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. 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)
