I've been on a bit of a short story kick lately. I'm a horror writing, and my writing group has tasked me with trying to get at least three short stories published, so I'll be able to do readings by next Halloween. On of their biggest pieces of advice, though, is to make sure all the stories take place in Minnesota (where I currently live), because that will encourage more bookstores to have me come in and read.
But this whole exercise has gotten me thinking. I have seen stories that take place in actual cities, and stories that only exist in the author's imagination. As writer, how do you know when to have a story take place in a real city, and how do you when to create you own. I've noticed that very rarely are real small towns the settings of stories. Does this have anything to do with it?
But this whole exercise has gotten me thinking. I have seen stories that take place in actual cities, and stories that only exist in the author's imagination. As writer, how do you know when to have a story take place in a real city, and how do you when to create you own. I've noticed that very rarely are real small towns the settings of stories. Does this have anything to do with it?