setting of your story - Writers Forum

lilacstarflower · 07-19-2008, 08:13 AM

Do you think setting a story in a particular time period adds to the reading experience, making it more memorable to the reader long after it has been read?

Do you think if a story can be told in the modern day, then it should?

Let me put it this way: you've developed a plot and know all your characters, making the new idea seem too easy to write. Do you want to change the setting from modern day to a specific time period just for the challenge?

terrib · 07-19-2008, 09:03 AM

funny, lilac I debated this same question. I started at a particular time period and then decided to change it to modern after the first two chapters. Well, after completing the book the first two chapters never really worked. So, the night before I was suppose to have it edited I changed them.....and you guessed it....it changed the whole book. A year of work gone just like that. So make sure you know what time period you want to write in before you start.

WriterDude · 07-19-2008, 10:15 AM

Changing time period after you've started writing it? Hm... funnily, I've never even considered that myself, and I've done a lot of stupid things to my stories.

SparkyLT · 07-19-2008, 10:19 AM

I've never thought about changing something like that once I've already started...I don't really see how it would work, honestly.

lilacstarflower · 07-19-2008, 11:12 AM

For me, I was talking about before you start the actual writing. You have the idea, but do you ever think of making it a historical piece just to make it a little different?

SparkyLT · 07-19-2008, 11:27 AM

oh, I see. hah, I guess I never thought of that either, but I don't see what the problem with it would be. unless you started the idea in the year 9285 and then decide to backtrack and set it in the civil war. that could be a little problematic.

anyway, I know some people do like to read historical fiction (which I guess is what you're after here), though I'm not a big fan because history bores me. BUT, putting believable characters into a historically correct setting can make it much more interesting.

I think I'm just trying to say it sounds cool, and go ahead. I'm not sure I'd do it just for the challenge; if you know your characters pretty well already, it may just mean you have the beginnings of an excellent book. but it's your choice.

HarryG · 07-19-2008, 12:08 PM

The trouble with a historical novel is the incredible amount of studying (research) that needs to be done beforehand, because every little detail is important and constant authenticity checks can interrupt the flow of your story.

Only the braver authors attempt them, they defy the logic of writing about what you know, which is so much easier.

I would imagine, however, that the pride when completing such a mammoth task would be immense. Isn't Salman Rushdie a perfect example of such an author?

terrib · 07-19-2008, 05:28 PM

you're absolutely right Harry....the research was more than I wanted to do....

well, we've all done stupid things, writerdude.....like that avatar of yours....hummm

Lacrymosa · 07-20-2008, 12:46 AM

My story can't be set in modern day because it is intentionally set in the New World, and after the Third World war. Putting it into the modern day context would ruin everything including the hate for Old World values. As my story is set in a dystopic Los Angeles.

edropus · 07-20-2008, 12:59 AM

I'm trying to write something set in Cambodia/Vietnam in the mid 60's. I'm 26, so that's pretty much ancient history as far as I'm concerned. At this point I do more research then writing, but that's been extremely helpful for me. As far as I'm concerned, real research is a much better inspirational tool then reading any piece of fiction.

It's a challenge, more so the further you get from environments you're familiar with (geographically as well as chronologically).

WriterDude · 07-20-2008, 07:55 AM

A slight bit off-topic here, but have any of you watched Firefly? It's a sci-fi series complete with spaceships and all, but written pretty much as a traditional western series with bar fights, horses, whore houses, a train robbery and all that. It's brilliant, although it got cancelled too early.

You might want to think about something like that. You could start writing a sci-fi series, but then change into a western-series while keeping the world, characters and all that.

As for me, I'm currently working a bit on a sci-fi pirate story inspired by Firefly.

lilacstarflower · 07-20-2008, 08:09 AM

Firefly - I think I saw one episode, it sounds familiar.

That's what I love about writing - you can let your imagination wander.

I just seem to find that the books I like most have some-sort of historic feel to them.

It's strange - I seem to find my YA is set in the modern world and it's sci-fi/horror and my adult stuff is historical. I just hate the real world LOL

celestialwolf · 07-20-2008, 10:23 AM

lilacstarflower,

You've got to ask yourself a couple questions:

1. What impact does my setting have on my story? (It's not about your reader.)
2. Can my story happen in setting?

If you answered that it has no impact and can happen in any setting, you may want to re-think your story. Setting sets a mood, provides an external conflict/hardship (sometimes), sets how and what your characters say, dress, and look like. Setting is crucial to story. Your setting should be a character in itself. Your setting can make your world become alive and vivid if you let it. So the question remains, where do you want it?

Celestial

lin · 07-20-2008, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Do you think setting a story in a particular time period adds to the reading experience,

As opposed to setting it in a vague time period?

lilacstarflower · 07-20-2008, 12:52 PM

Ok, I meant in the past rather than the present