I’m a writer blog

Guidelines for writing Poems, Stories and Tales

Writing a short story set in a place I’ve never been

How do you write a story about a place you’ve never been?

If you’re writing about a place you’ve never been, make sure that what you say about the place and the real people who live there is true. Lately I’ve seen writers put a huge Western-style ranch in an Eastern state, describe a modern Indian reservation in 1880s terms, and refer to nonexistent airplane routes.

How do you write a story that takes place in the past?

6 Tips for Writing Historical Fiction

  1. Freewrite to brainstorm ideas.
  2. Find an interesting way into a time period.
  3. Do your research.
  4. Build a world.
  5. Don’t get bogged down in dialogue.
  6. Add fictional characters.



How do you write a story about a place?

Tips for Writing about Place

  1. Describe the place as if it is a character in your story.
  2. Use literary devices to describe the place, such as metaphors, personification, and simile.
  3. Describe the physical attributes of the place using sensory images.
  4. Write about place as it means to you.

How do you write a short story setting?

How to Describe Setting in Writing

  1. Use sensory details. Use all five senses to describe the immediate surroundings to the reader to quickly immerse them in the environment of your story.
  2. Show, don’t tell.
  3. Use real-life locations.
  4. Incorporate figurative language.
  5. Keep it simple.



How do I start a short story of my life?

How to write your life story: 7 tips to start

  1. Decide whether you’ll write non-fiction or fictionalize.
  2. Choose an approach to time.
  3. Do what you need to set aside any fear.
  4. Summarize significant events to cover.
  5. Allow your authentic voice.
  6. Avoid telling the truth in oversimplified terms.

Can I write a fictional story about a real place?

Yes. You can make up places. Just make sure to indicate in the foreword that everything in your writing is purely a work of fiction, especially when you use the names of famous places. Otherwise, you might confuse readers – especially the young ones – if such a place exists.

Is it better to write a story in past or present?

For many writers, past tense is more natural to write than present tense, and it also allows for deep reflection and accommodates a lush descriptive style. If the narrator is also the main character, readers will deduce the character must have survived whatever story is being revealed.

What is it called when you tell a story from the past?

This narrative tool is called a flashback. Also used in films and television shows, flashbacks give a story more depth by revealing details that help readers understand character motives. Flashbacks also add tension and help advance the plot.

What is it called in a story where it takes place?

the setting

The time and location in which a story takes place is called the setting. For some stories the setting is veryimportant, while for others it is not. There are several aspects of a story’s setting to consider when examining how setting contributes to a story (some, or all, may be present in a story):

How do you show not tell a place?

Here’s how to show don’t tell in writing:



Avoid emotional explaining when showing not telling. Describe body language. Use strong verbs to show don’t tell. Focus on describing senses.