I went looking for author subjects and found this on the three layers of setting.  I always enjoy world-building, so I wanted to look into this.  Now, I think most authors do this without meaning to, but it’s good to see the pieces.  So, let’s start with:

Temporal Setting

This is exactly what it sounds like.  Not the physical setting, but everything dealing with the time.  This can cover:

• Historical era
• Time that it takes the story to come to conclusion
• Season
• Time of day for each scene
• Anything that happens at a specific time

I want to touch on that last one to clarify because it can be the hardest one for us to remember.  Anything that happens at a specific time is basically a routine such as eating a meal, showering, or exercising.  This aspect of setting determines a character’s life pattern and will help lock in the time of day.  We all have these routines, so it is relatable, especially if it’s a fairly common activity.  For example, instead of saying that it is morning, you can have the protagonist eat breakfast or wake up from bed.

Temporal setting also seems to be the most fluid once you move out of the historical era category.  While the world might not change much over the course of a certain story, time will continue moving on.  Whether it be minutes, hours, or years, the characters are going to pass through time.  So, you need to keep track of the season, time of day, and other ‘invisible’ aspects of a setting.  If you cram too much into a small timeframe then you can lose the audience because they’ll be overwhelmed.  That means pacing of the story depends on your temporal setting.

This works for a series too, especially the seasons.  One of the things I do before I start writing the next book in a series is determine how much time has passed.  That way, I can figure out the season and that determines the weather pattern.  Can’t have Darwin traveling through bright, warm days for all 9-10 books.  He has to hit winter at some point during his adventures.  That doesn’t mean this is ‘essential’ to the plot, but it helps me create the correct atmosphere.

Time passing during an action and between scenes is also important.  Temporal setting can determine how long candles last in stories without electricity.  They show if a character who sets out at breakfast will arrive for dinner or the following morning.  It’s very important that you consider this to help give this essential layer of depth to your overall setting.  As I said at the beginning, I think many experienced authors do a lot of this without focusing on it.  Maybe they take a few seconds to decide on if there is a sun or moon, but it is one of the quickest decisions one can make.

So, why do you think temporal setting is so important?  Both as an author and as a reader.