writing location into stories

katelyn · Jan 24, 2004

Almost all the books I read (contemporary fiction) have a specific setting, i.e., New York City, Chicago, whatever. When I write, I don't specify where it's taking place, although I do have some kind of general idea in mind. Part of the reason I think I do this is because I am not exactly a well-traveled person, and I feel like if I were to set a story in a specific place, then I need to know a good deal of information about that place for accuracy's sake.

Do you think it's essential to give a specific setting or is it okay to keep it vague like I have been doing? In the case of a small-town setting, I've thought of using a fictional town in a real state, so that people would have the idea of what the terrain and climate would be like while still allowing me the creativity to make up whatever aspects of the town I wanted. But, the story I'm currently working on takes place in a kind of large city.

Anyway, I was just wondering what your ideas/thoughts on this subject are.

Justice4JC · Jan 24, 2004

Heh, I do the same thing by not stating where the story is taking place (ahem, for those which actually take place on earth )

Personally, I don't really think it needs to be stated. I mean, it's usually the characters and the plot that intrigues the reader, not where it's taking place.

Although it is good to just give a good description of the character's surroundings. Like whether it's in the city or the country and stuff, ya know? I don't think it needs to be stated whether they're in New York City or Alabama and whatnot.

discipleofWORD · Jan 24, 2004

Hmmm....

I would have to say that it depends on your story. Setting maybe vital to your story if the setting of the story has like a major purpose(e.g. a ghosttown symbolizes that loneliness reign, etc.)... if the setting helps you to support your theme, then give it a little more detail.

I'm currently working on a novel that takes place at a school. I'm mapping out basically part of a city with the school in it, helping me to visualize where it's taking place (at the chem classroom or at someone's house). I would suggest just start some form of mapping for your city.

I hope these suggestions helped!

macandcheese · Jan 25, 2004

I often give clues as to the type of area, because it often affects the characters. Sometimes I will give a state name, but if i do mention a town I just make one up. That is one of the reasons I like writing stories that take place on other planets - I get to make up all the rules!

peace.

Buskanaka · Jan 25, 2004

i think it only matters if the location is a necessary part of the plot, and if it is then it's quite easy to give a description of the necessary parts. How many people that read a book know what Chicago or New York look like anyway? I don't write contemporary fiction though so I just have to describe all my made up places anyway

katelyn · Jan 25, 2004

Yeah, in my story I give "clues" about the setting and an idea of where things are (ex: the main character lives just outside the downtown area of a city) and what area of the country this might be taking place at (there are lots of leaves falling in autumn, nearby small towns are farming communities, etc.) I just wondered if it might "bother" readers to not know specifically which city it was.

One Son of Many · Jan 28, 2004

I think you could pull it off by keeping the location(s) vague, depending on your writing style and ability. Even making a fictitious town in a real state, just keep the towns location in a 'general area'.

This writing course I am currently enrolled with suggests to travel as much as possible (depending on finances....hehe) to the places you may be writing about. I assume this is to get as much 'first-hand info' as possible. You could be accurate with all the sights, sounds, smells, etc. Of course, these things change along with which season you are currently experiencing.

A suggestion would be to research on the net these locations you are writing about. If cities, you could try and find chamber of commerce sites related to those particular places. Maybe even get a grid layout of the street names or tourist attractions. Adding these places to your story could build the credibility (believability) to your story that you may be seeking.

Also, don't forget the surrounding areas like the suburbs or nearby cities, parks, rivers, state routes, airports, etc......Hope these ideas will help ya!

katelyn · Jan 28, 2004

Thanks for the suggestions! With the story I'm currently working on, if I were to write location into it, it would probably take place in Pittsburgh (where I'm currently living for a year). So getting accurate information probably wouldn't be too hard...it's just that I know that I would probably have to change some of the details of the story that I don't want to change, so that they will not contradict what Pittsburgh is actually like. Or maybe I'm just worrying about it too much, because now that I think about it, I think it might just work, with a little thought and creativity.

I do feel like adding specific location detail would give more dimension to the story, and also bump up the length from being closer to a novella (~50,000 words) to a novel (~75,000+) by allowing me to integrate much more detail into the story. Right now I'm afraid it reads more like a script than a novel (dialogue is my strength and my weakness - I love dialogue so tend to neglect the narrative side of storytelling).

Hmm. I'll think about it.

oneofGodskids · Jan 28, 2004

i think yur idea is great about not really giving an exact place or whatever for the characters hometown or city or whatnot. I've done it too and it seems as if u do do that that u can actually mold the character into more that u want by making up a town or city. It's too much trouble for me to get all the accurate research and whatnot for a particular place, and its a lot more easier to just make up one by your own creativity. Some folks may say that u don't want your book or novel to be it's best because you don't put out the effort on research but they're really wrong. It's a whole lot better for me to make it up because then it seems as if my character actually fits into it...ya know what I mean. Anyways.....hope I wasn't too confusing for you...sorry if I was.

Natali

Blessed-one · Jan 29, 2004

um... i think writing about the background setting is fairly important since things have to happen in a place, so you cannot totally leave it out..

unless the location is something that you're making up, which is why most writers have to do research before putting pen to paper.

katelyn · Jan 29, 2004

Blessed-one said:
um... i think writing about the background setting is fairly important since things have to happen in a place, so you cannot totally leave it out..

unless the location is something that you're making up, which is why most writers have to do research before putting pen to paper.

I agree, but I mean naming names (like "Pittsburgh," for instance) as opposed to telling of the setting only through description (lots of trees, tall buildings, cars & people, etc.) Either way some type of picture will be in the reader's mind, it's just that by simpling adding the specific name, the picture may be clearer (at least for those who have actually been to that place).

I am really tempted to write in the specifics, but my husband's urging me not to do so until I try querying some agents. I don't know.

One Son of Many · Jan 30, 2004

Maybe drop in a few of the more crucial details that aren't as well known but help to paint the whole picture, give it atmosphere. Like the way a brownish-gray haze seems to perpetually hang around the steel mill. The readers' minds may fill in the rest of the 'common' details automatically. Once in a while drop in a street name or maybe describe a statue in a certain location to lend authenticity.

I don't think that it would need to be loaded with specifics but a few may work nicely. Blessed-One is correct in that research is an important facet of writing.

Any other suggestions, people?

katelyn · Jan 30, 2004

One Son of Many said:
Maybe drop in a few of the more crucial details that aren't as well known but help to paint the whole picture, give it atmosphere. Like the way a brownish-gray haze seems to perpetually hang around the steel mill. The readers' minds may fill in the rest of the 'common' details automatically. Once in a while drop in a street name or maybe describe a statue in a certain location to lend authenticity.

I don't think that it would need to be loaded with specifics but a few may work nicely. Blessed-One is correct in that research is an important facet of writing.

I agree. My husband just has this idea now that my story as-is is the best it can be before I enter the world of publishing (because I wrote it for myself and what I wanted it to be, not consciously trying to conform to any certain standard), and that if I attempt to modify it because I "think" that's what agents or publishers or readers will want, I might only mess it up. So he thinks I should wait until after I contact agents and see what they say, because I can always change it if need be after I get in with an agent.

I can kind of see his point, but I also think that he thinks writing in the specific location will take a lot of work, which I don't think it will. I had always been writing it with the general idea of Pittsburgh in mind, and the things that at first I thought might be contradictory, I now realize that even if they are not actually true, they have the possibility of being true (not totally outlandish), so it should work. (Ex: I thought there probably wouldn't be an apartment like the one my main character lives in near downtown. But, then I remembered that when we were looking for apartments we did visit a nice one on the edge of downtown. So, it's workable. I may need to add a security system though, for safety's sake! ) Changing it to include specific setting would be adding little things, not a major overhaul of the story.

One Son of Many · Jan 30, 2004

Do you have one or two more trusted friends other than your husband who would be willing to read through your story? It may help to get a few honest opinions. (not ot be taking anything from your husband, just saying multiple opinions are better than one opinion) Be careful who you take opinions from, some people won't give you honest criticism for fear of hurting your feelings and some will over-criticize undeservingly due to some jealousy or other thing. I am fortunate to have about five people who give me honest criticism without any bias and it is very helpful. (One of those five people is my loving wife, she tells me her opinion, straight up and spares me nothing ).

Are you familiar with a publication called Writer's Market? It would really help you narrow down publishers who are looking for the specific type of story you've written and lists some things they are looking for and also helps in finding a proper agent.

If you don't already have a copy, most libraries carry a copy in the reference section.

katelyn · Jan 30, 2004

I have the Christian Writers' Market Guide, which is about the same thing, only specific for the Christian market.

As soon as I have an ending on this thing, I'm going to send it to two wonderful ladies who will read it for me and give me advice. I will ask them about this issue and whether they "miss" the specifics of location or if they feel like it would add to the story. Thanks!

One Son of Many · Jan 30, 2004

Good luck with the book! By the way, if I may ask, what genre is your book?

katelyn · Jan 31, 2004

Christian romance? Contemporary inspirational fiction? Something like that.

One Son of Many · Jan 31, 2004

Ahh....There are two women in my congregation that are romance writers, one is published and the other is on the verge of being published. The one that has a book ready to be published gave me her manuscript to read. Even though it was my first time reading in the Romance genre, I have to say; It was done well!

I found myself smiling quite a bit and being drawn into the story. I also kept wondering what would happen next. I found she did well with character development. Certain characters I liked and others I hated.....hehe. I could identify quite a bit with one of the two main characters. Even got a little 'misty eyed' in a couple spots. (ya, ya.....I know. big sissy!)

Christian theme was stressed quite well, not too little and not beat to death. I could only find one grammatical error in the 300+ pages! She proofread it quite well!

For the first time reading Romance, or Christian-Romance, it was quite a pleasant experience. Hard to believe I would like something in that genre!

writing location into stories

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