McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft
The Question of Setting
Cooper:
--- Quote from: daylightdreamer on May 18, 2009, 07:26:49 PM ---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.
--- End quote ---
I ran into the same problem about four months ago when I came up with a new novel idea concerning where to put it. One of the things I learned about writing fiction is write what you know, so I applied it in all three areas and let my imagination do the work. For my Nano novel (click on my signature link to read what I'm talking about), I wanted to set it in a mountain tourist community with a ski resort and ample distance from Area 51 when my MCs get sent there. With that I chose Big Bear Lake, CA because (1) it has been my hometown since I was five and (2) I know how the city works in panic during the Old Fires of 2005. Everything else for setting I have to make up and create on the whim.
I don't think there is a problem using a setting another author used. You just have to put the feelings of the place differently and in your own words.
meg_evonne:
--- Quote from: seekmore on May 18, 2009, 08:12:48 PM ---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.
--- End quote ---
I am going to go along with Seekmore's take. I agree on everything above. The only twist you might consider is below:
Ultimately, it isn't what you think or what we think-- it's what the agents and publishing houses think. If you intend to shop the manuscript eventually, I seriously doubt that Roc or jennifer jackson would consider it since they represent Jim--unless your take is unique and extremely interesting to them and your voice is amazingly different from Jim's. IF YOU DON"T INTEND TO SHOP IT, then it doesn't matter.
If you want to see the result of this from the other end of the process, read JD's 'Author in Progress' post about his similar to Halo world. Great learning experience and he knew that he was writing it for a learning experience. I think you can get JD's read on his angst over the decision after he was finished. I felt his pain personally, with experience as well. I'd PM JD if you have questions.
I wish you well, whatever you decide. I can assure you though that research on line can really give you a strong, intimate feel for other locations. You also have access to lots of JB fans in other locations who can help you with details, i suspect.
Bottomline, I'm a business person. Figure out the hours you are going to spend on this and then balance it against any decrease in your agent/houses in comparison. Maybe that will help?
daylightdreamer:
Thanks for all the comments guys. They're helpful.
--- Quote from: meg_evonne on May 19, 2009, 11:59:25 PM ---Ultimately, it isn't what you think or what we think-- it's what the agents and publishing houses think. If you intend to shop the manuscript eventually, I seriously doubt that Roc or jennifer jackson would consider it since they represent Jim--unless your take is unique and extremely interesting to them and your voice is amazingly different from Jim's. IF YOU DON"T INTEND TO SHOP IT, then it doesn't matter.
--- End quote ---
See, that's the issue, though. I would like to try to shop this, depending on if it turns out the way I'd like it to, which is the only reason I'm even considering the setting change. I just really don't have a lot of experience with all the facets of this. I'm a Creative Writing minor, but the only professor at my college who had any experience with publishing commercially left. The new head of the department who taught most of my classes thinks that even wanting to write commercial fiction makes you a sell out and a bad writer and told me as much. You can imagine how please I was with that. >:(
I guess I just feel kind of adrift and not sure what to do about this. I don't even know where to begin trying to put myself in the mindset of an agent or publisher. I don't think my stuff is that similar to Jim's, but at the same time, it might be similar enough for it to be an issue and I just don't see it since it's my story. I guess maybe I should move it just to be better safe than sorry?
LizW65:
--- Quote from: daylightdreamer on May 20, 2009, 01:57:32 AM --- The new head of the department who taught most of my classes thinks that even wanting to write commercial fiction makes you a sell out and a bad writer and told me as much. You can imagine how please I was with that. >:(
--- End quote ---
How much do you wanna bet this guy tried, and failed, to write commercial fiction? That comment has "sour grapes" all over it. ;) From your description, I think your story sounds sufficiently different from Jim's to make it OK. PN Elrod has a vampire detective series set in Chicago, but the Depression-era setting makes it quite different from most urban fantasy currently on the market. My advice is, don't get too hung up on stuff like this before you actually start writing; it'll only hold you back. You can always go back and change it later if you think it necessary.
Starbeam:
--- Quote from: LizW65 on May 20, 2009, 04:09:06 PM ---How much do you wanna bet this guy tried, and failed, to write commercial fiction? That comment has "sour grapes" all over it. ;)
--- End quote ---
Or is one of the types who believe the only "real" stuff out there is anything considered literature. I had a couple professors like this in college. One spent a semester in England and came back more willing to accept genre fiction. Did so with her online class she taught while she was over there, too. Dunno what changed her mind. The other one asked me if I could change the setting of a very swords and sorcery type fantasy to a more modern setting. She's published one book, a retelling of Ethan From from the wife's POV.
Something I discovered, that would've been helpful before college instead of learning afterward, is that it would've been a good idea to look up the CW professors to see what they've done and how open they'd be to genre. Oh well. I wrote something like 12 chapters in the one class, even though the prof graded only the first 25 pages, and gave me a C.
--- Quote from: LizW65 on May 20, 2009, 04:09:06 PM ---You can always go back and change it later if you think it necessary.
--- End quote ---
Exactly.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version