I talked a bit in my last post about my first novel. In that one, I created a fictional setting-an island off the coast of Georgia not far from Savannah. I wanted it to be a place I'd want to escape. I guess you could say a place of my dreams. I tried to create the world I saw in my head. I think I did it. It seemed easy in a way because it wasn't like there was anyone out there who could wonder what the heck I was talking about. They couldn't accuse me of inaccuracy because it was my world, no one else's. It was easy but yet something wasn't right about it. It became hard to feel anything about the place. It became boring in a way.
After writing two stories set in the fictional locale, I decided to change tactics. I'd read somewhere to write what you know. My next novel was set partly in Louisville and partly in a lake town. I gave the lake town a fictional name but it could have been any such place I'd been to many times before. In a way, this gave me another character of sorts. Not only was I describing my characters but I was describing the city that's been my hometown the last fifteen years as well as a favorite weekend spot for us. It felt natural.
I don't think there's a right or wrong when it comes to setting. It's all about how you describe it and what you do with it that matters. I may go back to my fictional place on the beach someday. I do love the beach. But, I need to hone my descriptive writing a bit first.
Song I'm enjoying today: Gravity by Sara Bareilles. A great song for inspiring story.
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