Thread: Asylum Setting: Classic vs. Contemporary

I have a pet project (while I cling to rights like an angry little monkey) I will probably never even try to have published as it is highly irreverent, somewhat amoral, and more than a little insulting to the psychological health community (And women.) here and there- whatever! Its about friendship, not political correctness- but which nevertheless clings to my socks and inturrupts my work (and laundry, and dishes, and sleep) begging for attention, so I've decided to humor it somewhat and try to give it a proper plot and all that rot.

*deep breath*

It's set in an old Kirkbride, and up until yesterday was set in the mid 1990's, but I'm toying with the idea of moving it back into the 1920's, mostly because psychology and psychiatry weren't as advanced and understanding back then which would greatly benefit my plot- yet I worry I'm sacrificing my theme; that there are some things better fixed by someone who isn't trying to fix you.

Thoughts/questions/tomatoes?

If it's a pet project and you don't intend to have it published, write it however you want. Even if you intend to have it published, lots of ill-researched stuff gets published (and even more without deep themes).

Could work in either circumstance; psychology works that way.

Adeline,

This sounds very interesting. While, as seigfried said, it is a "pet project" and if you never intend to publish it, it doesn't really matter. However, I write all "pet projects" as I would something I intend to send for publication, and, even so, I like my "not for anyone else's eyes" things to be skillfully crafted.

That being said, I like the ~1920s scenario better. As you mentioned, psychology was not nearly as developed as it is today. I might be biased because I love historical fiction, but in a modern setting I believe there would be a lot of medical things you would have to adhere to--a doctor could not simply say, "we believe this adverse behavior is due to ___", if it's something simple that in modern day psychology we have pinned down. Am I making sense?

Ultimately, it's up to you, but I really like the older setting more. In those times and before, there were some pretty crazy (pun unintended) insane asylums, that were essentially just underground prisons where people were shunned from the world. There's a whole other aspect to it, as back then the treatment of the mentally ill was almost taboo--either they're normal and they live or we throw them in the loony bin.

AEP

Yea, I've been bouncing some ideas off TahsSunny and another couple friends of mine not on the forum and they all agree the historical setting makes it just that much more interesting. My experiance with modern psychology has felt like its far too much in the hands of the patient (glares balefully at that sentance willing it to be grammatically correct... and gives up.) to pursue their own care and treatment. I've read stories that adhered more to the methods of modern medicine and they weren't nearly as fun as the old Lovecraft style madhouses.

I'm working up the guts to post some bits of it, but like you said, even pet projects have to be just so, I'm so picky... I'm a very slow writer. >_<

I love the 20's idea....makes me want to read it now...

I also thought that!. The story Adeline has in mind seems like a very interesting story to read.

AHHH GAD! NO! Now you're getting expectations! I shouldn't have said anything!

But the motivation is lovely. And I could use a break from my fantasy novel.

Hehe, lol. No expectations but support and motivation!!. I will be honest, I do not read many books cause it's hard to find one i am interested in and you story line drew me in, lol.