Use Setting to Define Character

You can learn a lot about a person by visiting their house or office. A writer can use that to her advantage.

Let’s assume your POV character is visiting the office of Mr. Smith, who they are meeting for the first time. You could simply describe the office as tidy or messy and give a hint of Mr. Smith’s character, or you could create a setting that painted a vivid picture of the occupant.

Four office setting examples that paint a picture of their occupants:

Office # 1

Mr. Smith’s office was extremely tidy. Two walls were taken up by bookcases, organized by subject. A third wall was filled by a row of identical filing cabinets, each drawer marked with a color-coded label. The stack of in-boxes was labeled with similar color-coded cards, and the squares on the desk-sized calendar were divided into numbered slices using colored ink. Next to the calendar lay a blank legal pad and a row of colored pens, each aligned perfectly with the edge of the desk.

Office # 2

Mr. Smith’s office was extremely tidy. Two walls were taken up by bookcases, filled with row after row of old books in matching bindings. A white mini blind covered the window, which was flanked by identical gray filing cabinets. A gray desk filled the center of the room, bare except for a pad of white paper, a single black pen and an empty in-box. Behind the desk, in place of the typical swivel desk chair stood a metal folding chair. The unpadded kind.

Two tidy offices. Two very different occupants. The same goes for these two messy offices…

Office # 3

Mr. Smith’s office was a chaotic wreck. Two walls were taken up by bookcases crammed with books, many of which had bits of paper marking various pages. More books were lying open on the desk amidst a jumble of papers. Behind the desk was a white board covered in rectangles filled with compact writing. The blocks of text were connected by arrows and peppered with sticky notes and occasional doodles. A stack of papers at least a foot high filled the in-box, occasional colored sticky notes jutting from the stack.

Office # 4

Mr. Smith’s office was a chaotic wreck. Two walls were taken up by bookcases filled with books, lumps of rock, lab equipment, and a variety of hats. Larger pieces of lab equipment sat on the floor behind the desk, under a pile of lab aprons. A flashlight and a single work boot balanced atop the pile. The desk was covered in a jumble of dented three-ring binders, crumpled napkins, empty coffee mugs, a handful of mechanical pencils, and a large box of jumbo-sized paperclips that had tipped over and spilled its contents across the mess and onto the floor.

As these examples show, before Mr. Smith enters the scene, we have a pretty good idea of his personality based solely on the description of his office.

One descriptive paragraph performing double duty—setting the scene and introducing a character at the same time.

Four suggestions for using setting to enhance your characters:

• Create a personal space. Does your character have a space he has some control over, such as an office or bedroom. As in the examples above, those spaces can be filled with possessions and decor that communicate his personality.
• Introduce a passion. What kinds of setting best define your character’s passions? A sewing room? The garage? An empty-lot-turned-garden? The local fitness club? A mountain path? Can you find a way to introduce the character in that space?
• Define a sanctuary. What kinds of setting does your character go to when they desire peace and quiet, or when they need comfort or safety? A tree house in the backyard? A friend’s apartment? The local library? The attic? Show the details that make the space a sanctuary for your character.
• Use character to fine-tune the setting. List words that describe your character. Does the list bring a specific setting to mind? Use it. Does the list include words like messy, colorful, or stylish that could be applied to a multitude of settings? Let those words inform the setting details.

Make your setting do double duty by painting a vivid picture of the characters who belong there.

Lisa E. Betz believes that everyone has a story to tell the world. She loves to encourage fellow writers to be intentional about their craft and courageous in sharing their words with others. Lisa shares her words through dramas, Bible studies, historical mysteries, and her blog about intentional living. You can find her on Facebook  LisaEBetzWriter and Twitter @LisaEBetz