Comments on: The Pitfalls of Writing Stories Set in Your Local Area http://www.garethlpowell.com/the-pitfalls-of-setting-stories-in-your-local-area/ The online presence of British science fiction author Gareth L Powell Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:49:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: thanks http://www.garethlpowell.com/the-pitfalls-of-setting-stories-in-your-local-area/comment-page-1/#comment-556 thanks Tue, 19 May 2009 10:26:54 +0000 http://www.garethlpowell.com/?p=1559#comment-556 Hi there! Hi there!

]]> By: Aliette de Bodard http://www.garethlpowell.com/the-pitfalls-of-setting-stories-in-your-local-area/comment-page-1/#comment-554 Aliette de Bodard Mon, 18 May 2009 08:45:57 +0000 http://www.garethlpowell.com/?p=1559#comment-554 Actually, I also used the internet... *ashamed* I can describe certain parts of Paris with pretty good accuracy, but the ones we ended up choosing are places I've never set foot in, so I had to find pictures. I had one advantage over you, which was knowing exactly where I could look to find them. Also, as you point out, living in a place means that, when you choose details to describe it, you might not pick the most striking--having pictures was a way to take some distance and work out my descriptions. Actually, I also used the internet… *ashamed*
I can describe certain parts of Paris with pretty good accuracy, but the ones we ended up choosing are places I’ve never set foot in, so I had to find pictures. I had one advantage over you, which was knowing exactly where I could look to find them.
Also, as you point out, living in a place means that, when you choose details to describe it, you might not pick the most striking–having pictures was a way to take some distance and work out my descriptions.

]]> By: Gareth L Powell http://www.garethlpowell.com/the-pitfalls-of-setting-stories-in-your-local-area/comment-page-1/#comment-553 Gareth L Powell Mon, 18 May 2009 07:58:38 +0000 http://www.garethlpowell.com/?p=1559#comment-553 Hi Ann - ready when you are, just drop me a line. Hi Ann – ready when you are, just drop me a line.

]]> By: Ann Wilkes http://www.garethlpowell.com/the-pitfalls-of-setting-stories-in-your-local-area/comment-page-1/#comment-551 Ann Wilkes Sun, 17 May 2009 23:25:00 +0000 http://www.garethlpowell.com/?p=1559#comment-551 Aerial photograghs from Google. I knew about them, of course and use them for directions, but never thought about using them for story background. I have a story shopping around right now that is set in my hometown. Of course, it won't help with the businesses as this one is set in the 1940s to today. What I remember as Greens Drug store may have been Kelley's back then and something else now. I decided that only I, and maybe one of the only 3 thousand people who live there really care what it's called anyway, and went with drug store. I know, it's probably a cop out. We'll have to do that interview soon. I'm poking around so that I have some good questions for you. :) Aerial photograghs from Google. I knew about them, of course and use them for directions, but never thought about using them for story background. I have a story shopping around right now that is set in my hometown. Of course, it won’t help with the businesses as this one is set in the 1940s to today. What I remember as Greens Drug store may have been Kelley’s back then and something else now. I decided that only I, and maybe one of the only 3 thousand people who live there really care what it’s called anyway, and went with drug store. I know, it’s probably a cop out.

We’ll have to do that interview soon. I’m poking around so that I have some good questions for you. :)

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