15 min read Comments creative writing setting writing practice creative writing workshop blog patrons Gersande's Writing Corner world-building Save to Pocket

Create A Compelling Story Setting

A photo of an alleyway in late march after dusk, full of snow still, and a black cat visible in the light of a lantern.
A black cat crosses your path after dusk in an empty alleyway. Your adventure is about to begin!
“Places are never just places in a piece of writing. If they are, the author has failed. Setting is not inert. It is activated by point of view.”

— Carmen Maria Machado

At the request of a few patrons who suggested we tackle story settings for our March 28 Writing Corner, I prepared these in-depth notes on world-building and crafting setting, including a section on troubleshooting writers block when it comes to settings, a vocabulary guide, and five writing exercises (including prompts) to practise writing about places and settings.

I share the full document here with my patrons not only as a blog, but also as an exclusive and downloadable 14-page PDF at the end of this post.

Gersande La Flèche

Gersande La Flèche they/them/their

Committing acts of sedition against the Academie française since 1990.
MTL // Tiohtià:ke