1. FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS OF SETTING Notes from Writer’s Digest

2. Locale  Country, State, or Region  City or Town  Neighborhood or Street  House or Other Building  Shorelines or Islands  Farms or Rural Areas

3. Time of Year  Seasons  Holidays  Anniversaries for Individuals  Anniversaries of Major Events

4. Time of Day  Day or Night  Dawn or Dusk  Morning or Afternoon

5. Elapsed Time  Minutes  Hours  Days  Weeks  Months Need for flashbacks?

6. Mood or Atmosphere  Weather  Temperature  Lighting  Other Tangible Factors Influences of Emotional Timbre

7. Climate  Linked to geography and topography  Influences:  Ocean currents  Land forms  Winds  Altitude  Latitude  Other features (harsh, tropical, etc.)

8. Geography  Water  Landforms  Ecosystems  Topography  Climate  Soil, Plants, Trees, Rocks and Minerals

9. Man-made Geograhpy  Dams or Bridges  Ports  Towns and Cities  Monuments  Burial Grounds or Cemeteries  Famous Buildings  Effects of mines, deforestation, agriculture, irrigation, cattle grazing, etc.

10. Eras of Historical Importance  Important Events  Wars  Historical Periods  Examples: Civil War, Medieval Times, Civil Rights Movement, 9/11, etc.

11. Social/Political/Cultural Environment  Important Movements, Ideas, People  Influences on  Character’s Values  Social and Family Roles  Sensibilities

12. Population  Dense  Lonely  Isolated

13. Ancestral Influences  Depicted in  Cuisine  Dialogue  Values  Attitudes  General Outlook  Associated with another locale (Ex. Louisiana influenced by Native American, French-Canadian, and African American forebears)

14. Locale Time of Year Time of Day Elapsed Time Mood and Atmosphere Climate Geography Man-Made Geography Eras of Historical Importance Social/Political/ Cultural Environment Population Ancestral Influence