Is it OK to be negative about your setting? - Writers Forum

whitt45 · 09-06-2005, 11:22 AM

I just finished the first draft of a short story that is set in a city that the main character lives in, but that he is very fed up with the culture of. It's in third person, so a lot of his opinions are written in variations of "he thought". He also makes some snide comments about the area in dialogue.

I gave this some thought and I realized that my favorite writers don't really do this for "home" settings. They write negatively about places that their characters visit, but they never seem to have anything bad to say about their hometowns. Is this kind of thing considered to be bad form, or is this just a coincidence?

Dookie · 09-06-2005, 11:28 AM

Just coincidence. Read Neuromancer by WIlliam Gibson and you'll see that the main character doesnt like his home and describes in negatively. Although this is a distopian future. You need to study the context. If it is meant to be a bad area then yes definately make the character dislike his home. If its a nice area, change it.

Crazy_dude6662 · 09-06-2005, 11:32 AM

depends on where your story is going, but i would say its okay generally.

whitt45 · 09-06-2005, 11:36 AM

The gist is that the main character is an egomaniac and he thinks he's superior to everyone around him, at all times. I'm just afraid that it might come off like I'm bashing the town (which is a real town) from some kind of bully pulpit. So I guess it'd be ok as long as I make sure that it's clear that they're his opinions, and not mine?

mswietek · 09-06-2005, 11:38 AM

As long as the setting is interesting, it can be described negatively. Also, your character's reaction to his home says as much about him as it does about his environment. As long as you are comfortable that is thoughts reflect his personality properly, there is nothing wrong with it.

Michael

CZ · 09-06-2005, 12:56 PM

If it needs to be said, it needs to be said, and if you're concerned about being approached and accused of personally hating the town, point out that the accuser needs to read more carefully. I used to be afraid of repercussions in real life about what I'm writing due to the religious beliefs I was articulating, but since I stopped worrying, the writing has taken off and become easier.

I, too have a character who dislikes where he is. Some of his motives/thoughts/comments stem from the fact that he was born somewhere else and thinks the place he's currently in is inferior. I just had to be careful because he was starting to become rather two-dimensional what with all his complaining and griping. The only reactions to his dislike that I'm concerned about are other characters'

Although my setting is quite different because it's a fictional place!

Robgb · 09-06-2005, 03:03 PM

The key is to do whatever the story dictates. If your hero hates the town, then he hates the town and there's nothing wrong with letting the reader know. You're building character.