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Old 10-14-2006, 01:28 AM   #1
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tales with two countries

Sorry for the slight cliche of a title. And for the absence.

Anyway, I was wondering: I have a story and am considering setting it in two countries. This is actually vital for character development, a bit of the coming-of-age/identity bit. Of course, this particular character(s) would still have constant with the players in the other specific nation, what with the subplots...OK, reply if you understand, thank you.

Also, could anyone name any books like this? I know a few, I think, but a list would be great.
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Old 10-14-2006, 01:34 AM   #2
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Anyway, I was wondering: I have a story and am considering setting it in two countries. This is actually vital for character development, a bit of the coming-of-age/identity bit. Of course, this particular character(s) would still have constant with the players in the other specific nation, what with the subplots.
And what is exactly your question?
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Old 10-14-2006, 01:36 AM   #3
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Sorry. The question is, Will having settings like these take away from the reading experience, or add to it as long as you do it the right way? Or does it completely depend on how you tell the story?
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Old 10-14-2006, 02:19 AM   #4
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Will having settings like these take away from the reading experience, or add to it as long as you do it the right way? Or does it completely depend on how you tell the story?
I believe yes, as long as you do it in the right way. Make sure to employ background information, thorough description, and specific detail to make the setting more realistic and vivid to readers, and a place where your characters fit in.

There are many stories that have two or more settings, that is moving from one to another during the course of the story. Lord Of The Rings and Jane Austen's Persuasion is an example I believe. Dusklands by J.M. Coetzee is a story with two simultaneous [hugely different] settings/locations: US State Department during the Vietnam period, and the conquest of Jacobus Coetzee in South Africa.
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Old 10-14-2006, 05:07 AM   #5
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Another example is the novel 'Bombay Talkie' by Ameena Meer which also has two settings, one in America and the other India, the story itself was fascinating but at times confusing. I think however it wasn't the fact the story had two settings that made it confusing but the authors style in writing. Personally I think when used in the right way different settings add to the readers experience.
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Old 10-14-2006, 10:12 AM   #6
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there are too many precedents to list... it's done all the time, especially in the international intrigue genre...

anything can work, if it's written well enough... and nothing will, if not...

the only hard and fast rule for creative writing is that the writer must have the requisite talent and skills to hook and hold the reader... possessing those, anything and everything goes!

love and hugs, maia
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Old 10-14-2006, 12:12 PM   #7
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One last "whoo-hoo" for this board, you fellas rock.
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