Location, location, location
vs.
Setting, setting, setting
You’ve heard the #1 rule for property value in real estate; “Location, location, location,” meaning that identical houses will have different values depending on their location.
Let’s extrapolate the concept to writing and look at setting. Setting includes not only location (geography), but also includes era (history) and situation. For example, the Mississippi River in Missouri during the 1840s, where two boys escape parental supervision and explore the river and any other trouble they can find.
Setting can be exciting and fresh, and can help make a book successful. Likewise, an overused setting can be boring and work against the success of the book.
To continue the triplet format, let’s discuss Setting, setting, and setting:
- What setting for a book is your all-time favorite? (yours or any book you’ve read.)
- What is your favorite setting to park yourself to read? (reality or a dream or wish)
- What setting have you never seen used in any books, but would like to see in a book, or even use it yourself in a story?
❖ What setting for a book is your all-time favorite? (yours or any book you’ve read.)
❦ Zaragoza. (named after Caesar Augustus) They have a basilica and a cathedral located within blocks of each other. The Moorish architecture is stunning. I’d love to spend a summer there, if I had the time and the money. I’ve spent several hours flying over the city via Google.
❖ What is your favorite setting to park yourself to read? (reality or a dream or wish)
❦ The botanic garden near me has many shady places to sit. I have an annual pass and often meet friends there after a stop at Subway. On a rainy day, there’s the main library, even closer.
❖ What setting have you never seen used in any books, but would like to see in a book, or even use it yourself in a story?
❦ Ha-ha! Hearst’s Castle. I could drive up there in a day, sometime, and get all the nifty places established. I suspect it will evoke suitable characters for a novel or screenplay.
Excellent and detailed, as usual, JG. Thanks!
Zaragoza sounds very interesting. And, oh, the wonders of Google’s eye in the sky. Your botanical garden sounds lovely. What city is that in? I had to Google Hearst’s Castle. That property would be loaded with inspiration for setting and characters.
Great ideas!
The South Coast Botanic Garden is in an unincorporated area of the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
An excellent movie, The Cat’s Meow, set aboard Hearst’s yacht, featured people who used to visit Hearst’s Castle. (Charlie Chaplin, Marion Davies, Thomas H. Ince, and Louella Parsons.) My mother met Marion Davies, Hearst’s mistress, at a charity event.
Thanks for the additional information, JG. Let us know when you write that book set in Hearst’s Castle.
Good morning, Steve.
Thanks for the interesting questions this morning.
1) Contemporary southern Louisiana in general and New Orleans in particular. James Lee Burke has utilized both frequently over the course of his brilliant career.
2) I park myself in my living room on a couch while I read. I’ve logged what are probably thousands of literary miles there.
3) There is a small park in New Orleans near an abandoned military base in the Bywater neighborhood where the Industrial Canal butts up against the Mississippi River. It is named “The End of the World.” The people in the city know of it but it is not a tourist destination by any means. I’ve killed someone there. On paper, of course.
Thanks again, Steve. Have a great weekend!
Good morning, Joe.
Somehow I’m not surprised that you chose New Orleans and James Lee Burke. It doesn’t get any better than that.
I like the description of thousands of literary miles for your couch. It must be very comfortable.
“At the far eastern end of the Bywater neighborhood, past Poland Avenue and below St. Claude, lies New Orleans’ most beloved unofficial public park. Across train tracks, through collapsed barbed wire-topped fence, and uphill atop a scruffy levee is how locals reach what they call ‘The End of the World.'” (Chron’s description) If I’m ever in New Orleans again, I want to see that unofficial park. When you finish your story that is set in “The End of the World,” let us know.
Thanks for participating, and I hope your weekend is wonderful!
1. L.A. My hometown is a never-ending source of noir criminality. Raymond Chandler and James M. Cain would agree.
2. A chair by the window in my front room.
3. TBA.
Thanks, Jim. I knew it would be L.A. for you. I bet the chair by the window provides an inspiring view. And, somehow, I’m sure that TBA setting will include Mike Romeo setting wrongs right. I look forward to reading it.
I was born in L.A. From the heights of the Palos Verdes peninsula, I can see the lights of “the City of Angels” out our windows overlooking the basin. It’s my most favorite noir story location:
“. . . The fog was lifting, and now I could see the lights of L.A. below. Its beauty was almost lost on me, because Carol hadn’t come. But I thought about Reba’s dad and let myself enjoy the view, anyway. Suddenly, the city looked like a carpet of jewels spread out before me . . . .” [from Mike Sledge’s Christmas Carol]
👍
Good Morning and Happy Friday, TKZers!
1. What setting for a book is your all-time favorite? (yours or any book you’ve read.)
It will be a surprise to no one that my favorite setting is the 19th century American West. Since childhood I’ve wished I could’ve lived in the U.S. when it was not 3 million people per square inch of space in population. No phones. No computers. And travel everywhere by horseback. WOOHOO!!!!!! That is so awesome. And while being sparsely populated had its own set of problems, people had to learn to interact with each other with no artificial barriers.
The most “recent” I’ve been able to drag myself forward to is circa 1917 for a story.
2. What is your favorite setting to park yourself to read? My desk chair.
3. What setting have you never seen used in any books, but would like to see in a book, or even use it yourself in a story? Will ponder this. Nothing comes to mind at the moment.
Good morning, BK. And, no, I’m not surprised. I would love a setting where “people had to learn to interact with each other with no artificial barriers.” With no phones and no computers and travel (and farming) with horses – Have you ever visited an Amish community?
Thanks for your answers.
Never visited an Amish community. However, growing up on the eastern shore of MD in a very rural area, I grew up seeing plenty of Amish buggies (and those beloved horses!) traveling along.
The largest Amish community in the U.S. is in northern Ohio (Holmes County). It’s interesting to observe a less complicated life-style coexisting with the rest of the community. I haven’t seen it, but the auctions where the Amish buy their buggy horses are supposed to be pretty exciting. They buy thoroughbreds that are past their racing years, and they love the spirited ones – the Amish hotrods.
Great questions, Steve!
Like Jim, I willingly travel to any world built by Raymond Chandler, as long as I don’t have to drive in big-city traffic!
A warm sandy deserted beach with an umbrella and a comfortable chaise lounge. Alternatively, a comfortable chair beside a fireplace while a blizzard rages outside. Going way back in time, in my childhood living room, sitting sideways in a particular chair with rounded, padded arms, legs draped over one arm and back against the other, devouring Nancy Drew books.
Hmmm. The last question requires more coffee.
A big shout out to Brian, TKZ’s intrepid webmaster, who got us through a major upgrade to the site yesterday. Thank you, Brian!
Amen, to the toast to Brian this morning! Thanks, Brian!
Great answers, Debbie. I liked that world built by Raymond Chandler with no big-city traffic. I like to read that way. I try to travel that way.
That warm, sandy beach and the comfy chair for reading Nancy Drew stories reminded me of a tree in front of our house (many moons ago) where I climbed to read The Hardy Boys. Not quite as comfortable, but I couldn’t be found for chores.
When you get some more caffeine coursing through your brain, tell us about that newly discovered (and copyrighted) setting. Of course, like JSB you can just say “TBA.”
Have a great weekend!
Fun questions, Steve!
What setting for a book is your all-time favorite? (yours or any book you’ve read.)
Alaska (near Dutch Harbor) and the Arctic. I had so much fun in both areas in my latest, Tracking Mayhem, that I parked my characters there for the next book, too.
What is your favorite setting to park yourself to read? (reality or a dream or wish)
In my recliner in the living room. Nature in rural New Hampshire embraces me through tall dome windows.
What setting have you never seen used in any books, but would like to see in a book, or even use it yourself in a story?
Stumped me with this question. As long as the story is compelling, I’m willing to travel anywhere.
Thanks for sharing, Sue.
I agree with your setting favorite. I was in Alaska once, for a family reunion – the most beautiful place I’ve ever been.
Your reading setting sounds grand. I bet you can see the crows through those tall dome windows.
Good luck with the sales of Tracking Mayhem.
I hope the Canadian smoke is not too severe, and you have a wonderful weekend.
I always tie Setting to Time. In my scene summaries, I list: Location, Day/Time, and Weather at the top (before getting into Opening, Obstacle, Outcome).
1. My favorite setting is still maybe NYC in the early 1600s, around which my first full-length fiction revolves. There’s something about that little island called Mannahatta that continues to fascinate me, especially thinking back to when wolves and bears roamed through the vast strawberry fields.
2. I like to read in bed at the end of a long day. Moving from a cold screen to a warm lamp helps bring on the sleep fairies.
3. I’d like to see Texas in a post-apocalyptic future after a devastating asteroid strike has killed off most of humanity. Oh, wait… I’m writing that story!
Thanks for participating, Harald. That 1600s NYC sounds truly interesting. Reading in bed is my favorite these days. No time to squeeze it in any other time.
Your WIP with a post apocalyptic Texas is a really intriguing idea. If most of mankind has been wiped out, I think I would head for the equator rather than north. Let us know when your book is published.
I love San Fransisco. So do many authors.
I can read anywhere. One of Kindle’s advantages. My father always had a paperback in his pocket and could wait out any line. My phone has easily a dozen books on the ready.
I have a game and book based oCoyote & Crown the Cahokans. Cahokia, across the river from St. Louis, 1000 years ago or so, was the heart of a civilation covering most of what was the Louisiana Purchase. By 1350 the vast city was abandoned. It leaves a great many what ifs to explore.
Great answers, Alan
Yes, the Kindle and being able to read anywhere. Good point.
The Cahokans, now that would be a wonderful civilization to explore in a book. So many mysteries. What happened etc.? I hope you write that book.
What great questions, Steve. And I’m enjoying everyone’s answers.
What setting for a book is your all-time favorite? (yours or any book you’ve read.) This is especially timely. There are so many possibilities, but I’m going to opt for first-century Jerusalem. Timely because Randy Ingermanson wrote a time-travel series in that setting, and you get the sense of being there in person. (Just so happens Randy will be my interview guest on my blog at https://kaydibianca.com on Monday where he talks in depth about his series, and commenters have a chance to win an ebook copy of “Transgression”, the first book in that series.)
What is your favorite setting to park yourself to read? (reality or a dream or wish) My reality setting is the recliner in my office. The dream setting is based on a castle-converted-to-hotel in Fort William, Scotland where we stayed once. I remember eating lunch on the back patio overlooking a small lake and thinking it was like being in a dream. I can envision myself sitting on that patio and being served tea while I consume one book after another. 🙂
What setting have you never seen used in any books, but would like to see in a book, or even use it yourself in a story? This is a tough question. Maybe I’ll create a fictional town in Scotland.
Great answers, Kay.
First-century Jerusalem for a setting. Wow. I look forward to your interview with Randy.
That dream setting of reading on the patio of the Scottish castle is quite a place to read. It would be hard to return home.
For a new setting and a fictional town in Scotland: Diana Gabaldon did okay using Scotland as a setting. I can see your MC flying through a prehistoric monument and introducing flight to the highlanders.
Hope your weekend is a good one.
Good morning, Steve. Evocative post and terrific questions.
1. For a guy who loved to read “secondary world fantasies” when younger (Tolkien, Robin Hobb, Fritz Leiber etc) and galaxy spanning science fiction, it’s ironically sweet that my favorite setting for my own fiction is now my fictional, hilly, forested southwest Portland neighborhood of Fir Grove, which is inspired by real southwest Portland neighborhoods I spent many years of my life working in and visiting. Yet, not surprising at all, given the magical quality such places can possess in hedge lined narrow lane, a steeply angled street, the sun dappled clearings, the myriad bird songs, and all the homes and shops old and new.
2. My favorite place to read is a tie between the comfy couch in the living room and our bed.
3. Like Sue, you’ve stumped me. Upon thinking, I realize I have an idea, and like Jim, it will TBA.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Good morning, Dale. And great answers.
They say, write what you know. That personal knowledge of neighborhoods in Portland will serve you well in adding all that magical detail that will make your story jump off the page.
The couch or the bed. They both sound comfy.
I thought, this morning, that I could get a few writers to spill the beans on the novel settings they are currently creating. It appears that most of you have had your coffee and are not going to spill the beans. (And others have pleaded caffeine deficiency.) Well, I tried.
Let us know when TBA is published.
Have a great weekend!
Great questions, Steve. Had to go refill my mug before I tackled them. Also, I echo everyone’s thanks for the tech work on the site yesterday. Can’t do without you!
What setting for a book is your all-time favorite? (yours or any book you’ve read.) Any setting in any novel by Charles Martin.
What is your favorite setting to park yourself to read? (reality or a dream or wish) The corner of my couch, which is situated in a bay window, with a snack and yet another cup of coffee. Between 2pm and 4pm-ish.
What setting have you never seen used in any books, but would like to see in a book, or even use it yourself in a story? In 1997, I traveled with my brother from my home in central Washington to Minnesota for the birth of my first grandchild. What a trip! My brother doesn’t understand speed limit signs . . .
Anyway, flying across North Dakota, we passed a road sign. It was huge. The road it pointed to was dirt, and veered south off the highway. The name of the road?
BAD ROAD
You crime writers out there, I’m sure you could think up a scary plot or two for that setting.
🙂
Sorry about all the bold…clearly did not drink enough joe before answering. 🙁
You clearly got our attention.
Good morning, Deb. I second your motion to express our appreciation for Brian’s work on the site. Everything seems to be flowing smoothly – no speed limit signs in sight.
Favorite setting: Charles Martin. Oh, yes. I’ve read a couple of his books. His descriptions and settings are magical. A real master.
Favorite setting to read: It appears that couches and coffee are the writer’s best friends. Couches and Coffee Would that make a good title for a story about a writer who would…TBA? I don’t know. I haven’t had enough coffee yet.
Unused setting: Bad Road, North Dakota. You could really let your mind run wild with the possibilities.
And, finally, Thanks, Deb for doing the post next Friday, while I chase three active granddaughters all over the property. I’ll need that couch and coffee at least twice each day.
At least . . .
I love an isolated, chilly setting. Like a cabin in a snowstorm. It makes all sorts of genres more interesting be it romance or horror or whatever.
Thanks for stopping by, Priscilla. Excellent thoughts. That isolated setting also makes it easier to focus on the characters with fewer other people in the way.
Hope your weekend is filled with happy writing.