Introduction
When you write a story, you need two important ingredients: Setting (where and when the story takes place) and Characters (who the story is about). Without these, it’s like trying to make a sandwich with no bread or peanut butter—yikes! Imagine your favorite movie: There’s always a cool place where everything happens, like a magical forest, and interesting characters, like talking animals or brave heroes. Setting and characters are what make your story exciting and fun to read!
Settings
What is the Setting?
The setting is like the world where your story happens. It can be a real place, like a city, or an imaginary one, like a floating castle in space! You can also think about the time: Is it happening now? In the past? Or even in the future?
Reasons to Use
The setting helps readers imagine where the characters are and what the world around them looks like. It also sets the mood—like a spooky setting for a ghost story or a sunny beach for a fun summer adventure.
Out in the Wild!
Let’s say you’re writing about a pirate searching for treasure. You can choose:
- A tropical island with palm trees and hidden caves for a classic pirate adventure.
- An underwater city for a fun, fish-filled twist on a pirate story.
- A futuristic space station where the pirate flies a spaceship instead of a ship!
Characters
What are Characters?
Characters are the stars of your story! They can be people, animals, or even magical creatures. They can be heroes (good guys), villains (bad guys), or anyone in between. Each character has a unique personality, and it’s your job as the storyteller to make them come alive!
Reasons to Use
Characters are the heart of your story—they’re the ones who go on adventures, face challenges, and make decisions. Readers need characters they can cheer for, laugh with, or sometimes even feel scared of!
Out in the Wild!
Let’s imagine you’re writing about a dragon. Here’s how you could create characters:
- A brave knight who wants to fight the dragon and protect the kingdom.
- A kind dragon who’s actually misunderstood and just wants to make friends.
- A funny wizard who tries to help the knight but keeps messing up his spells!
Examples
Beginner:
- Setting: A sunny meadow with lots of colorful flowers.
- Characters: A curious bunny named Hop and a friendly butterfly named Flutter.
- Story: Hop and Flutter go on a journey to find the biggest flower in the meadow.
Intermediate:
- Setting: An enchanted forest where trees can talk and rivers glow in the dark.
- Characters: A lost princess named Zara and a talking wolf named Moon.
- Story: Zara and Moon must work together to find the magical map that leads her back to her castle.
Expert:
- Setting: A futuristic city on Mars where robots rule and humans live in glass domes.
- Characters: A smart inventor named Kai and his robot friend, Bolt.
- Story: Kai and Bolt discover a secret plot by the robot mayor to take control of all the humans, and they must stop it before it’s too late.
Troubleshooting Tips
- The setting doesn’t feel exciting: Add details! Is it rainy, sunny, or snowy? Are there cool places like caves, towers, or rivers?
- The characters feel boring: Give them unique traits! Does one character love ice cream? Is another scared of the dark? Make them stand out!
- Not sure what your characters should do? Think about their goals: What do they want, and how will they achieve it? Maybe they’re looking for treasure, solving a mystery, or trying to save the day.
Also known as...
- Setting: Background, location, world
- Characters: Cast, people, heroes, figures
Where else is this Used?
As kids develop more advanced storytelling skills, they can experiment with settings that change during the story—like moving from a peaceful village to a dangerous forest—or characters who grow and change, like a shy character becoming brave by the end of the story. They can also create multiple settings (like a world with different magical lands) or give their characters complex relationships and goals.
Memory Tips
- Think of a movie set! The setting is like the stage and scenery, and the characters are the actors who make everything interesting.
- Draw a map! If you’re writing about a special world, drawing a map can help you picture where everything happens. You can even label where your characters live or travel to.
- Make a character card! Write down your character’s name, favorite food, biggest fear, and a fun fact about them. This will help you keep track of who they are.
Game Time!
Struggling to Find a Good Location or Create the Perfect Characters for Your Story?
Don’t worry! At Fynschool’s Creative Carnival, we have just the thing to help: the Amazing Story Builder Mini App! Whether you’re stuck choosing a magical setting or need some inspiration for creating fun and exciting characters, our Story Builder has everything you need to spark your creativity and build an incredible tale.
Come explore it at Creative Carnival, and let your imagination run wild! Ready to bring your story to life? Join us and start creating today! 🌟