How To Write A School Setting?

[mint cookie]

Hi! I'm writing a story set in high school but I'm not sure how to go about writing the setting of the school or how the main protagonist interacts with the other students in the school. (This story follows romance between two students) Help?

 

[Margaret Note Spelling]

I would imagine there are already many differences in culture between different types of schools, and in different places--English school cultures is going to be terribly different from American school culture. I'd say your first step would be to decide where (and when!) your fictional school is placed. Then you might ask people in your acquaintance about their experiences, if they've been to a similar school or had similar experiences. I expect it'll be different for boys and girls, too. And different depending on their own family's affluence or community standing or any number of smaller details that affect the way people interact.

You could also read stories that deal with such settings as you're looking to write. You could find Youtube videos from people who are actually students at a high school, and who talk about their experiences. There's probably an awful lot of data about things like high schools, which is an experience so many people have gone through. It seems like the stereotypes have been somewhat engraved in American culture now, although that may or may not be helpful (stereotypes rarely are).

(Granted, you probably want to take everything I say with a grain of salt, since I was homeschooled and never experienced anything like a high school. On the other hand, maybe that makes me a good person to ask, because that means I don't know much about the setting myself and that's how I think I'd start trying to figure out how to write about a high school setting.)

Also...maybe talk to some high school students, if you know any? If you don't, maybe come up with a good excuse to go and meet some (giving out free oreos? I don't know) and ask them what it's like. There are so many children in a school, there are bound to be plenty who are happy and excited to help you out with providing an accurate setting for your book, if you tell them your questions. Some of them may even be interested in creative writing themselves, and in trading opinions and experiences with you.

(The belief inherent in my advice here, of course, is that teenagers are actually capable of being normal and rational human beings, a belief that honestly hasn't been very prevalent in modern times.... )

 

[CupofJoe]

Schooling can be very different even for people in the same class. For two years I went to a church school that had only that year [and apparently grudgingly] gone co-ed. I was one of two boys in class of 20+ girls, in a school of 400-500 more girls*.
For things like PE we had play separate games [just the two boys - not many games there].
We had to change in a broom store and showering had to be done behind locked and watched doors.
The Teachers acted like they hated the two of us. We would be punished for almost anything [okay a few of them were genuine].
Overall I hated the school and begged my parents to let me go somewhere else... Anywhere else.
But a girl my age who I met years later also went to the school at the same time and loved every minute of it.
All she remembered was the good times and the friends she had made.
As @Margaret Note Spelling has intimated a bit of research and setting will go a long way.
Then you will know what you don't know [but want to know].

* I am still friend with Comrade Brother 40+ years on.

 

[Rufus Coppertop]

If you don't know how the main protagonist interacts with the other students at the school, then it's possible that you don't really know who your protagonist is.

Maybe it would help you to think of a movie character you like and model your protagonist on them. Harry Potter? Percy Jackson? Some dude from Mazerunner maybe?

Who would YOU like your protagonist to resemble? How do YOU want them to interact?

This website ...................... Characters - TV Tropes .....................................is a treasure trove. Don't be put off by the fact that it deals with TV plots and characters and cliches. It's all perfectly applicable to writing books.

 

[JS Wiig]

I would say the best way to engage your problem is to start writing the story and see how things shake out. Maybe try a couple scenes that really stand out in your mind. Sometimes ideas don’t make total sense until they materialize as words.

In my opinion, there is no wasted time or effort getting things out of your head and onto the page.

 

[Wayne Mack]

how the main protagonist interacts with the other students

What works for me when defining a character and how she interacts is to list out the following:

• Character name and any nicknames.
• Is the character shy or outgoing? Does the character have a large group of friends? A small group? Is the character a loner?
• What is a main interest of the character? This is usually something outside the main plot of the story and provides a little depth to the character. This will inform what a character notices when going into a new place and what the character may try to discuss with others.
• Is the character athletic? Muscular or slim? Studious? Philosophical? Political? Other key characteristics as appropriate.
• Does the character have any speaking quirks? Be very careful with using these.

I find that after building this list, I usually have a feel for how the character interacts with others and how others react to the character. It is often more important to understand what a character will not do; this sets limits on how the character will react in uncomfortable or tense situations. Give this a try, but don't overdo it. It should take more the 5-10 minutes and coming up with a name may be the longest portion.

 

[Juliana]

As for setting, it depends if you're going for realistic (contemporary or historic), in which case research is your friend. If you're doing fantasy or sci fi, you have a lot more leeway and can basically go in any direction, even if it's set in our world (look at the Magisterium series by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare for a cool alternative to magic school that's not Harry Potter).

As for the characters, I assume if you're writing in a school setting it's YA or middle grade (unless it's a university romance?); in that case, the best thing really is to read as much as you can of the books for that age group that are selling at the moment. Look for new releases at the library, skim read a bunch of them. They don't have to be in a school setting, necessarily, just focusing on the sort of interactions you want.

 

[Astro Pen]

You are venturing into the most cliché and trope ridden arena in the world.
The nice protagonist, the romantic advances that go unnoticed, the gang of bullies, the 'accidental' bump/ trip in the corridor with flying papers, the swot friend who is confided in, mom and dad who mess things up with a job move or whatever.
If you start from the usual place you will be sucked into that. You need an original premise, and one that doesn't look like it was written for Michael J Fox and Danielle Fishel (showing my age )
I'm not big on plotting but I think you need an unusual spin to kick the story off. That is your challenge as a creative.
Unless, of course, you want the formula route in which case there are a dozen movies you can watch and note.