A Picture In A Thousand Words: Setting and Description Presented by Margaret Moore Abridged Handout

The setting is the world of your story -- the time and place where your characters live and act. The more vivid your setting, the more realistic your story will seem, even if it's set in a galaxy far, far away.

Establish time and place as quickly as possible

Use objects - furniture, vehicles, food

Use character - dialogue, clothing

Use nouns as specific as you can, or proper names

Look for the telling detail.

Use all the senses

Every scene should be "set"

Active Description

difference between static and active description

avoid distancing mechanisms

Don't forget emotions!

What are your characters feeling in that scene?

Who's point of view are we in?

How much of the setting should you describe?

depends upon pacing

depends upon style