I still like the relationship part of any story. You don't want your character to figure everything out and then at the end of the day go home and eat soup from a can by herself.
When it comes to locations I'm one of those crazy authors who has to see it...
I feel an intense intimacy with those who have this loathing interest in me....
God is everywhere but He is most manifest in man. So serve man as God. That is as good as worshipping God.