on Helping Writers become Authors:
Beyond mere backdrop, story settings are what allow authors to orchestrate meaningful connections among characters. Settings should serve as more than just scenery. They should provide characters with compelling reasons to share the stage with one another. Accomplishing this in a story requires understanding how to strategically choose story settings as meeting grounds that amplify character interactions and deepen the resonance of the narrative.
When writers choose story settings, they don’t always think about why they are choosing specific settings. You might choose a particular setting for a number of reasons:
Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog 