When Setting Gives Birth to Geography
I have a friend from a completely different life. We often talk about writing, and since I have a bit more experience, I welcome her questions—including this one.
Is setting the same thing as geography?
She’s adorable when she gets chatty, even though I can’t always keep up with her energy. But the questions she asks are good ones. Some people might see them as overly simple, yet they’re the kind of questions that matter in the long run.
Setting is like the parent of geography.
It determines the era, location, climate—and by extension, everything that grows out of those choices.
When you decide to write a story, one of the first things you begin tinkering with is the setting. And once the setting is chosen, it quietly gives birth to several other attributes—geography being only one of them.
CULTURE AND RACE AS PRODUCTS OF SETTING
One of those attributes is racial and cultural context.
This includes periods of segregation, racism, racial diversity, racial unity, and the timelines associated with them. For example, eras of slavery or racial emancipation aren’t just historical facts—they’re setting-driven realities that shape how characters move through the world, what opportunities they have, and what conflicts exist.
These elements don’t float independently. They are anchored to time, place, and societal structure.
ENVIRONMENT AND DAILY LIFE
Then there’s the environment.
The environment includes animals, the economy, labour systems, and climate. A Victorian-era setting produces a completely different world from the 21st century—and both differ drastically from a futuristic or sci-fi setting.
The work people do, how wealth circulates, what resources are scarce or abundant, and even how far characters can travel in a day are all consequences of setting. Geography reflects this, but it doesn’t originate it.
RELIGION AND BELIEF SYSTEMS
Religion also integrates deeply with the setting.
Belief systems shape laws, moral expectations, rituals, and social behaviour. Whether it’s Igbo spirituality with Chukwu, Hindu traditions in India, Buddhist philosophies in China, or Islam with Allah—these systems are not decorative details. They influence how characters understand life, death, duty, power, and community.
And if we choose to write within real belief systems, respect matters. Setting is not just about accuracy—it’s about responsibility.
Geography is not just land, maps, or scenery.
It is the visible outcome of invisible decisions made by the setting.
So no—setting and geography are not the same thing.
The other tells the story of what was born.
