How To Write About Somewhere You've Never Been

Reading a book is said to be like holding an entire world in your hands—and crafting these worlds is one of the most important skills for any writer to hone.

Some writers draw inspiration from a familiar place when building their settings, like their hometown or where they currently live or a favorite vacation spot, weaving in sentimental and sensory details into an homage that invites readers to explore and get lost in it.

But what if you want to set your story in a place you have never been to? What then?

A common tidbit of advice to solve this conundrum is to just go there and do your research in person, and while I love that idea, it's not always a feasible option. Everyone's circumstances are different, but things like finances, the number of vacation days your job allots (provided you're able to accure them), arranging for childcare or pet care if you're unable to bring them along, medical challenges, and ease of transportation are only a handful of factors that can make research trips less accessible.

It's one thing if you live in Connecticut like I do and are writing a story set in a nearby state like Rhode Island or Massachusetts, which can be a day or weekend trip, but things get trickier if you want to venture out to California or New Mexico—and that's just within the contiguous U.S.! Travel to another country like India or Germany would bring other necessary considerations, such as obtaining a passport if you don't already have one or even learning some of the local language.

Worry not! This is a problem writers have faced and conquered for centuries, so you're far from alone.

If you're unable to go gallivanting for research purposes but want to get as close to an in-person experience as possible, you've arrived at the right place. Whether you're writing about a real setting or a fictitious one based on one, these tips will help you get a lay of the land without setting foot on it.

Sightseeing Through Cinema

Films can be a useful tool for seeing the sights without leaving the couch. However, it's important to remember that some depictions aren't exactly faithful.

Netflix's Emilia Perez received a storm of backlash for a multitude of things including its portrayal of Mexico; its director Jacques Audiard is French, and the film was predominantly shot on a soundstage near Paris. Audiard has come under fire for remarks about Mexico, calling Spanish a "language of modest countries, of developing countries, of the poor and migrants." Emilia Perez featured notable inaccuracies and stereotypes that many Mexican viewers found offensive (and that doesn't even scratch the surface of its representation controversies).

As another example, there's Hostel, a gruesome horror film revolving around a crime ring in Slovakia that captures tourists to be tortured to death by its wealthy clientele.

As a quick note, it takes a lot for a horror movie to ick me out. I wasn't able to stomach Hostel and only barely got through my viewing of it. If you haven't seen it yet and want to, heed this warning. I'm not hyping it up. It was not a fun time the way other torture-centric films like Saw can be.

Slovak and Czech officials were grossly offended by Hostel's portrayal of their countries, fearing the depiction of a crime-ridden wasteland would "damage the good reputation of Slovakia" and convince foreign travelers it was too dangerous to visit. According to this 2006 post from the BBC, Hostel director Eli Roth chose Slovakia as his setting because, "Americans do not even know that this country exists. [The] film is not a geographical work but aims to show Americans' ignorance of the world around them."

I'm neither from Slovakia nor the Netherlands nor Denmark, but I'm going to go off on a limb and say Speak No Evil handled depictions of the latter two nations and the idea of cultural ignorance and tourists in trouble much more respectfully than Hostel.

Foreigners may not always be in the know when it comes to local customs and culture, so that's why I recommend checking out movies and documentaries made not only in or about your story's setting inspiration but made by those who know the area. Even on a smaller scale than a Frenchman directing a film set in Mexico, I know there'd be nuances and details that I as someone from Connecticut may not be as aware of if I were writing a story set in Utah or Hawaii.

But, as a writer ought when doing research, remember to be aware of any potential biases, like who is making the film and who its intended audience is.

Influencers And Vloggers

We've all heard the phrase, "social media is a highlight reel." And while that's important to bear in mind as you scroll, social media can be a window into everyday life in their story's settings.

You may find it helpful to watch some day-in-the-life vlogs posted by folks living in or around your setting. This can give you an idea of local slang or colloquialisms a character from there might use, noteworthy landmarks and go-to spots they might frequent, hidden gems, local culture, and views of the scenery.

Meanwhile, travel vloggers can help you pinpoint aspects that would be a draw to outsiders. Since your readers are effectively tourists exploring your story's setting, getting into the headspace of a tourist can give you a sense of the questions they might have or what they might be interested in seeing.

On an adjacent note, most towns will have a social media presence, so check those out for history, special events, or traditions—and, if you're willing to brave the comment sections, local politics; local news stations and sites are also worth browsing in that regard.

Ask A Local

Speaking of social media as a worldbuilding tool, don't be afraid to post your questions online and try to connect with those who either live or have been to your setting. It can give you firsthand insight that even the best Google search can provide.

It's helpful when you need clarification on something you've happened upon in your research or brainstorming new places for your characters to visit. If you're writing a contemporary new adult romance set in Dublin, you could post asking for popular first date activities in the region or ask about the kinds of classes users took in college.

Get as specific as you need. With the right hashtags and a little luck, you may find some new brains to pick!

Historical Societies, Museums, And Public Libraries

Depending on the IRL location you're writing about, you could also contact the local historical society. This can be excellent for historical fiction writers, as their in-depth knowledge and extensive archives may allow them to uncover details not readily available to the general public.

Library and museum faculty members also have a talent for finding information and can point you in the direction of additional resources.

(Digital) Museum Tours

Museums are a treasure trove of knowledge for writers, no matter where they're writing about, and plenty of museums have exhibits dedicated to local history. Some of these artifacts might be featured online, and you could try contacting staff for more information.

Google Street View Walking Tours

Google Street View isn't just for navigating your surroundings. It can also be a means of taking a virtual walking tour of your story's setting.

Don't Nod Entertainment, the studio behind Life is Strange, is based in Paris. Life is Strange is set in the fictional town of Arcadia Bay, Oregon. For those keeping track, subbing Portland in for Arcadia Bay, that's a distance of 8,243 KM or 5,130 miles.

Not exactly an easy commute...

As such, Don't Nod used Google Street View to explore Pacific Northwestern towns as they were designing Arcadia Bay—and, clearly, it was a clever solution. Life is Strange fans praised the game's setting, and it ended up being one of the most missed elements in Life is Strange 2.

Even though it's not perfect, as things like mayo bottles got lost in translation, the small-town charm remains one of the game's endearing elements even ten years on.

If your story is set in an IRL location or draws heavy inspiration from one, taking a digital stroll through the area using Google Street View can help you see the sights without leaving your seat.

Browse Zillow And Redfin

We've all seen a movie where the main character lives in a swanky NYC apartment with eclectic yet modestly curated furnishings that leaves us wondering how they can afford their rent each month.

Writing is, in many ways, an avenue of wish fulfillment if not wishful thinking.

But, sometimes, you want your character's abode to feel more down-to-earth.

That's where real estate sites like Zillow and Redfin can help! Browsing listings in the region your story takes place can give you a sense of how much space a character might have, what their home might look like, how much it'd cost to live there, the view they could wake up to, and help you develop the neighborhood.

Travel Guidebooks

When you're planning a vacation, it can be helpful to check out some guidebooks written about the area you'll be visiting. These might cater to a specific niche like walking tours and restaurants, offer a historical overview, or simply be a more general itinerary.

And for writers, guidebooks can be another way to explore their story's setting.

These books may also include packing tips like what clothes to bring if you're going in March vs October, local etiquette and customs (like whether or not tipping is expected), or how to navigate the local public transportation system.

Tasting The Local Flavor

One of the most fun things to do when you're travelling is to taste the local cuisine. Especially true for trips abroad, sampling local dishes that are a cultural staple and taking part in any related traditions can be as eye-opening as it can be mouth-watering.

You may be fortunate enough to have ethnic restaurants in your area, but if you're feeling particularly daring, you could even try preparing those dishes in your own kitchen.

Even on a smaller scale, like being a Nebraska resident trying beignets as you're writing a story set in New Orleans, trying dishes either originating in or popular in your story's setting can add flavor to your writing.

The World Through Another's Eyes

One of the most important things for a writer to do is read. Studying how other writers approach different aspects of storytelling and figuring out what worked or didn't for you as a reader helps make your own writing better.

If you're struggling with worldbuilding, you may find it helpful to turn to books with settings that are similar to your story's and examine those depictions. What aspects are the most engaging and memorable? Were there any points that made you lose focus? What would you have wanted to see more of?

This is not an encouragement to plagiarize another author's work! But it can be helpful to see how others approach scene descriptions and worldbuilding as you continue to develop your own story's setting.

As wonderful and insightful and fun as in-person research is, it's not always affordable or attainable. We writers, however, are crafty little creatures who have a knack for finding our own ways of getting things done.

These tips are only a handful of ways to research your story's setting, whether you're using a real-life location or drawing inspiration from one.

How do you bring your story's setting to life on the page? What tips would you add to this list? Let me know in the comments below!