Fictional cities

Location is a major part of any interesting story and I love creating cool locations for my characters to experience. Cities always make a dynamic backdrop.

It's an option to make characters live in an existing city in the world. But for me, unless I've personally lived in/visited a certain city, I find it can be inauthentic to write about it. I'm not a local, so how can I write a character who is supposed to be?

I often create my own city or town that feels similar to a real life place, so a reader can associate with that in their minds. Here are some unique things to consider when creating your own urban world.

Size

How great of a distance does the city cover? Is it like Los Angeles or New York, sprawling hundred of square miles? Or is it more tightly-packed like Seattle and San Francisco?

Population

How many people live in your city? What kinds are races and ethnic groups are represented? Is it mostly young professionals? Are there families?

Transit

What kind of public transportation does your city provide? Is the city large enough to have a subway system? What about taxis and buses? How reliable, clean, or convenient are transportation services?

Sights

What are the cool things to do in the city? Any distinguishing landmarks like the Chicago Bean or the Statue of Liberty? What would a tourist want to see?

Culture

Does your city have events and activities relevant to the people living there? Are there any parades or festivals? What about a strong music, food, or drinking scene?

Neighborhoods

What are the distinguishable districts within the city? What are their names? Think about all of the neighborhoods that exist within NYC.

Other things to think about:

Is there a college/university nearby?

Are there any bodies of water?

Is there a homeless population? What is the socioeconomic status of city dwellers?

What other aspects of city life do you think are important to include?