setting.
•Use place as well as the weather,
time of day and season, to create a
setting.

4. Create atmosphere / mood.
• For example:
– a walk along a green shaded lane on a
summery afternoon (makes you feel
relaxed).
– but the same lane on a dark, wintry
night (would feel very different).

5. Use your senses to add detail to bring the
setting alive
• What can be seen,
heard, smelt,
touched and tasted?
• If the reader is to
enter your world, s/
he needs to be able
to:
• see it
• hear it
• touch it
• taste it
• smell it

6. Base settings on places that you know - plus
some invented detail.
• Think of places where you have been.
• Close your eyes and look at all the details
around you. What can you see?
• Now use your imagination to change the
place. Add some interesting details.
Do you want details to make your setting seem:
• dangerous?
• frightening?
• fun?
• safe?
• peaceful?
• strange/ uncomfortable?

7. Use the setting to create
atmosphere
For instance, you might
use a frightening place
such as an empty
house - or you can take
a very ordinary place
and make it seem scary
by making it seem
unusual, dark and cold.

8. Remember:
• Do not get
bogged down
in too much
description
or you will
lose the pace
of the
narrative.

9. Use real or invented names to bring
places alive
• Names help to make your setting more
real and more believable.
‘A boy walked down a street’ shows us nothing,
but ‘Lugs O’Neill limped down Butcher’s Row’
starts to catch our imagination.

10. Once you have built the setting
you can bring in the characters.
Who is there and why?
Have fun creating your story
setting!

11. Tranquil / peaceful

12. Unwelcoming / ominous

13. Misty and mysterious

14. Fearful and
threatening

15. Stormy - scary,
frightening

16. Happy and
inviting!