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How much do you love this place? Will you still love it six books from now? Does it have enough room to grow—meaning, is it large enough (in possibilities not just square footage) for continual discoveries and revelations?

Are you going to be able make this location uniquely your own?

Is this location going to appeal to a lot of readers?

Yes, cute, quaint villages are WAY overused. But readers still love them—and probably always will (if Hallmark’s Christmas season scheduling is anything to judge by). You can make your village feel familiar and beloved yet unique and fresh if you know how to spruce the place up.

Doyou?

Or do you typically describe settings with a quick generic description?

Creating a setting that feels real to readers involves weaving together various literary elements that engage the senses, evoke emotions, and build a believable world.

Here are some key elements to consider when crafting a setting that resonates with realism and depth:

Vivid Sensory Details:Use descriptive language that appeals to the five senses—sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. Describe the way a place looks during different times of the day, the sounds that fill the air, the scents that linger, the textures of objects, and even the taste of the local cuisine. Sensory details immerse readers in the setting, making it feel lived-in and real.

Cultural Nuances (Real or Made Up):Every place has its own culture, traditions, and social norms. Including details about local customs, languages, clothing, festivals, and everyday behaviors can add depth and authenticity to your setting. These elements help readers understand the social dynamics and cultural context in which your characters operate.

Geographical and Environmental Details:The geography and environment of your setting can significantly affect the story’s atmosphere and the characters’ lives. Describing the landscape, weather patterns, flora, and fauna can ground your story in a specific location and influence the plot and character interactions. What time is sunrise during the summer? How cold does it get during the winter? Do *&&^^%$#@@ing hummingbirds live there? (Yes, the hummingbirds are a little inside joke.)

Historical Background:Even if your story is set in a fantasy or futuristic world, knowing the history of the place can add layers of richness. Mentioning historical events, local legends, or generational tales can provide a sense of timelessness and continuity—whether you made them up five minutes ago or not.

Economic and Political Context:The economic conditions and political landscape can shape the setting’s feel and the characters’ lives. Describing the local economy, class divisions, political tensions, or governance structures can lend credibility to the setting and motivate character actions. Just stay off the soapbox.

Architecture and Urban Planning:The design of buildings, streets, and public spaces can tell readers a lot about a place’s character, history, and the people who live there. Whether it’s the opulence of a wealthy neighborhood, the cramped quarters of a bustling city, or the rustic charm of a rural village, architectural details help paint a vivid picture.

Social Interactions and Community Life:How people interact with each other in public and private spaces reveals much about the setting. Describing market scenes, family gatherings, religious services, or nightlife can bring the social fabric of your setting to life.

Everyday Life and Routine:The mundanity of daily life—commuting, working, shopping, eating—though seemingly trivial, can significantly contribute to the realism of a setting. Is there a tourist season? Is there an “off” season? On what industry is the local economy built? Showing characters navigating their everyday routines helps readers relate to the world you’ve created.

Contrasts and Conflicts:Real places are filled with contrasts and conflicts, whether they’re cultural, social, environmental, or political. Including these elements can add tension and drama, making the setting more dynamic and engaging. However, contemporary cozy or not, I’d avoid getting into political specifics. You can still demonstrate the political causes and values important to your character without coming right out and saying it. I mean, if you’re writing a gay cozy mystery, we can probably make one or two assumptions.

Finally, don’t forget to make the settings where your character works and sleeps feel real. You don’t need paragraphs, let alone pages of details.

It’s about quality not quantity of detail.

And don’t info dump it all at once. You’re not a real estate agent giving a house tour. Give the reader a quick snapshot of where your character is—allow the reader to see what you’re seeing, what the character is seeing—and consider the lens through which the character views their surroundings. An interior decorator or someone in the process of renovating their house is going to notice different things than an art collector or art restorer. A bookseller is going to notice bookshelves. A cook is going to pay attention to the kitchen. Everybody is going to notice my Christmas decorations are still up in March.

Setting provides clues to character; setting tells us about the characters who inhabit these spaces.

But also, setting is one of the most powerful tools you have in creating an immersive experience for your reader. The more vibrant and real you can make your settings feel, the more deeply entranced in the story your reader will be.

Again, it’s not about alotof detail. It’s thetypeof detail.

Pay attention to backgrounds in the TV shows and movies you watch. Flip through magazines. Direct your telescope toward your neighbors’ windows.

I’M KIDDING.

But you get the idea. Talking heads are never a good thing in fiction, but they are especially not a good thing when your goal is to create a snuggly cocoon for the reader.

Take the time to consider whether you can add a bit of sensory detail to each scene—or whether those details are going to distract from the action. People aren’t noticing flower arrangements when they’ve just caught their prime suspect in a lie—unless the flower arrangementisthe lie.

By considering and integrating these elements thoughtfully, you can create a setting that not only supports your story but also becomes a character in its own right, enriching the narrative and captivating your readers with its originality, realism, and depth.

Exercise 1: The Sensory Map

Crafting charming yet believable settings is key to the allure of cozy mysteries. Here are two exercises designed to help aspiring authors develop such settings with depth and authenticity.