Real-life locations, real-life time

Hello, friends!

Today I'll talk a bit about writing a real-world locations, placed in real-life timing. 

Let's dive into it!

For the starter, let's ask this question: Can't I just skip the world building when the place I'm writing about exists in reality?

No. I mean, you can try, but why go the hard  and less professional way, when you can help yourself by planning a little bit more? It's better to know than to be confused and have to research mid-conversation / mid-action. 

Of course, it's easier and even advised to describe places you know and been to, with the easiest way to go by describing the place where you live/lived. 

Despite the plot taking place in real-world locations and real-life timing, your story STILL can be whatever genre you chose. You can stick to the facts and write about real events, but you can just as well fuse reality and fiction together. Example: Harry Potter.

Let's get to the advices!

1) note down all the significant buildings and places. You can use them later to describe where the character spent their time or where they met someone. A specific building or spot can also be a symbol (for example: an old, destroyed building nobody cares about being a metaphor for the negligence of the MC)

2) make a short note for the historical background of your place. This can be used in both conversations between the characters and in descriptions.

3) if there are any specific socio-demographic and/or economic details about the place, include them in your story. For example: the city X is known for its homelessness rate. The city Y is known for its inhabitants' diversity. The city Z is known for its beer production.

4) issues. Note down the real issues that are present in your place and include them in the story. Again, that can serve multiple purposes - symbols, conversations, etc. 

Of course, the amount of details you decide to add to your story is fully your decision. You can just as well create a place that strongly resembles the existing one, but it's not said directly, just pointed to. 

An example of location-wise great-detailed descriptions can be found in Lars Kepler's books.

Moving onto the places you don't personally know too well. I cannot stress enough how important it is to do proper research, especially if you're writing about a different culture or a place from a different continent. You should pay attention to details such as:

1) how do schools work? What is work etiquette? How is the financial market of the place?

2) What kind of food can you find there? What are some typical examples of breakfasts, lunches, dinners?

3) Are there any on-going conflicts or conflicts that were finished not long ago?

4) How safe is the place? How tolerant? How is it to be a woman in that place? Can one be openly queer?

5) What is the weather and the climate like there?

ADDITIONAL ADVICE:

1. Add some single words or phrases in the language spoken in your chosen area. Include dialects, if present. 

2. Use google maps and walk the streets to grasp an idea of what it is like there

3. Research, using verified sources and exclude information that only appears in one mention

4. Make sure your information is up-to-date 

5. Talk to people from that area. You will never understand something better than by speaking to someone directly influenced by it.

~ Shell