It's Your World: Setting Your Novel - Page 2
© Kim Kay
Consistency and Unity - Your plot should have enough conflict and suspense to hold the readers' interest from cover to cover. In addition to the main plot, novels have one or more subplots so often, there are many things going on at once. Not to mention that the novel may deal with a variety of issues and themes. A constant and familiar setting can tie everything together and serve as the foundation of your novel.
Increase Tension and Set Mood - Thunder in the background is a subtle way to build tension. A more obvious tension builder is a continuing rainstorm which may ultimately cause a landslide which will endanger the lives of your characters. In addition to tension, you can help set any mood with your setting. An abundance of ravens in a field can create a feeling of impending doom. A bright, sunny day can indicate hope and optimism. A beautiful sunset or a picturesque wedding chapel can inspire romance.
Illustrate Character - The time and place you choose will affect how your characters behave, speak, and dress. It may also affect their level of education, occupation, and/or goals. Setting is more than where people live, it is a way of life. Certain places and eras evoke certain expectations and stereotypes. You can use them to capitalize on these stereotypes or to destroy them.
Real or Imagined: Choosing a Setting that Works
Consider the plot you have in mind and the characters who will live it. What size city or town will be most effective? If you are writing a romance novel, are the main characters sophisticated or innocent? Are they "big city" or "small town"? What about a mystery novel? Is there a big-time, experienced detective or a rural Sheriff working on the case? Where would you expect them to live? Your setting does not necessarily have to be compatible with your protagonist, it can also be used for contrast. Maybe your big-time investigator went to care for his ailing mother in a small farming community and stumbled on a decade-old unsolved murder. That would allow for unlimited plot twists and subplots. Whether your setting complements or contrasts with your characters, it can effectively further your plot if chosen carefully. If your setting does nothing to enhance your plot or your characters, you need to pick a new one.
You also must determine the time period in which your novel will take place. Is your romantic couple from the Victorian Era or are they modern-day lovers? If your plot involves them moving in together and tattooing each other's names on their arms, the Victorian Era probably isn't the right choice. On the other hand, if their only means of communication is through long, romantic love letters, they might be out of place in the world of cellular phones, pagers, and E-mail.
