Location, Location

Every story, whether short or long, takes place somewhere. It might be in a small town in the mountains of North Carolina, on a big ship in the middle of the ocean, on an imaginary island, or any number of other places and times. Location is key to your story, no matter where and when it takes place.

Words can ring with melody, sting like a blow to the head, comfort the way a mother holds her crying baby, or bring a sense of peace and hope. All the great writers, such as Maya Angelou, Alice Walker, John Steinbeck, Edgar Allen Poe, Flannery O' Connor... the list goes on... but they all prove that language has power. If used the right way, words can move people and help your readers understand the characters and places.

Location will determine the atmosphere, culture, language, weather, and social norms -just to name a few things. It plays a critical role in the framework of your story, and immerses your reader into the world of your creation. Your words will bring the setting to life for the readers of your books and stories.

Keep these things in mind when developing location.

1. Location can be place and time. For example, a story that takes place in 1930's Kansas during the Great Depression spins a very different tale from one that takes place in 1930's Harlem in New York City. A modern-day story might include mentions of email, internet, cellphones, and plasma TVs. But a story set in the early 19th century might include steam engine trains, parasols, and fountain pens. Historical fiction requires some research on the part of the writer in order to recreate that world and thrust the reader into a time travel portal. Think about clothing, fads and trends, language, music, transportation, societal dictations, what's happening in the news at the time, what is popular, technology, and food.

2. Write in the vernacular, but do not overwhelm your reader. It's important to weave in elements of the native language or pronunciation if they help create the story and make it stronger for the reader. But take care to use these words or phrases sparingly. If used properly, they can help the reader to be immersed in the story, and the personalities of the characters will shine through. But take care with words/phrases that may not be politically correct or that reflect racial and ethnic prejudices. Keep in mind that some professions often have their own jargon, as well.

3. If your story takes place in another country, it's ok to insert foreign words or phrases to help create the scene. For example, if your story takes place in France, you could insert key words in the dialogue to reflect the location, such as the name of a food or the French word for "hotel."

4. Slang: Are there slang words that are specific to your story's location or setting? Some examples might be "bubbler" in the Midwest, "yonder" or "ya'll" in a southern location, or "dapper" for a story set in the 1930's or 1940's.

5. It's generational.- When I was a teenager, we had specific words for things that were considered cool or hip. I've forgotten many of them, but can recall words like "cool," "fly," or "the bomb." If someone said "Word," then it meant that they understood or agreed. My point is to also keep in mind the specific generational culture that you are writing within. Fads come and go, and also often come back & the new generation usually thinks they invented them... but on any account, when you're writing your story, think about the time period that it takes place and which slang words are "hip" (or not so hip).

6. Know your location. The same way that you must get into your character's head when developing them, you also need to know everything possible about your location and the story setting. Whether real or imagined, and whether you have actually been to Greece or not, your story about Greece (or insert another place name), you must be able to write about it in a way that brings it to life for your reader. For example, take Fannie Flagg's book that was the basis for the film, "Fried Green Tomatoes." Set in the past and present, the reader is immersed in these critical elements of setting within the plot: the town's history, the Southern culture, the sad history of segregation, domestic abuse, getting older, and etc. JK Rowling's "Harry Potter" series is a wonderful example of a book & series in which an author creates an entire world. Just think of all the details she had to dream up: Muggles, the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the sorting hat, all the magic spells, Harry's scar, the typical world of England and 4 Privet Drive, or Quidditch.

7. Culture within a culture. Sometimes books take place within layers of culture. For example, a book that's about a hair salon in the Deep South is going have its own language and culture within the larger culture of the South. The same is true of a story set in Gold Rush California, a prison in 1970's Northern Ireland during the Troubles, or a wagon train traveling West during the 1800's.

There's a lot to think about when developing the setting for your story. The short and sweet of the whole thing is to keep asking who, what, when,where, and why. Be a story detective when it comes to writing. These key questions will aid you in creating the world in which your story takes place, and all of its many details. Be creative.

Consider keeping a creative journal along with your manuscript as you develop the setting and all of its details. This can be especially helpful when writing your story. JK Rowling has widely shared her story notes from the "Harry Potter" series. Take a peek in the image below.

One last suggestion is to think about some of your favorite books. Go back and read them, either in their entirety or in sections. As you do so, take note of the key details that the author chose to incorporate as elements of the story's setting. Look at how they used specific details, dialogue, and descriptions.

Some Resources for Further Reading:

Dialect in History- A blog article by Jennifer Sommer

How to Write Historical Fiction- An article from the folks at Writer's Digest

Beauty & the Book meets Fannie Flagg- An insightful video about author Fannie Flagg & how she creates her stories and their settings.

Keep Writing!

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