Can a Novel’s Setting Come to Life?

by Alycia W. Morales

Have you ever been reading a novel when it suddenly dawns on you that the setting has become like a character in the book?

As I got into Aaron Gansky’s novel, The Bargain, I couldn’t help but notice how important the setting was. It’s the first time I’ve read a book and the setting has jumped off the page at me as if it had come to life.Have you ever read a novel where the setting came to life? #amreading #amwriting Share on X

A brief description of the novel:

Connor Reedly is a journalist whose wife is dying. She has chosen to go to her sister’s home in a small desert town named Hailey. It’s there Connor is approached by a local citizen and told he must write ten articles or his wife will die and Hailey will be destroyed. He’s challenged with finding the good in a not-so-good place.

Five reasons why I believe Aaron nailed the setting:

1. It matched the theme of his story. Between Connor’s dying wife and the dying town, the image of death a desert brings to mind fits perfectly.

2. It reflected the lives of the local citizens (secondary characters). Then there’s the challenge of finding good people in the midst of an evil society and secondary character motivation. What setting could be more challenging than the desert? (Maybe the ocean, but it wouldn’t have worked as well in this story.)

3. It mirrored the protagonist’s career. As a journalist, Connor had to dig to find the truth in matters. There is plenty of sand to dig through in a desert.

4. It even resembled the antagonist. Connor’s story involves a lot of pressure from an outside source. The heat of that pressure is well-matched by the heat of the desert.

5. It represented the protagonist’s character arc. Connor had to make more than one life-changing decisions throughout the novel. Think “Refiner’s Fire.”The setting of your novel can make a huge difference in your story if you choose the right one. #writing Share on X

So, Writer, think about the novel you’re writing right now. Is there a particular setting that would match the theme of your story? Would a different setting better amplify the things your character is going to suffer through or experience during their arc? Consider alternate settings for your novel and see if one may be better than the one you’re using now.