How To Create Atmosphere and Draw Readers into Your Story

It was a dark and stormy night - Almost two hundred years ago, Edward Bulwer-Lytton repurposed and popularized this infamous line.

While often cited as a cliché and an example of bad writing, there is a reason we remember it to this day. There’s one key role this line plays; it creates atmosphere.

So, what is atmosphere anyway?

This is the feeling and texture your story creates. It helps the reader immerse themselves in your novel's world. Mystery novels need a sense of suspense, fantasy novels need a feeling of wonder and magic, and romance novels need intimacy and warmth.

5 ways to create atmosphere:

1. Through setting

Location is important in any story and can set the specific atmosphere of your novel. Does your mystery novel take place on the gloomy shores of Ireland? Perhaps your romance novel unfolds in sunny California. Even if you use a fictional place, stating it as the small town of Silver Creek or the enchanted land of Grasshill will have the same effect.

2. Through scenery

This ties into location but entails going into finer detail about the surroundings. Think shorelines, trees, weather and architecture. A mystery novel probably wouldn’t fit well with a sunny summer day, just like a romance probably wouldn’t feel right in constant gloom. However, scenery juxtapositions could be used as plot devices, if there’s a breakup then a rainy morning would intensify this moment.

3. Through the senses

We’ve got sight down so now let’s exercise the other senses. Point out the smell or even taste of salt-water surrounding you, or the scent of fresh flowers. Is there a chill in the air or does the sun beat down? Does the door creak when it opens? Your character might even experience a sour taste in their mouth after an uncomfortable situation. There’s so much to play around with here, the possibilities are endless.

4. Through feelings

Remember with this one to show and not tell. If your character is anxious, don’t simply state so. Explain that their heart rate increased and their palms felt clammy. You want your reader to feel what your character does in the moment.

5. Through Tone

Tone reveals an author or character’s attitude towards life and people. Sarcasm can create humour, an optimistic tone can create a sense of motivation and hope, and a serious voice can create gravity and weight. You can play around with this, changing the tone when certain characters are on page.

One final note: be careful to not overdo these examples, we want to prevent purple prose, which Mr. Bulwer-Lytton was accused of. Sprinkle the descriptions here and there, but not every paragraph.