| Writing a whodunnit, an amateur sleuth, or a | | | | watchers), car-repair tools (pretending to be fixing |
| hardboiled private eye story? Whatever kind of | | | | a car), etc. |
| sleuth you're writing, part of his/her skill set is to | | | | 4. Look the Part. Just as a professional PI will |
| conduct surveillance, but keep in mind that | | | | wear clothes appropriate for surveillance at a city |
| surveying someone in the city is different than in | | | | location, your fictional sleuth should wear clothes |
| the country. This article offers tips for accurately | | | | that blend in for surveillance in a particular part of |
| depicting a rural surveillance, of if you'd like to add | | | | the country and its season. For example, if it's a |
| some story conflict, simply have your sleuth do | | | | small country town in the dead of winter, your |
| the opposite of these tips! | | | | fictional sleuth might wear jeans, boots, hat, and a |
| Before your fictional sleuth travels to a rural | | | | heavy jacket. On the other hand, imagine how a |
| region, he/she should: | | | | sleuth would stick out in that same scenario |
| 1. Know the Region. Have your fictional sleuth | | | | wearing an evening gown, fur coat, and heels! |
| study the area before he/she travels there. In | | | | 5. Choose Useful Equipment. It's always iffy if a |
| our state, we have some big stretches of | | | | cell phone will have adequate transmission in |
| country outside "the big cities." When we're going | | | | remote areas (which can add a twist to your |
| into the country, we'll check online maps (for | | | | story), but other equipment can be selected for |
| example, MapQuest, Google Earth). Have your | | | | surveillance in the country (cameras with |
| fictional sleuth do the same. On the other hand, if | | | | increased optical zoom, video equipment that is |
| you're looking for more conflict in your story, | | | | functional, portable, and low profile). And you |
| have your sleuth circling around and attracting | | | | never know-maybe a PDA (or laptop with |
| unwanted attention in that small town! | | | | wireless connectivity) can connect to some |
| 2. Use an Appropriate Vehicle. Maybe your fictional | | | | farmhouse's wireless Internet service, which |
| sleuth scoots around town in a lime-green VW, | | | | would give your fictional sleuth access to email, |
| but that dog won't hunt in the country. In a small | | | | Internet. Of course, there's also numerous |
| town, everybody knows everybody else, including | | | | wireless networks real-life sleuths can plug into on |
| what car they drive. A sleuth wanting to avoid | | | | the fly, and maybe you'll use some of these |
| detection will drive a vehicle that blends in, is | | | | more sophisticated options for your sleuth, too. |
| nondescript, and can handle the terrain. | | | | Use these tips to add plausibility and realistic |
| 3. Have a Good Reason for Being Parked There. | | | | touches to your sleuth working in rural settings. If, |
| A sleuth can be parked on a country public road | | | | however, you're more interested in writing a |
| and document whatever he/she sees "in plain | | | | bumbling, funny sleuth a la Inspector Clouseau, |
| view"-but they'd better have a good reason for | | | | turn these tips inside-out so he/she will stand out |
| being there if someone asks. For example, most | | | | and fumble their way through the story, and into |
| professional PI's keep props ready, such as | | | | your readers' hearts. |
| binoculars and a bird guide (pretending they're bird | | | | |