What to do?... What to do?...

maxmordon · Jul 26, 2007

Well I have two stories that I hope to complete to become novels. But I have a doubt about the setting, which is this:

The novels are full of fictional countries (no real nation is mentioned but some of them are quite obvious which country are they based upon) and doesn't follow a conventional timeline (Urbania seems to be trapped in a eternal 1930's-1950's without counting the fact they have cellphones and internet and there is a whole group of nation of people who refuse to accept technology and prefer to live in the Medival-Renaissance ages)

But the largest problem is that I use real religions, cultures, continents, languages and oceans and is quite obvious that they live in Earth (Urbania is set on the West Coast of Northamerica while the people who refuse modern world inhabitates an island in the Pacific that may or may not be Australia/New Zeland)

There is no explanation is what or why the world is like this(They mention Napoleon, Julius Caesar, Queen Victoria as historical people) or what year is it (I have arrenged to never mention a date) but the closest thing to an explanation is that about a century ago there was a Great War

So what do you think? Should I just leave it in mists and never tried to explain it á la Lemony Snicket? be more creative and convert this in a completely different world or just what do you think?

Bo Sullivan · Jul 26, 2007

I would say just start writing the story and see where it leads you. It is wonderful to see the story develop as your fingers are moving on the keyboard. Sometimes the most wonderful ideas develop in your mind and the your thoughts will lead you along into places you have never even been before; to places you never imagined.

I write historical books and I love every moment. I do some research on the internet about what was going on in that particular year etc. to give me a basis.

Good luck with your manuscript.

maxmordon · Jul 26, 2007

I already started, Duped

My first story has 130 pages and doesn't have an ending yet, it's the life and death of an office clerk. It is set in Urbania, an English bipartidist capitalistic nation that seems to declare a war every 2 years for economical reasons. It's the story of the little modern man in the big mechanical and contradictory world

The one I am currently writing is set about 40 years before the story above; it's the rise and downfall of a southamerican nation, doesn't have any main character (several secondary characters we see coming and leaving several times) and every chapter is dedicated to a government of Tierra De Gracia

Bo Sullivan · Jul 26, 2007

maxmordon said:
I already started, Duped

My first story has 130 pages and doesn't have an ending yet, it's the life and death of an office clerk. It is set in Urbania, an English bipartidist capitalistic nation that seems to declare a war every 2 years for economical reasons. It's the story of the little modern man in the big mechanical and contradictory world

The one I am currently writing is set about 40 years before the story above; it's the rise and downfall of a southamerican nation, doesn't have any main character (several secondary characters we see coming and leaving several times) and every chapter is dedicated to a government of Tierra De Gracia

Base it on a character who existed, or invent one of your own and keep writing. Enjoy!

Danger Jane · Jul 26, 2007

I think you should finish one or both and then use a combination of your own and your beta readers' wisdom to determine whether or not it's too vague.

Maybe it's just an alternate Earth. Fine by me, at least.

maxmordon · Jul 26, 2007

Duped said:
Base it on a character who existed, or invent one of your own and keep writing. Enjoy!

Actually I liked in this way without main character, reminds me 100 Years of Solute and the whole Buendía family saga

WorldPlanter · Jul 26, 2007

It seems to me that you're writing a story about an alternate reality then.

Personally I don't mind fiction that emulates a different version of Earth but as long as specific individuals, events, cultures aren't referenced when their parent nations obviously don't exist in the same context. As a reader I would probably be turned off by that, but that's just my preference. I think it can be done, but I've seen very few authors do it right.

Bo Sullivan · Jul 26, 2007

maxmordon said:
Actually I liked in this way without main character, reminds me 100 Years of Solute and the whole Buendía family saga

Whatever works for you.

maxmordon · Jul 26, 2007

Danger Jane said:
I think you should finish one or both and then use a combination of your own and your beta readers' wisdom to determine whether or not it's too vague.

Maybe it's just an alternate Earth. Fine by me, at least.

I actually plan to write more stories in this world, maybe like Discworld...

maxmordon · Jul 26, 2007

WorldPlanter said:
It seems to me that you're writing a story about an alternate reality then.

Personally I don't mind fiction that emulates a different version of Earth but as long as specific individuals, events, cultures aren't referenced when their parent nations obviously don't exist in the same context. As a reader I would probably be turned off by that, but that's just my preference. I think it can be done, but I've seen very few authors do it right.

Try to keep it at lowest any reference to it, but sometimes is hard; like refering a great general from the past what is easier to mention an actual general that explaining a fictional one

Danger Jane · Jul 26, 2007

My point was just that you should get it done and then when you're in the editing stage, get some beta readers and use your own judgment to decide how much background you need. Write as many of them as you want...

WritingForFood · Jul 26, 2007

Rejection and Self-Doubt: How do you deal?

(Moved this to a new thread... sorry... meant to post in another place.)

aadams73 · Jul 26, 2007

WritingForFood said:
How do you cope?

Truthfully? I write something new and better and go on. That's it.

JoNightshade · Jul 26, 2007

WritingForFood said:
Whether you've been rejected by agents, publishers, editors, magazines... how do you deal with it? Do you collect rejection slips and paper your wall? Do you just let 'em roll of your shoulders? Do you bury your sorrow in a glass of wine, then return to your work in a fit of drunken inspiration?

How do you cope?

Everybody gets rejected, it's not personal. In the book store, I reject 99.9% of all books in favor of reading one that happened to catch my eye at the right moment. I just record the rejection, toss it, and go on.

Bo Sullivan · Jul 26, 2007

WorldPlanter said:
It seems to me that you're writing a story about an alternate reality then.

Personally I don't mind fiction that emulates a different version of Earth but as long as specific individuals, events, cultures aren't referenced when their parent nations obviously don't exist in the same context. As a reader I would probably be turned off by that, but that's just my preference. I think it can be done, but I've seen very few authors do it right.

I began writing about alternate reality when I wrote 'Planet Cygnus' in 1996, which was a short story. It centered around famous people from all ages who have lived on earth and met each other in the story. It was great fun to write, but it never saw the light of day in the publishing world because I never submitted it. I might go back to it one day, but at the moment I am stuck in Newgate Prison in 1692 where my characters are trapped, in my new manuscript and I need to find out how to rescue them! To me that has more appeal, but whatever rocks your boat is fine by me.

Good luck,

Barbara

What to do?... What to do?...

maxmordon

Penúltimo

Bo Sullivan

maxmordon

Penúltimo

Bo Sullivan

Danger Jane

maxmordon

Penúltimo

WorldPlanter

Bo Sullivan

maxmordon

Penúltimo

maxmordon

Penúltimo

Danger Jane

WritingForFood

aadams73

A Work in Progress

JoNightshade

has finally arrived

Bo Sullivan