Using Real or Fictional Place Names

Alvah · May 16, 2007

I am writing a story in which one of the characters lives and works in a small town in Massachusetts. He teaches high school math.
For the sake of realism, I am thinking of using a real town, for example Greenfield, Massachusetts. However, because that is a real place,
and because that high school has real math teachers, I'm debating with myself whether it's better to change the town name to something fictional, for example Butler, MA.

What do others think? What are the pros and cons of using real place names?

Thanks,
Alvah

jedimaster107 · May 16, 2007

In my stories, I use fictional places becasue it's easy for me to make up stuff. But in my novel I'm working on, the main character is from Beaver, PA and another town Monaca, Pa is mentioned and the name of their sports teams, Indians, are mentioned. Both Beaver and Monaca are real towns in Pa (i should know Beaver is my home town and i went to college in Monaca which is right across the river from Beaver).'

In a trilogy of movie scripts i'm trying to develope, the story takes place in Beaver and i was planning on using places around Beaver, like the high school for instant.

I'm not really sure how that works. So you'r guess is as good as mine. :Shrug:

blacbird · May 16, 2007

If you're looking to establish the feel of a small town in Massachusetts, I'd vote for a fictitious name. Ray Bradbury did this to great effect in his fictitious Green Town, Illinois. Then, of course, there's William Faulkner's mythical Yoknapatawpha County, Mississippi.

On the other hand, if you're trying to evoke the atmosphere and geography of a famous large city, say London or Paris or New York or New Orleans, you probably will want to use the real place and its real features. All depends on the story.

caw

bsolah · May 17, 2007

Yeah, I think blacbird makes a good point. Small towns are relatively unknown and therefore fictionalizing it uses that to good effect. Whereas big cities are a bit hard to make up and it'd seem farfetched to try and do it.

I always struggle with this, though and prefer to confine it to a smaller confines, like a house, school, workplace where there could be several of them without having to go into specifics because I'm always worried about someone not believing my fictional setting, or not being happy with my real setting.

JamieFord · May 17, 2007

I like to use real places. But I like research and find a lot of story fodder in the process.

For my current book, which is set in Seattle in 1942, I took two trips out there and walked the streets where the book takes place. I dug up old city maps from that time. Along the way I discovered quirky bits of culture that I just had to incorporate into the book. For me it was easier using actual folklore than making it up.

Siddow · May 17, 2007

I'm with blacbird and bsolah on this one. Fictional small towns and real large cities.

However, I did use a real small upstate NY town (pop. 700) in my first novel, simply because I loved the name and the setting. I even used a house that I found on realtor.com, for sale in that town. I haven't been there, but I have virtually toured the house, the lakes, and used a combination of yellowpages.com and mapquest.com to get the layout of the tiny town. It was great fun, but it's a trunk novel for sure!

Jamesaritchie · May 17, 2007

Fictional

I love fictional towns and cities. Some of the very best writers have used both to great effect.

Stijn Hommes · May 21, 2007

Use the real place if you think you can pull it off. Make sure you know what the place looks like. Don't worry about the real math teachers unless the one in your story is going to do something illegal.

Alvah · May 21, 2007

Thank you all for your advice. What several people have said makes sense: fictional names for small towns or villages, real names for large cities

MonaLeigh · May 21, 2007

I usually make up towns and cities, but use names for establishments from around here (ie. bars, restaurants, etc.).

NEGO · May 21, 2007

I use real cities in my work. Really, I only use one city. All of my stories are set in my hometown, even if I don't outright say so in the narrative.

Jamesaritchie · May 22, 2007

City

Alvah said:
Thank you all for your advice. What several people have said makes sense: fictional names for small towns or villages, real names for large cities

If you use a real large city, make sure you know that city as well as any native.

Using Real or Fictional Place Names

Alvah

Life is what you make of it.

jedimaster107

blacbird

bsolah

AW's Resident Commie

JamieFord

giving resonant directions

Siddow

I'm super! Thanks for asking

Jamesaritchie

Stijn Hommes

Know what you write...

Alvah

Life is what you make of it.

MonaLeigh

Wasting time

NEGO

Jamesaritchie