Comments on: Write What You Know – Settings http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/10/14/write-what-you-know-settings/ Ten Authors. Five Genres. One Blog. Because the only thing scarier than a loaded gun pointed at your head....is writing about it. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:39:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Debra Webb http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/10/14/write-what-you-know-settings/#comment-224107 Debra Webb Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:54:35 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1082#comment-224107 Kait, yeah, that can definitely be annoying. And you made a good point, sometimes the variances are more about interpretation. I might see something a different way than someone else. But a glaring discrepancy will darn sure jerk you right out of the story! Kait, yeah, that can definitely be annoying. And you made a good point, sometimes the variances are more about interpretation. I might see something a different way than someone else. But a glaring discrepancy will darn sure jerk you right out of the story!

]]> By: Kait Nolan http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/10/14/write-what-you-know-settings/#comment-224104 Kait Nolan Sun, 19 Oct 2008 14:17:44 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1082#comment-224104 I'm willing to give authors a fair amount of latitude in terms of their interpretations of place. I've been a lot of places and there are still tons I've never seen. My issue comes up when authors get it wrong--where it's obvious they've never been there and flat didn't do their research, relying instead on stereotypes and conventions. Thankfully, I haven't read too many of those! I’m willing to give authors a fair amount of latitude in terms of their interpretations of place. I’ve been a lot of places and there are still tons I’ve never seen. My issue comes up when authors get it wrong–where it’s obvious they’ve never been there and flat didn’t do their research, relying instead on stereotypes and conventions. Thankfully, I haven’t read too many of those!

]]> By: Debra Webb http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/10/14/write-what-you-know-settings/#comment-224068 Debra Webb Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:55:42 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1082#comment-224068 Elaine & Terry! I'll have to check out those books. Sounds like the authors did a fantastic job! I love, love, love California. Maybe someday I'll get to live there : ) Elaine & Terry! I’ll have to check out those books. Sounds like the authors did a fantastic job! I love, love, love California. Maybe someday I’ll get to live there : )

]]> By: Terry Odell http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/10/14/write-what-you-know-settings/#comment-224053 Terry Odell Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:57:02 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1082#comment-224053 Right on, Elaine. The scenes in the Farmer's Market in LA (Connelly) make me SO homesick. That was my childhood. When Harry watched the bakers frosting cakes I was right there (although he didn't mention the ones with the champagne bottles and pink elephants.) And DuPars--that was a special place for me and my dad for pie. A real treat. I actually got tears in my eyes reading those scenes (and not because of the plot). Right on, Elaine. The scenes in the Farmer’s Market in LA (Connelly) make me SO homesick. That was my childhood. When Harry watched the bakers frosting cakes I was right there (although he didn’t mention the ones with the champagne bottles and pink elephants.) And DuPars–that was a special place for me and my dad for pie. A real treat. I actually got tears in my eyes reading those scenes (and not because of the plot).

]]> By: Elaine http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/10/14/write-what-you-know-settings/#comment-224051 Elaine Thu, 16 Oct 2008 05:00:05 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1082#comment-224051 As a reader, I always get a kick out of stories set in places I know. But, god help the writer who sets something somewhere I know but gets it wrong. There is a Clive Barker book that appropriated the name of the place where I grew up, but he got the geography all wrong. I don't know if he did that on purpose or because he didn't do his homework, but that doesn't matter. I couldn't read that book, it bothered me so much. On the other hand, Michael Connelly and both Faye and Jonathan Kellerman write about the Southern California I know, love, and miss horribly. They've all done their homework, and I get homesick every time I read one of their books. The detail is remarkable...I've read scenes in some of their books that take place in specific places I've been (a restaurant, as one example), and they are right on. Connelly even has the cemetery where my dad and most of his family are buried, mentioned by name, in one of his books. That kind of freaked me out, but it was cool, too. One of the most remarkable reading experiences I've had was in one of Tim Powers' urban fantasy novels, where one segment takes place along a stretch of road very near where I lived for awhile. While I was reading that, I could picture exactly where the characters were as they progressed down the street. Talk about making me homesick. As a reader, I always get a kick out of stories set in places I know. But, god help the writer who sets something somewhere I know but gets it wrong.

There is a Clive Barker book that appropriated the name of the place where I grew up, but he got the geography all wrong. I don’t know if he did that on purpose or because he didn’t do his homework, but that doesn’t matter. I couldn’t read that book, it bothered me so much.

On the other hand, Michael Connelly and both Faye and Jonathan Kellerman write about the Southern California I know, love, and miss horribly. They’ve all done their homework, and I get homesick every time I read one of their books. The detail is remarkable…I’ve read scenes in some of their books that take place in specific places I’ve been (a restaurant, as one example), and they are right on. Connelly even has the cemetery where my dad and most of his family are buried, mentioned by name, in one of his books. That kind of freaked me out, but it was cool, too.

One of the most remarkable reading experiences I’ve had was in one of Tim Powers’ urban fantasy novels, where one segment takes place along a stretch of road very near where I lived for awhile. While I was reading that, I could picture exactly where the characters were as they progressed down the street. Talk about making me homesick.

]]> By: Debra Webb http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/10/14/write-what-you-know-settings/#comment-224049 Debra Webb Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:47:26 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1082#comment-224049 Excellent point, Cele. Consistency is important. When you go back and forth like that with the setting it's kind of like falling in and out of character with your main protagonists. Excellent point, Cele. Consistency is important. When you go back and forth like that with the setting it’s kind of like falling in and out of character with your main protagonists.

]]> By: Cele http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/10/14/write-what-you-know-settings/#comment-224048 Cele Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:51:42 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1082#comment-224048 What becomes aggreviatingly annoying is when a writer is vague about what they don't know, you don't notice it until they are precise about what they do know (example driving routes.) Then it drives me crazy. Be vague or be precise but don't be both. What becomes aggreviatingly annoying is when a writer is vague about what they don’t know, you don’t notice it until they are precise about what they do know (example driving routes.) Then it drives me crazy. Be vague or be precise but don’t be both.

]]> By: Debra Webb http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/10/14/write-what-you-know-settings/#comment-224040 Debra Webb Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:24:36 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1082#comment-224040 Absolutely, Roxanne. Research is a great inspiration! And your love scenes are truly inspiring! Absolutely, Roxanne. Research is a great inspiration! And your love scenes are truly inspiring!

]]> By: Roxanne St. Claire http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/10/14/write-what-you-know-settings/#comment-224038 Roxanne St. Claire Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:50:42 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1082#comment-224038 Oh, I missed this yesterday due to, well, life. But what a wonderful debut post, Deb! I would say I spend at least 25% of my "writing time" researching settings. I haven't been everywhere I write about, although I occasionally do a research trip. (Like to Charleston where CJ toured me - Hi CJ!) The thing about setting research for me is that I *always* get plot ideas when reading about certain places. I just set a story in Venezuela and it was the research that gave me the idea for one of my favorite love scenes. Who would imagine that? Welcome, Deb!! Oh, I missed this yesterday due to, well, life. But what a wonderful debut post, Deb! I would say I spend at least 25% of my “writing time” researching settings. I haven’t been everywhere I write about, although I occasionally do a research trip. (Like to Charleston where CJ toured me – Hi CJ!) The thing about setting research for me is that I *always* get plot ideas when reading about certain places. I just set a story in Venezuela and it was the research that gave me the idea for one of my favorite love scenes. Who would imagine that?

Welcome, Deb!!

]]> By: Debra Webb http://www.murdershewrites.com/2008/10/14/write-what-you-know-settings/#comment-224033 Debra Webb Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:38:22 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1082#comment-224033 Karin, wouldn't that be cool? I haven't been to England in years (when my husband was still in the military). I would love to go back. Karin, wouldn’t that be cool? I haven’t been to England in years (when my husband was still in the military). I would love to go back.

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