October Novel Prep Challenge

Do you drive up and notice the exterior color, parking, closeness of neighboring houses, dirt or weed-filled yard?

What has been used to make this house? And is it in a newly built development so all the houses are the same?

Today's paint doesn't have the overpowering odor, but there is something.

Also new carpeting, or perhaps an adhesive for other flooring.

Open floor plan versus enclosed, separate rooms.

Without furniture, there may be a hollow or echoing sound as someone walks through the house. Think of footfalls on those floor surfaces.

Also without furniture, the house may feel more spacious, rather than cozy.

Are there stairs?

What about the basement? You can even talk about the plumbing, furnace, etc. Washer/dryer hook-ups waiting for appliances.

The character's POV might also add impressions like which room would be whose, big pieces of furniture, stairs, safety ... This is lovely, or who realistically needs side-by-side sinks in the bathroom when there's two other bathrooms?

You can go to Zillow or Realtor.com online and look at photos of houses for sale to color your character's perspective. Literally, your character could hate some colors - look at all this white and biege.

Sharon from New Jersey