McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft
The Question of Setting
daylightdreamer:
I apologize if there's already a thread like this on here. I looked for one and didn't see one, but I suck at looking. >>;
Basically, my question is this: You've got an awesome idea for a story! Now how the heck do you figure out where to put it? What things do you need to take into consideration when trying to pick a setting for a story you'd actually like to see published?
Personally, I'm working on my novel and it sort of grew out of something less serious, originally, that was a for fun thing set around the area I'm currently attending College in, which would be one of the suburbs between Milwaukee and Chicago. I was planning on the majority of the story taking place in these suburbs, and then in Chicago itself, with one trip to Milwaukee as well.
Here's the issue, though. Now that I'm looking to make this something serious and potentially try to publish this, Chicago is sort of Jim's turf, which I never even really thought about before. Jim's teacher told him not to set his story in Kansas City because it was too close to LKH's turf. So he picked Chicago.
By that logic, should I try to set up camp elsewhere rather than on already claimed turf? Or is it okay as long as the stories are different enough? What do you guys think. Is it okay for stories to have setting overlap in a similar genre as long as they are considerably different spins on the genre? If not, what will Urban Fantasy do when all the major Urban areas are claimed, so to speak?
I figured I'd pose this question here to see if anyone else has a similar issue while I decide if I should tweak my story and move it to the Twin Cities, closer to where I was born, or not. I don't think anyone's claimed that yet.
seekmore:
Is your work similar to JB's?
Does it fit into the "supernatural detective" genre?
daylightdreamer:
--- Quote from: seekmore on May 18, 2009, 07:27:51 PM ---Is your work similar to JB's?
--- End quote ---
Well, they're both Urban Fantasies, so yes, in that respect they are. I'm sure he's also influenced a few other things in the story, just because his work is floating around in my subconscious, but I'd like to think they're different beasts.
--- Quote from: seekmore on May 18, 2009, 07:27:51 PM ---Does it fit into the "supernatural detective" genre?
--- End quote ---
This one's harder, because I guess it depends on how we're categorizing "supernatural detective." The story revolves around vampires, not Wizards and company like the Dresden Files, and the main character isn't a cop, PI, detective, etc. by any sort of professional (or even unprofessional) means. He's more of a dilettante and politician and he doesn't get hired to investigate things or whatever. He's exiled from his home on a false charge because of political things and he's working against the main antagonist to stop his power play and get back home, but figuring out how to stop him involves some investigating, so there's that.
Starbeam:
I don't think it would matter too terribly much. I can think of a couple different series set in Seattle off the top of my head, though one is more Urban Fantasy and one more Paranormal Romance. But both have ghosts, vampires, monsters, etc. And I think there's a third series, but I can't get my mind working clearly. And a couple different Urban Fantasies set in Atlanta, Georgia, as well. Big difference with those is how magic is dealt with in each. Another option is to go the route that DC comics and authors like Stephen King went, and make up a city, though based on a real place. Plus, just cause it's Urban fantasy doesn't mean it has to be set in a major city. Basically just means it takes place in more modern times, least from a lot of the stuff I've read.
seekmore:
--- Quote from: daylightdreamer on May 18, 2009, 07:58:04 PM ---This one's harder, because I guess it depends on how we're categorizing "supernatural detective." The story revolves around vampires, not Wizards and company like the Dresden Files, and the main character isn't a cop, PI, detective, etc. by any sort of professional (or even unprofessional) means. He's more of a dilettante and politician and he doesn't get hired to investigate things or whatever. He's exiled from his home on a false charge because of political things and he's working against the main antagonist to stop his power play and get back home, but figuring out how to stop him involves some investigating, so there's that.
--- End quote ---
Hm...ok...
WHen reading it, do you thin "Oh, hey, I recognize this place from the Dresden Files?"
I'm just not sure how to judge, exactly.
I've read numerous stories of similar genres set in New York, and they've each had they're own distinct feel to them. Yeah, there were similarities, but it is mostly influenced by how you portray things and how your characters experience and interact with your setting.
I think a key difference in the comparisons(my impression of) your work and Jim butcher's work and LKH and Jim Butcher's work is that in the latter, the works are similar in many ways, and that is why he was counciled to change the setting: in order to not appear too derivative before establishing himself as an author.
That's just my take on it, though.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version