…In The Martian, the planet Mars is a foe to be defeated. Mat just wants to survive and at times it seems that Mars is working with Mat Watney, but mostly it’s throwing obstacles in Mat’s way.
If your location is fictional, like Hogwarts, you’ll want to write up information on how the fictional location works, but don’t use that in your story. You’re writing it so you have something to remind you how your location works.
Or, like The Martian author, Andy Weir, you can ask the experts what Mars is like.
If your location is real, it can be hard to write about a location you’ve never been. I did my best to research the Amazon for my first novel, Toy of the Gods. I read travel guides, books about the Amazon, and watched videos online. You could do that, as well as look at Google Maps and if there’s a close up picture, you could zoom in and practically walk the streets of a location.
However, there’s a lot to be said for going to your story location and doing research. When I visited the Amazon, I was blown away by the amount of wonderful dangers I could throw at my characters. I stayed at an eco resort, Posada Amazonas, and had a great local guide who shared a lot of stories about the jungle, the plants, and the animals. And there’s that atmosphere. The moment I stepped off the boat at the resort, a dark grey snake crossed my path and then disappeared into the jungle. What better way to be introduced to the Amazon?
But it’s the same for any setting. Some people drive through a desert and just see a boring space. But spend some time there and you’ll find so much more. Winds storms that kick up dust devils the size of a ski scrapper, coyotes and snakes, and don’t forget scorpions. But there’s also beauty. Those details of beautiful cactus blooms – from orange to purple. Colors of the rocks and sand that pop when a rain storm passes.
Or New York City. It beats with the heart of so many people and it never sleeps. There are dangers lurking everywhere, but also beauty.
Can highlight – things aren’t as they seem – like a perfect scene but life isn’t perfect.
And it’s not only the feel, the look, the danger. What about those who live in that location? How do they speak differently than everyone else? Is it an accent? A different speech pattern?
If you’re writing a story, take a closer look at your location. Can you add to it and make it more interesting?
I researched the Amazon at Posadas Amazonas: https://www.rainforestexpeditions.com/amazon-lodge/posada-amazonas/