The setting is the time and place in which the story occurs.
There are several things to consider when deciding on your setting.
Locale: This is the physical location of your story. Consider which country, state, city, neighborhood, and street in which your story will take place. Also, consider the more specific details, such as a school, a house, a shoreline, an island, a farm, etc.
Time: This includes the time of year, time of day, and elapsed time. When deciding the time of year, consider which seasons, holidays, and anniversaries it will include. When deciding the time of day and the elapsed time, consider if your story takes place during the night or the day, or both, and how many hours or days are included in the story.
Climate/Atmosphere: This includes details regarding the weather, mountains, bodies of water, winds, ocean currents, etc. Will your characters face harsh conditions, or will they be relaxing in a mild climate?
Geography: This includes both natural and man-made geography. Ecosystems, topography, bodies of water, and land formations are a few factors to consider. Is your story on the beach, or in a forest, or in the mountains? Man-made geography includes things like buildings, cemeteries/burial grounds, bridges, dams, towns/cities, monuments, plantations, etc.
Era: In which time period does your story occur? Consider the historical, political, and social implications and events of the era you choose. Is there a war going on? Has an important law just been passed? Which societal values are prevalent? What are the cultural norms?
Population: Consider if your story takes place in a crowded urban environment, like New York City or Hong Kong, or if it takes place in a rural, small town setting, like Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Time: This includes the time of year, time of day, and elapsed time. When deciding the time of year, consider which seasons, holidays, and anniversaries it will include. When deciding the time of day and the elapsed time, consider if your story takes place during the night or the day, or both, and how many hours or days are included in the story.
Climate/Atmosphere: This includes details regarding the weather, mountains, bodies of water, winds, ocean currents, etc. Will your characters face harsh conditions, or will they be relaxing in a mild climate?
Geography: This includes both natural and man-made geography. Ecosystems, topography, bodies of water, and land formations are a few factors to consider. Is your story on the beach, or in a forest, or in the mountains? Man-made geography includes things like buildings, cemeteries/burial grounds, bridges, dams, towns/cities, monuments, plantations, etc.
Era: In which time period does your story occur? Consider the historical, political, and social implications and events of the era you choose. Is there a war going on? Has an important law just been passed? Which societal values are prevalent? What are the cultural norms?
Population: Consider if your story takes place in a crowded urban environment, like New York City or Hong Kong, or if it takes place in a rural, small town setting, like Jackson Hole, Wyoming.