The Importance of Homes in Fiction

Everybody Has a Place to Call Home

Jul 15, 2009 Debbie Roome

A house is an expression of the people that live in it and can be a valuable tool in fiction writing.

Adults and children alike need a space to call their own. It can be a mansion or half a bedroom but it is theirs and can reveal things about their character. This is also true in fiction and a home can play an important role in a story.

What Sort of Homes are there

In the modern western world, there are bungalows, townhouses, condominiums, apartments, multilevel homes and all of these come in varying sizes and styles. In other parts of the world, people live in mud huts, shacks, boats, treetops and tents as well as other types of dwellings. Make sure a fictional home blends in with the location of the story.

What are Homes Constructed from

There is a wide variety of materials used in building homes. In the western world, most homes are constructed from wood or brick with glass windows. In other parts of the world, common materials include stone, mud, grass, prefabricated panels and canvas. Be sure to do careful research if describing an unfamiliar style of architecture.

Homes are a Reflection of Wealth and Status

The size and location of a home are generally a reflection of a person’s position on society. The richer the person, the bigger and more expensive the home.

What is in the Home

What type of artwork, carpeting, furnishings and drapes does the fictional character prefer? Is the style modern, retro or classic? Is the home filled with potted plants and macramé or incense and woven rugs? Make sure the theme suits the character’s personality and keep it consistent.

How does the Home reveal the Person’s Character

Is it pin-neat or untidy with piles of papers and a messy kitchen? Are there secret rooms and hidden safes and does it have burglar alarms? Are the CDs stacked alphabetically or chucked in a box. Are there newspaper cuttings about a celebrity plastered over one wall. Use this type of information to develop and add depth to fictional characters.

Using a Home to Advance the Plot

A character’s home can be used to move the story along. Is there a weakness in the design or a flaw in the heating system that causes a fire? Are stolen artworks hidden in the cellar or does a builder uncover human remains in a chimney? What about a fictional character who revisits her childhood home and remembers a terrifying event. There are endless possibilities.

Home is a place that everyone can relate to and most readers are interested to hear about other types of living quarters. With careful planning, a character’s home can be introduced into fiction and reveal personality, status and style. The home can also be used to add intrigue and mystery and raise questions that draw the reader into the story.

The copyright of the article The Importance of Homes in Fiction in Writing Fiction is owned by Debbie Roome. Permission to republish The Importance of Homes in Fiction in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Shacks are Homes to Many People	Apartments are Popular Living Spaces	Mud Huts are Common in Africa
Country Cottages are Charming

What do you think about this article?

---

NOTE: Because you are not a Suite101 member, your comment will be moderated before it is viewable.

post your comment

What is 9+2?