In this episode of The Novelry on Writing, authors and writing coaches Andrea Stewart and Lesley Kara dive deep into the art of crafting unforgettable story settings! Whether you’re writing a novel, short story, or screenplay, the setting is more than just a backdrop—it’s a dynamic tool to elevate your storytelling. In this episode, you’ll discover: 

• How placing your character in an unfamiliar location can create tension and drive the plot.  

• Ways to use natural elements (such as weather and terrain) to enhance mood and conflict.  

• Techniques to reveal hidden depths of your characters through their interactions with the setting.  

• How to link your setting to the story’s theme for a richer, more cohesive narrative.  

• The art of subverting expectations with your setting to surprise and delight readers.  

Happy writing!

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction

01:30 - Tip #1: Unfamiliar Location

03:07 - Tip #2: Use the Elements

04:46 - Tip #3: Use Setting to Reveal Character

07:10 - Tip #4: Link the Setting to the Theme

08:22 - Tip #5: Subvert the Setting 

Guest Bios

Andrea Stewart

The Novelry writing coach Andrea Stewart is the Sunday Times bestselling author of the Drowning Empire trilogy. Her second trilogy, the Hollow Covenant, sold to Orbit in a six-figure deal and the first installment, The Gods Below, was an instant Sunday Times bestseller in Fall 2024. Andrea’s debut, The Bone Shard Daughter, was a finalist for the Goodreads Choice Awards for Fantasy and for Debut Novel, the Locus Award for Best First Novel, the British Fantasy Award Best Novel, the BookNest Award for Best Traditionally Published Novel, and the Compton Crook Award.

Lesley Kara

The Novelry writing coach Lesley Kara is a Sunday Times Top Ten and Amazon No.1 internationally bestselling author of psychological thrillers. Her debut novel, The Rumor, was the highest-selling print crime fiction debut of 2019, the bestselling ebook of that year, and was shortlisted for the East Anglian Fiction Award, the Capital Crime/Amazon Publishing Best Debut Novel, and the Dead Good Books Cat and Mouse Award. It has been optioned for TV by Cuba Pictures and sold in over 18 territories. Who Did You Tell? was also a Sunday Times bestseller. Lesley regularly speaks at literary festivals across the U.K. and co-hosts the crime fiction podcast, In Suspense. 

Resources

Check out these blog posts for more insight on how to write a compelling story:

How to Raise the Stakes in Your Story

How to Structure a Scene

Falling in Love with a Setting

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Show description

Learn how novels work from publishing’s top experts at The Novelry, the world’s #1 school for writers. Hosted by our bestselling writing coaches and publishing editors, this podcast is a practical, helpful guide to writing novels for every genre. Enjoy inside tips and tricks to make your writing a joyful experience while building your expertise in writing craft.

There is always something to learn at The Novelry, the world’s top-rated fiction writing school with more 5* reviews from writers than any other creative writing course.