Setting Secrets: How to improve (nearly) every story

   I have distinct memories of a hot classroom in eighth grade English, when the teacher started telling us about “writing a story with setting and mood.”

    My wooden desk was hard and cramped. I hated this class period, but I couldn’t just fall asleep because that would attract attention.

    I think about those long-ago classes now…because I use “the setting secret” all the time.