The Series Series, Part 5: Tracking Settings
In the last post, we looked at building, developing and maintaining the continuity of characters within a series. Now let’s look at the same thing with respect to setting.
The key to creating an evocative setting – whether real or fantasy – is to incorporate the senses. Many writers describe only what can be seen when it comes to describing a setting, but we experience our surroundings with all our senses, not just our vision.
Just as we discussed creating a character worksheet or file to keep track of character details, the same tool is useful when it comes to settings. Â In the Childrens Book Hub, we have Setting Worksheets available for download – but if you’d rather create your own spreadsheet or file for tracking your setting(s), be sure it includes details about the following (and the more specific the better):
- City/Town/Village
- Region/Area/Country
- Buildings – style of architecture, age, materials
- Room(s) – size, function, décor, relationship/placement, furniture
- Topography / Landscape – hilly, flat, desert, ocean, forest, etc?
- Flora and Fauna
- Climate
- Year/Time Period
- Season
- Sights
- Sounds
- Smells
- Textures
- Weather
- History / Historical Facts (what else happened there?)
- Other details, features or elements specific to this place
- The “rules of the world” (if fantasy, or different than our world)
