The Fiction Project – Describe the Setting

Below is your assignment for this week's step of the Fiction Project.

Fiction Fundamentals

Week

Step in the Project

Setting

Week 05

Describe the setting where your story takes place.

Step 1. Your first step is done! During Weeks 03 and 04, you completed your plot outline and theme plus your two character sketches. (You are probably inserting a lot of this work into the rough draft of your story.)

Step. 2. Study  the section on "Setting" in your textbook, especially the "Do's for Description" at the end of the section.

Step 3. Describe the setting. Details of setting answer the question: "Where are we?" You probably already know where your story is taking place, but now is the time to develop the detail and mood, the power of the setting. Then you can use it in your story!

Sample sentences for a setting

The little girl and her mother live next to a large forest. The forest trees and plants grow thickly together, thorn branches pushing into palm leaves, rubber trees scraping bamboo. Large black birds fly from tree to tree, cawing. Only one trail cuts through the forest, letting in a little bit of sun. And so on.

What to turn in this week: Submit a description of your short story’s setting.

Developing Your Rough Draft

Keep working on the rough draft of your story. Feel free to incorporate any details of setting from this week's exercise. Remember, your Rough Draft is not due until Week 08.