Livingston County is part rural, part suburban. The cities around here hardly seem large enough to be called cities. Especially when compared to a place like Ann Arbor or Detroit.
I never felt like creating a new setting. I knew it would really just end up being a form of Livingston County. Though, there is the issue of writing about a real place, especially a small town sort of place. Do I name the local places or not?
On the one hand, using local references give it a different flavor.
On the other hand, I don't get out much. Seriously.
So far, I've been using a hybrid. I mention some of the places I know, particularly ones that I enjoy. The rest, I make up. Makes it easy in some ways as I can create it the way I want. Why wouldn't I want to create a whole new setting-- that just seems like a lot of work. I prefer effeciency.
It's working for me on the input side. I wonder if it would affect readers on the output side? Or maybe they wouldn't notice unless they happened through Livingston County.
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4 comments:
I write much the same way. Splashing in local name and places but manipulating and creating to serve my purposes as well.
I think Travis is right, manipulate everything to serve your purposes.
I've been reading the Bo Fexler stories for a while now (since I first discovered them at DZ Allen's Muzzle Flash) and I think you have a very good sense of place. That mix of rural and suburban you mention comes across very well. The characters always seem quite natural in their setting.
I'm looking forward to a whole Bo Fexler novel.
I set everything I don't want to be specific about in a town called Shelterville. I don't know where it is except in my head, but it frees me up to invent a landscape that no one can dispute. It's my Bo Fexler, I think.
Travis-- I like the way you think. ;-)
John-- I'm hoping we'll both see that Bo Fexler novel sometime soon.
Patti-- than you mix a made-up town with the real ones? I've thought about doing that at some point.
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