Writing about a place you’ve never visited can be intimidating, but it’s an essential skill for authors. Whether your story takes place in the bustling streets of Tokyo or the serene landscapes of the Scottish Highlands, you can create a vivid and believable setting even if you’ve never set foot there. The key lies in research, imagination, and using the right writing techniques. In this post, we’ll explore practical strategies to bring a location to life, no matter how far away it is.
1. Start with Solid Research
Use Google Earth and Street View
Google Earth is a godsend for writers. It allows you to virtually visit almost any place on the planet. You can zoom in, explore streets, check out nearby landmarks, and even get a sense of the terrain. Street View takes it a step further, giving you a 360-degree view from the ground level. Use it to see what locals see—signs, storefronts, street layouts, and even the types of vehicles and clothing people wear.
Read Travel Blogs and Watch Vlogs
Travel blogs and vlogs are goldmines of firsthand experiences. Unlike guidebooks that focus on tourist spots, these resources often delve into the quirks, hidden gems, and local cultures. They can provide you with sensory details, like the sounds, smells, and textures of a place, that are hard to glean from maps and photos alone.
Tip: Focus on personal anecdotes and reviews rather than just tourist attractions. These will give you a deeper insight into the daily life and atmosphere of your chosen setting.
Dive into Literature and Films Set There
Reading books and watching movies set in the location you’re writing about can give you a sense of the atmosphere, language, and local culture. Look for works by local authors or films produced in the region, as they often capture the essence of the place more accurately than external perspectives.
Examples:
- For Japan, consider Haruki Murakami’s novels.
- For the American South, dive into William Faulkner’s works.
Explore Historical and Cultural Context
Understanding the history and culture of a place adds depth to your setting. This context can inform the architecture, local customs, and even the behavior of the characters who live there. Wikipedia can be a good starting point, but don’t stop there. Look for documentaries, history books, and academic articles for more comprehensive information.
Tip: Be aware of cultural sensitivities and ensure that your portrayal of the setting is respectful and accurate.
2. Get Specific with Sensory Details
Focus on the Five Senses
To make your setting come alive, describe it through the five senses. What does the air smell like? Is it filled with the scent of pine trees, or perhaps the salty tang of the ocean? What sounds dominate the environment? The hum of traffic, the rustling of leaves, or the distant call to prayer?
Exercise: Take a scene you’ve written and revise it by adding sensory details for each of the five senses. Notice how it changes the feel of the scene.
Use Weather and Seasons to Your Advantage
Weather can greatly influence the mood of your setting. A foggy morning in London creates a different atmosphere than a sunny afternoon in Miami. Research the climate of your chosen location—what’s it like during different seasons? How does the weather affect the daily life of the locals?
Tip: Don’t just describe the weather—use it to reflect the tone of your scene or the emotions of your characters.
3. Balance Reality with Imagination
It’s Okay to Take Creative Liberties
While accuracy is important, don’t be afraid to bend the truth a little for the sake of the story. If a particular landmark doesn’t fit your narrative, consider creating a fictional version. Just be careful not to alter key elements that define the place too drastically, especially if it’s well-known.
Create Composite Settings
Sometimes, combining elements from different locations can create a richer, more dynamic setting. For example, you might blend the architecture of Paris with the climate of San Francisco and the social dynamics of New York. This approach allows you to craft a unique setting that feels authentic, even if it doesn’t exist in the real world.
Example: J.K. Rowling’s Hogwarts is a composite of various British castles, schools, and natural landscapes, creating a setting that feels both familiar and fantastical.
4. Leverage Local Language and Slang
Incorporate Regional Dialects and Expressions
Language is a crucial part of any setting. Research regional slang, colloquialisms, and accents. This adds authenticity to your dialogue and helps ground your characters in their environment. Be cautious, though—overdoing it can make dialogue difficult to read or understand. Use local expressions sparingly and in a way that enhances the narrative.
Tip: If you’re unsure about the usage of certain phrases, consult with someone who is familiar with the region or use online forums dedicated to language and dialects.
Names and Place Names Matter
Place names can tell a lot about a setting. Research the etymology of local town names, streets, and landmarks. Sometimes, the name alone can inspire the history or mood of a location. Similarly, giving your characters names that reflect the cultural or ethnic background of the setting adds another layer of authenticity.
5. Consult with Locals or Experts
Join Online Communities and Forums
There are online communities and forums for almost every location on Earth. Reddit, for example, has subreddits dedicated to specific cities and countries where locals share their experiences. Joining these communities can give you insider knowledge and allow you to ask questions directly to people who live in or are familiar with the area.
Conduct Interviews
If possible, talk to someone who has lived in or visited the place you’re writing about. They can provide personal anecdotes and answer specific questions that you might not find answers to in your research. A 15-minute conversation with a local can give you more valuable insights than hours of online research.
Tip: Offer something in return—perhaps a mention in your acknowledgments or a small gift—to show your appreciation for their time and knowledge.
6. Test Your Setting
Write a Scene Solely Focused on the Setting
Before fully integrating the setting into your story, try writing a standalone scene where the focus is entirely on the environment. Describe the place in detail, and see if it feels real and immersive. This exercise can help you identify gaps in your research or areas where you need more detail.
Get Feedback
Share your setting descriptions with someone familiar with the location. Ask them if it feels authentic and if there are any glaring errors or omissions. Even if they’ve never been there, beta readers can help you gauge whether the setting feels believable and engaging.
Tip: If you’re writing about a less familiar or more obscure location, your readers might not catch every detail, but the overall atmosphere should still feel authentic.
7. Continuously Revisit and Refine
Update Your Research as You Write
As you develop your story, new details about the setting may become important. Keep revisiting your research to ensure consistency and to add new layers of depth. The more you write, the more you’ll understand the nuances of the place you’re describing.
Keep a Setting Journal
Maintain a journal or document where you collect all your research, notes, and ideas about the setting. This can include photos, maps, descriptions, and even bits of dialogue that capture the essence of the place. Having everything in one place makes it easier to reference and ensures you don’t lose track of important details.
Final Thought: Writing about a place you’ve never visited doesn’t have to be daunting. With the right approach, you can create a setting that feels as vivid and real as if you had lived there yourself. Remember, your goal isn’t to recreate the place exactly as it is, but to capture the essence of what makes it unique and to make it serve your story. Happy writing!
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