It's Your World: Setting Your Novel - Page 3
© Kim Kay
Once you have an idea of the type setting that is best for your novel, you need to get specific. Will you use a real city or will you create one? Either way, you need a clear picture of the place and time you select. Even though you may not use all of the information, you need to gather as much as possible, whether through firsthand experience, research, or a detailed inventory of an imaginary place.
If you are using a real location, get it right. One incorrect detail can ruin your whole novel. Don't put the hospital where the courthouse should be. Everything should be double-checked for accuracy. If possible, use a location you know. If your hometown or the place where you vacation every summer will do, use it. If you decide on another place, visit if you are able. Drive around, learn the layout, and get a feel for the people who live there. If, because of time or financial constraints, a visit is impossible, do your research. In a previous article, I discussed researching in detail, and included many links which will help you get started.
Even if you are using a place you know, it is still a good idea to do some research. Obtain a map or create one of your own. It will help you keep everything in its correct location and give you a visual reference when having your characters move from place to place. Read the newspaper. You may be familiar with certain things but it will give you a broader perspective of the personalities, interests, concerns, and events of the area. If it's a place with which you aren't familiar, this will be a particularly valuable resource.
Fictitious locations, although they can be extremely effective, are a little more difficult. It's best to make decisions in advance about as many aspects as possible. Not only do you need to consider the layout, climate, population, and other major features, "knowing" the smaller details will help your setting become more realistic and dynamic. What is the political climate of the area? What is the best restaurant in town? Where do partygoers hang out at 2:00 A.M. after the majority of places have closed? What is the crime rate? The employment rate? The average level of education of residents? Are the streets clean and well maintained or are they full of potholes? Do homeless people gather under bridges or are they hidden away and assisted by local churches or organizations? What's the primary industry? What are the major problems faced by the residents? What is the history of the area? If your city has no past beyond the beginning of the story, it will seem contrived. Did your characters grow up there or did they move from elsewhere? Does the city have popular sports teams with long standing rivalries with neighboring cities? What's the primary source of transportation?
