plot question

nicegrrl · Aug 23, 2006

Just wondering what you all think about a certain plot element. My character is a fugitive in Europe and eventually hides out in one of the residences of an Italian countess she knows. I dont know where to put this place- I was thinking Malta- sounds sort of romantic yet conspiratorial since it is known for off shore money laundering and the knights of malta. But I am worried that too few people are familiar with Malta. Then I thought venice because I have been there and that would help me write about it. The countess can live anywhere in Italy, I suppose.

Any ideas?

CaroGirl · Aug 23, 2006

I’d go with the more obscure place and then research and write the heck out of it. People love to read about exotic places they’ve never been. IMO, Venice is way overdone.

Scrawler · Aug 23, 2006

I vote for Malta, too.
If not Malta, skip Venice/Rome/Florence and find someplace off the beaten path...like Puglia or ...?

NeuroFizz · Aug 23, 2006

Why not Sicily?

nicegrrl · Aug 23, 2006

Ok, cool.

Thanks! I will go with Malta then.

So far I describe Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia, because the characters drive through them. I give these places very little description so far, but if people express interest, I can give it more than that.

alleycat · Aug 23, 2006

I was going to suggest one of the Greek Isles.

By the way, we have a member here from Slovenia. If you need any info, let me know and I'll get in touch with her. We're "old buddies".

nicegrrl · Aug 23, 2006

Oh that's awesome. I actually need a Croatian for a few croatian words. I LOVE slovenia- I can describe it, but I'm always happy to talk to someone from the region. I also need someone with some expertise on the last decade's war in the former Yogoslavia region to check if my story makes sense.

Rob Gregory Browne · Aug 23, 2006

If the readers are unfamiliar with Malta, MAKE them familiar with it. That's why you're a writer.

alleycat · Aug 23, 2006

I'll e-mail her with a link to this thread.

ac

Andreya · Aug 24, 2006

Hey!

I'm the girl from Slovenia!! Alley pm-ed me!

Feel free to ask about anything, I may even know the Croatian words, LOL!

I just read in the papers today about the money laundering in Slovenia! OoO

Good luck with your story!!

LeeFlower · Aug 24, 2006

Malta's awesome. You've got to respect a city that got collectively awarded the St George's Cross.

howiehok · Aug 25, 2006

Malta's awesome. You've got to respect a city that got collectively awarded the St George's Cross.

Is Malta a city now? You learn something new everyday.... :tongue

LeeFlower · Aug 25, 2006

it *contains* a city... sorry for not clarifying. I actually think it was the whole island that got the cross.

(Because it served as an unsinkable aircraft carrier during the second world war, and its civilian population was under constant bombardment. This and other fun facts brought to you by Tanglefoot).

nicegrrl · Aug 25, 2006

well

Malta pretty much is a city. It has the 4th largest population density in the world as a nation state.

Ooo, new plot question.

My characters get hit up by the mafia/crime gang in Belgrade. The guy they have to answer to is a Russian. I want to make him fat, sleazy and named Boris.

Is that too much? Naming him Boris? I think it's funny.

gp101 · Aug 25, 2006

More people are familiar with Malta than you think. Like someone else said, familiarize those who never heard of it. But if you've been to Venice, and not Malta, you'd probably be better at describing Venice and making it sound real. So... go to Malta! Is that a tax write-off if your novel gets pubbed?

BTW, your Russian mafioso sounds cliche. Why not make him a bookworm or some sort of mousey guy? And a Slovac baddie named "Boris" automatically makes me think of "Bullwinkle and Rocky the Squirrel". Glance over the top 100 tennis players if you need a Russian name. Just don't take the poor bastard's first and second names.

scribbler1382 · Aug 25, 2006

Neither here nor there, but I drive the Slavik developers at my day job bonkers by making them say "moose and squirrel" in the middle of development meetings.

plot question

nicegrrl

CaroGirl

Living the dream

Scrawler

Bored fanatic

NeuroFizz

The grad students did it

nicegrrl

alleycat

Still around

nicegrrl

Rob Gregory Browne

alleycat

Still around

Andreya

in denial

LeeFlower

Lurker Extraordinaire

howiehok

LeeFlower

Lurker Extraordinaire

nicegrrl

gp101

scribbler1382

Write For You, Edit For The Reader