A Novelist’s Guide to Getting the Most out of Your Setting in Domestic Suspense

For writers of domestic suspense, a house setting can be a gift that improves the book. One tip is to make a heat map of the house by listing which scenes take place in which rooms, which can reveal patterns and opportunities to inject tension. Writers should consider where characters hide secret things, from clutter to incriminating evidence, and what would happen if the hiding place was empty. Something should be broken in the house, such as a drippy sink or leaky roof, to provide insight into the characters’ finances and what they are willing to cover up. Writers should also consider what is uniquely dangerous in the house besides the people.

• Make a heat map of your fictional house by listing which scenes currently take place in which rooms.
• Think about where your characters are hiding their secret things that range from Awkward Clutter to Incriminating Evidence.
• Something is broken in your fictional house. What is it?

Source: Crime Reads  | 
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