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Setting the scene for your story

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Setting is more than just a place for your story to happen. It anchors a story in time and place. And that's not all. A vividly described location allows the reader to enter the world of your story.

So how do you set the scene for your story? Let's take a look at three essential elements: place, time and mood.

Place

As a writer, you need to convince the reader that the story really happened - at least while they're reading it. In order to do this, you need a believable place.

Depending on your story, this might be anywhere from a village in China to a city on the moon. It might be in an airplane, a spaceship, a cave, a room or a haunted house. The options are limitless. So how do you decide? Some authors choose a place they know well and then 'invent' some details to bring it alive. Others pick somewhere unfamiliar and read articles and look at photos and maps in order to have a thorough understanding of the place.

Authors of fantasy or science-fiction stories usually invent a place by combining real details with imaginary ones. A good example of this is Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the Harry Potter series. Think about where you'd like to be. Then go to the library or search the internet for an interesting place for a story.

Time

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