Little details like street names help bring a story to life, even if it’s purely fictitious, i.e. an imaginary street or restaurant in a nonexistent town. If it’s set in a big city, however, feel free to use the names of actual streets and other landmarks. Anyone familiar with that area will get a real kick out of it and relate more closely to the story. If they live there, they may even tell their friends about it, which is even better.

I remember years ago when I visited Chicago for a conference. When I got home, I made it a point to watch a few movies set in that city, such as “Ferris Buhler’s Day Off” and “The Fugitive.” I really got a kick out of the fact the climax of the latter took place in the hotel where I stayed.

Just make sure you do so correctly or this could backfire. Don’t say someone turned west on Broadway if in reality it only runs only north and south. Assuming your reader knows otherwise, this will commit that cardinal sin of throwing him or her out of the story. Do it right or not at all.