"The guide book says turn left at the next Starbucks."
"But we're at Stonehenge."
I learned some important lessons this week.
1) Do research on WIP locations before you outline a whole bunch of action that takes place there.
2) Just because you visited a place as a child doesn't mean you'll remember it enough to write about it.
3) Big cities are not interchangeable. Case in point: NYC has underground subways, but Chicago's are almost all elevated. Plus, much of the architecture is different (brownstone condos vs. gray-stone houses). So you can't write with NYC in your head, pretend it's Chicago, and hope no one notices.
4) If you realize you know nothing about your setting, give a shout-out for help. Someone you know or a friend-of-a-friend will probably volunteer the info you need.
"I swear that Metro-map said this was a bus stop."
This week I'm celebrating people who help you out
with location details.
Big thanks to everyone on FB who helped me,
especially Elizabeth Arroyo!
Did you ever try to write about a well-known place you haven't been to? Did you bs it or do research?
This post is part of VikLit's blog hop, Celebrate the Small Things. To be part of this blog hop, all you have to do is follow the link and put your name on the Mr.Linky list, and then be sure to post every Friday about something you're grateful for that week. It can be about writing or family or school or general life. This is the funnest and easiest blog hop ever!
