Sometimes there's a story in our hearts that won't die, a story that takes place thousands of miles from home, a place we might never have been, and likely will ever be. My current WIP is set in Vancouver BC, the city London, and the Cotswolds in United Kingdom. I've never been to the Cotswolds, but that won't stop me from writing about it.
First thing I'll do:
1. Open up a search window.
2. Type GET DIRECTIONS
3. Choose a link. (I like GOOGLE MAPS)
4. Type COTSWOLD DISTRICT, UK.
5. See PHOTOS and STREET VIEW in the frames above? The PHOTOS will help with a sense of the place, but for a closer look, I'll click STREET VIEW.
6. Now I have the option of either using the arrows to do a virtual drive down this street in front of me, or I can use one of the other photos that best depicts the setting I need for my story. And that would be a pub with public parking and lots of beautiful shrubs, flowers... like the one below:
First thing I'll do:
1. Open up a search window.
2. Type GET DIRECTIONS
3. Choose a link. (I like GOOGLE MAPS)
4. Type COTSWOLD DISTRICT, UK.
5. See PHOTOS and STREET VIEW in the frames above? The PHOTOS will help with a sense of the place, but for a closer look, I'll click STREET VIEW.
6. Now I have the option of either using the arrows to do a virtual drive down this street in front of me, or I can use one of the other photos that best depicts the setting I need for my story. And that would be a pub with public parking and lots of beautiful shrubs, flowers... like the one below:
7. I can also go back to the origin map, click on the DIRECTIONS icon:
8. Type London, UK below Cotswolds. And it shows me 1 of 2 routes back into London.
If I wanted to take a virtual trip, I'd start at the beginning, go back to STREET VIEW and drive the route virtually. But that requires more instructions and is best left for another post. The point is, yes, do write about what you know, but don't let a little thing like "I've never been there!" stop you from writing vivid descriptions.
