by Linda O. Johnston
Location, location, location. I Googled that phrase when I thought about that as my blog theme today, thinking there was a movie with that name. No, there’s apparently no movie about it, but the phrase originated many years ago, referencing real estate sales. There’s also evidently a British reality show with that name. I’m always interested in real estate. Yes, I used to be a real estate attorney.
But I’m a writer now, and the locations in which I set my story are important. Sometimes, they’re real, as in my most recent mystery series, Alaska Untamed. And my first mystery series, the Kendra Ballantyne Pet-Sitter Mysteries, was set in Los Angeles. Kendra was a lawyer who lived in L.A. with her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Lexie. I was practicing law at the time, I live in L.A., and one of my Cavaliers at the time was Lexie.
Then there were my Alpha Force books for Harlequin Nocturne, where the setting was mainly a remote, fictional military base where the shapeshifters could change without being too much in the public’s eye. The stories are currently being republished as eBooks.
Currently, I’m mostly writing for Harlequin Romantic Suspense, and my settings are fictional. For example, my Shelter of Secrets series, which is ending, is set in a fictional remote area of Southern California where a special shelter that cares for animals—and people in trouble—is located.
So how do other writers decide where to set their stories? If you’re a writer, how do you decide? How do you determine whether to use a real or a fictional location? In any event, location is an important part of the story, since the characters have to live their lives in the area and deal with whatever is going on in their fictional lives there, or in other locations to which they travel.
What’s your favorite location to read about—and maybe to visit, for research purposes or just for fun?
The Writers in Residence 
Linda, your titles are all fascinating and it’s interesting to know how you come up with them. Personally, I like using one key word in a title, such as in my Digging mystery series. My amateur sleuth is a Brit and she starts digging in her neighbor’s weed-strewn garden, appalled at its condition. In my writing class this month I am presenting a session on titles, so your piece today is timely and I shall quote from it, with credit, of course. ! . One title I am contemplating using for my next mystery is “Digging Up the Dangling Participle.” I have always wanted to find a reason to use the phrase and a title seems the only one.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sometimes I choose the title–or at least they keep the one I chose. Doesn’t always happen that way, though.
And I like your idea of “Digging Up the Dangling Participle.” Cute!
LikeLike
Aristotle said there were five basic parts to a good story – the plot, characters, dialogue, setting, and the meaning behind the story. I have written articles on all of the above. As for where I set my stories, I try not to use a real place if they discover a dead body in it. A broad location like a major city isn’t too much of a problem, but I make up the name of the place if it’s a small town. But giving a good description of an area, real or imagined, lets the reader travel there and enjoy it, even if they stumble on that dead body themselves. After all, it’s fiction.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yep, it’s fiction, Gayle. And you’re right, using fictional locations for dead bodies makes sense, rather than putting the real thing in the theoretical, scary spotlight like that, although I’ll sometimes use the real thing.
How fun that you’ve written articles on all of the basic parts to a good story!
LikeLike
As a child I enjoyed reading books about kids from other countries, which began my love of travel. As a writer, I set my short stories in actual cities or towns, since they’re usually written for a themed anthology. As for my nearly completed series of novels, I combined fictional places with real ones – I labeled my character’s childhood home as a factory town north of Prague. I picked Prague as a primary location because it seemed glamorous but less familiar than other European capitals, at least when I began writing the series in the nineties.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reading about other countries, visiting other countries, writing about other countries–all fun, Miko! And setting stories in a fictional town near the real Prague is definitely fun–and glamorous.
LikeLike
Tomorrow I’m traveling to Charlottesville, Virginia for a research trip. I lived there for several years, but want to make sure that I remember things accurately. Also I want to see what has changed and what hasn’t. Plus it’s a really cool place to spend a day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great idea, Maggie, to revisit a place you lived for research purposes now! Have fun.
LikeLiked by 1 person