I pulled the story out again

This weekend I had the urge topull out and look at my main story that I've shoved into the closet for a while. It was a joy to let the character come to life again. I decided to hack out a few parts and concentrate on the story line with the main character. I"ll not bring in the side characters until they are needed. It's easy work allowing the flow of the story to pick up its pace.
Another change was in the name of a character. His name was okay, it worked, but I tried another and it fits my mental picture better for the character. He has more of a toughness about him, broader shoulders to hold up his responsibilities. I think it will bring out his drive and determination. We'll see.

city layout

The layout of the story's city is important. The landscape must fit the storyline. I like it when a book has a map at the front so you can get your barrings on where the characters are located or moving to. I'm working on a story that must have a college campus close enough to the oldest section of a town, yet still have restaurant row, a city park and golf course close enough but not cut off by the creek and a railroad. I can picture the city and university I attended as the perfect place, but getting the haunted house in the right spot is still haunting me.  Keep those street names lined up and straight.