setting is a real place?

cuteshoes · Apr 18, 2006

Can I set my novel in a real place, for example, an actual college campus like NYU or Penn State? Or do I have to create a made-up name for the college?

The novel is fiction.

Annabella5780 · Apr 18, 2006

You can set it in a real place. Lots of fiction does this. Unless you have firsthand knowledge, definately do a bit of research as to the layout of the campus, the surrounding area, and such so that's it's pretty accurate, otherwise, you might as well make up a name for the university.

Sage · Apr 18, 2006

As long as your not saying bad things about the college, I don't see a problem with it. Is it a place you know well enough to describe?

:e2point:

Yeah, what she said.

maestrowork · Apr 18, 2006

Of course not. Plenty of novels happen in real places. For example, the Rule of Four is set at Princeton.

ETA: For example, my novel is set in multiple real locations in California and Hong Kong. As long as you can describe these places realistically (there will be readers who are familiar with these places), you'll be fine.

BlueBadger · Apr 18, 2006

I'm writing a novel that's set in Toronto. It's pretty convenient; I know the city, I know the streets, all I have to do is describe them. I don't have to spend time making things up ... other than plot and character, of course.

(Whoo post #100!)

Shadow_Ferret · Apr 18, 2006

I'm cheating. My current WIP is set in my hometown, but I never name it. I use all the streets and other landmarks, but then feel I have the freedom to throw in places that don't exist since I never said it was where I live exactly.

The Commatose Kidd · Apr 18, 2006

yeah, it's ok. i'm working on a short story about the Burning Man festival right now and checked into it to be sure. you can't use real people's names.

RobCurtis · Apr 19, 2006

Ditto, but it depends on what your story is. For instance, I'm writing PI murder stories, based in a town I know, but I have to be careful that certain landmarks, shops and characters are not identifiable. In one story, I have a paedophile working in an amusement park. There is an amusement park in my town, but I've decribed it in a very different way to how it really is. I don't want any broken legs and lawsuits for defamation of character. :flag:

majiklmoon · Apr 19, 2006

Shadow_Ferret said:
I'm cheating. My current WIP is set in my hometown, but I never name it. I use all the streets and other landmarks, but then feel I have the freedom to throw in places that don't exist since I never said it was where I live exactly.

I'm doing that too, I'm working on two stories..both of which are set in fictional New England towns which are practically carbon copies of MY small New England Town.

maestrowork · Apr 19, 2006

RobCurtis said:
There is an amusement park in my town, but I've decribed it in a very different way to how it really is. I don't want any broken legs and lawsuits for defamation of character.

You really don't have to worry about that. You're writing fiction, not documentary. Do you think Dan Brown was worried when he wrote about all that stuff happening at the Louvre or the Vatican? Do you think suspense writers worry about using the White House as a location for a political thriller or murder mystery? Of course not.

Now if you base your characters on real people at your local bakery and use the real name of the bakery and the person, then I can see some potential issues. In that case, perhaps it's good not to use the names.

cuteshoes · Apr 19, 2006

Well I am writing about the college I attended, so I defininately have first hand knowledge on the place. I don't write anything bad about the college itself, but my characters engage in lots of binge drinking which may reflect poorly on the school, especially when one of the characters ends up in the hospital after a night of drinking and the school only gives her a warning. The thing is, I knew several people that this had happened to while I attended college, so I know it's not out of the realm of possibility.

Maryn · Apr 19, 2006

If you know several people this happened to, then you've got the best defense if the college objects--the truth.

Maryn, who doesn't know of a college that handles binge drinking well

janetbellinger · Apr 19, 2006

I have set part of my current novel in a small town with a made up name, and the rest of the novel, in a large city using the real name.

Shadow_Ferret · Apr 19, 2006

cuteshoes said:
Well I am writing about the college I attended, so I defininately have first hand knowledge on the place. I don't write anything bad about the college itself, but my characters engage in lots of binge drinking which may reflect poorly on the school, especially when one of the characters ends up in the hospital after a night of drinking and the school only gives her a warning. The thing is, I knew several people that this had happened to while I attended college, so I know it's not out of the realm of possibility.

Is it set at the University of Wisconsin? They're always winning as best party college.

cuteshoes · Apr 19, 2006

No it's set at Syracuse University.

Actually my roommate went to the hospital for drinking not once but twice in a 4-month span and she never got anything more than a warning. She was underage as well and was found by the dorm security. I knew of at least ten other people this happened to, specifically an entire pledge class of sorority girls who were hazed. The sorority got shut down but not one of the girls got in trouble.

Annabella5780 · Apr 19, 2006

Ah, good ole SU. *lives near there*

My alma mater was once up there in terms of party schools, too. It's gone down, somewhat, in recent years to them getting rid of the spring partyfest (called the Block Party) because it was destroying property and screwing up the community. It also doesn't help that we have about 20 bars within walking distance of the campus.

In any case, most colleges have to deal with, and I'd not be surprised to see a good deal of them don't address binge drinking as much as they claim to.

I think the story's a safe one to pursue as long as real names are kept out of it.

HourglassMemory · Apr 19, 2006

After this novel I'm writing, my other two novels are going to have extremely accurate surroundings, being museums the most detailed.

cuteshoes · Apr 19, 2006

All names have been changed, including bars and sororities/fraternities.

I mentioned in another thread that several events and characters are based on real life, which is why I didn't want to change the setting to a made-up place.

Binge drinking was definately a problem for everyone I knew who attended Syracuse, including myself. We used to laugh at the pamphlets Syracuse would pass out suggesting that more than four drinks in a week was excessive. Everyone I knew had at least four drinks a night and we went out 3-4 nights a week.

Syracuse also had an annual block party that was shut down the year before I attended because riots occured because of it.

setting is a real place?

cuteshoes

Annabella5780

Sage

Our Lady of Parentheticals

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

BlueBadger

Knows notebooks can kill.

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

The Commatose Kidd

color me gone

RobCurtis

majiklmoon

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

cuteshoes

Maryn

I Tried

janetbellinger

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

cuteshoes

Annabella5780

HourglassMemory

cuteshoes