Hmm (thoughts processing). Thanks for the article! It's sometimes nice to be able to fit everything in categories, but when it gets too obvious, it's boring. One I always think of is the 'big brother type' always being the one to die saving someone ... Anyway, you asked the weirdest setting? I'd have to say it was a library that was also a self-changing maze and space-traveling, trespasser eating ... something. I never did quite work out how that fit with the rest of the world! From Second of Nine

Thanks Cinn and Charlie, nicely done article which gave me a chance to ponder my situation.
The novel I am writing has given me a few problems I didn't expect. I choose the uninhabited portion of the State of Arizona for several reasons, as the setting for my dystopic world. The number one reason, by restriction of the law only three people a day are admitted to this vast wilderness, so not many even know it exists. More important to the story later, not many would know how to survive there. I spent a lot of time in the region and know it well.
Here is my question, how much do I describe my setting? I tend to describe the area too much, at least I think. I have been editing out large swaths of description, only using it when the setting impinges on the story, or gives the setting a bleakness.
I will keep this short as I know you will have lots of responses, though as a newbie, I have lots of questions.           From Arizona Lawman

Great thoughts, and well explained. I shall be staring at my settings considerably more.           From Smee

I guess I don't have weird settings. I"m pretty much like you, I set the story in the place I think will get the most use or venue.           From Quick-Quill

I started writing when I was in middle school. I have loved writing for years. The first story I EVER came up with was when Super Mario Brothers (The Movie with Bob Hoskins) came out. Along with the scenes from the movie I placed myself, the brothers from the 3 Ninjas (Rocky, Colt and Tum Tum) and the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. I kid you not. I had all of these super hero characters in one story trying to defeat King Koopa who was well played by Dennis Hopper.

That was a fun story. I just wish I still had it. For some reason I decided I didn't want to keep the stories I came up with. I have no idea why but I threw all of them away. At the time I had around 6 to 10 stories. Some were narratives like I'm working on now in Nanowrimo and this one I described was in screenplay format.

Thank you for the ideas on changing things in our stories to make then not so predictable.           From Cadie Laine