The Setting is a Main Character

One of the most important responsibilities of being a writer is the job of taking readers to places they actually want to see. When I first started writing, I would often make the mistake of placing my characters in mundane, ordinary settings and then wonder why my book felt bland. Then I discovered an important truth: The Setting is a Main Character.

Authors spend all kinds of time trying to flesh out the hero and heroines of their books, creating backstories, personalities, quirks, weaknesses and strengths, but if the setting doesn't have the same attention, the story will be missing a vital element. A good example of this is the movie Titanic. If you ask anyone what it's about, they'll tell you all about Rose and Jack. But would the story be even half as interesting if Rose and Jack were on a Greyhound Bus instead? No and I'll tell you why: the Titanic was larger than life, glitzy and new, and yet it had all kinds of levels to explore, from Rose's luxurious private suite to the hot and steamy engine room; every corner of every level filled with historic, fascinating details.

The Titanic thrilled people when it was brand new and continues to capture the imagination even buried under the sea.

Not all stories can or should have something as big as the Titanic for their setting, but as a writer, I at least need to give my readers the promise that they'll see the most exciting parts of my setting. In my book TINDER SKY, there is a strong regency flavor. Now think about this: what does every regency reader hope to experience? If you said a ball, you'd probably be right. I knew this -- I am well versed in regency lore. And yet for the longest time, I refused to consider the idea of having a ball take place in my book. I wanted my characters to follow the natural flow of the story and if there was no ball, then by golly, I wasn't going to waste my time on writing a ball scene. Lucky for me, I came to my senses. I saw that if I was going to present a regency setting, I needed to embrace the idea of my characters experiencing the pinacol and most magical event that all regency fans crave, which is why I wrote the book's climactic scene to take place at a ball. In hindsight, I can see that I made the right choice. I had created a great leading lady for my main character, but I doubled my impact on the reader by coupling her with the most interesting, exciting setting that could be found in her charming, but otherwise boring, town.

To help you further analyze the importance of setting, here is a list of 20 movies that utilize setting to make an unforgettable experience for the viewer. By considering these examples, you might consider how the setting(s) behaves as an additional character in each story:

Fantasy & Sci-Fi Worlds

1. Avatar (2009) – The lush, bioluminescent world of Pandora, with its floating mountains and exotic wildlife.

2. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003) – The breathtaking landscapes of Middle-earth, from the Shire to Mordor.

3. Star Wars Saga – Iconic planets like Tatooine (desert world), Coruscant (city planet), and Endor (forest moon).

4. Dune (2021) – The vast, harsh desert landscapes of Arrakis, with its towering sand dunes and colossal sandworms.

5. Black Panther (2018) – The futuristic, Afrofuturist city of Wakanda, blending advanced technology with African culture.

Historical & Period Settings

6. Titanic (1997) – The grandeur of the Titanic, from its lavish first-class quarters to the eerie sinking sequence.

7. Gladiator (2000) – Ancient Rome, featuring the Colosseum and sprawling battlefields.

8. Pride and Prejudice (2005) – The English countryside, with its sweeping estates and elegant ballrooms.

9. The Revenant (2015) – The brutal, icy wilderness of the American frontier in the early 19th century.

10. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) – Ancient China, with stunning forests, temples, and floating fight scenes.

Urban & Futuristic Cities

11. Blade Runner 2049 (2017) – A neon-drenched, cyberpunk city filled with towering skyscrapers and dystopian vibes.

12. Inception (2010) – Dreamscapes that bend reality, including an endless staircase and a collapsing city.

13. The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005-2012) – Gotham City, a mix of Chicago-inspired grit and gothic architecture.

14. Metropolis (1927) – A visionary, futuristic city with towering skyscrapers and underground workers.

15. The Fifth Element (1997) – A chaotic yet vibrant futuristic metropolis, complete with flying cars and alien markets.

Mystical & Atmospheric

16. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) – A dark, fairy-tale world blending fantasy with the harsh reality of post-Civil War Spain.

17. Coraline (2009) – The eerie "Other World," with its dreamlike yet unsettling alternate reality.

18. Harry Potter Series (2001-2011) – Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, and the Forbidden Forest create a richly immersive world.

19. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) – A whimsical, pastel-colored European hotel in a fictional country.

20. Spirited Away (2001) – A stunning spirit realm inspired by traditional Japanese bathhouses and folklore.