Be careful of chosing place names
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Bookworm0266
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Re: Be careful of chosing place names
I think this is definitely something most writers do not think of or considering when writing. If anything, loosely base your setting if you must.
Latest Review: "Other (This title is supposed to have a checkmark in front of it, but the form disallowed it.)" by Cindy Campopiano
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WriterBLAlley
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In my first novel, Arbor Day, I chose a real location, but the town I describe doesn't yet exist. (Arbor Day starts in 2060). It references roads that exist today, but specific places and addresses are entirely fictional. Essentially, it's an extrapolation of the existing town.
In my second novel, The Diamond, the story takes place in a real city, but I never actually name that city, only hint at features. The specific locations are, again, fictional.
It's just easier to fabricate locations, rather than risk offending someone. (or worse)
In my second novel, The Diamond, the story takes place in a real city, but I never actually name that city, only hint at features. The specific locations are, again, fictional.
It's just easier to fabricate locations, rather than risk offending someone. (or worse)
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moderntimes
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My private detective novels (2 published, 3rd in progress) are set in modern Houston where I live.
I often use real street names and places, so long as the place isn't described in a negative manner or the name is slightly changed. When I want to create a bad place, I play tricks.
For example, south of Houston proper are two large satellite cities, Pasadena and Deer Park. They are centers for the Houston area refining and chemical industry, solid and respectable and mostly middle class cities, fine places to live.
I wanted a "bad" place, a very corrupt town nearby Houston, where the city officials and police are on the take, and the town is essentially run by biker gangs.
If you look at a map of Pasadena and Deer Park Texas (south of Houston itself) you'll see a major urban highway running between them, Spenser Highway. But the cities are adjacent. However, not in my novels. I simply "inserted" a small city, "Mid City" (duh) between the two. So I've got a convenient imaginary corrupt pesthole to use in my novels, without any risk of offending either Pasadena or Deer Park.
My 2nd novel begins at a shady topless bar located on Telephone Road in southeast Houston. Telephone Road is real, and it was captured by the delightful song "Telephone Road" on the excellent album "Houston Kid" by Rodney Crowell. Now, as my private detective describes, Telephone Road has gentrified somewhat since the 50s of the song, but places like the KitKatKlub still exist there. And so my story begins...
It's okay to use real places (my first novel used Nasa Spaceflight Center) but you sometimes have to tread lightly.
Also remember that your publisher's attorney and editors will vet your books if you don't, and perhaps find places or names that might be better changed.
I often use real street names and places, so long as the place isn't described in a negative manner or the name is slightly changed. When I want to create a bad place, I play tricks.
For example, south of Houston proper are two large satellite cities, Pasadena and Deer Park. They are centers for the Houston area refining and chemical industry, solid and respectable and mostly middle class cities, fine places to live.
I wanted a "bad" place, a very corrupt town nearby Houston, where the city officials and police are on the take, and the town is essentially run by biker gangs.
If you look at a map of Pasadena and Deer Park Texas (south of Houston itself) you'll see a major urban highway running between them, Spenser Highway. But the cities are adjacent. However, not in my novels. I simply "inserted" a small city, "Mid City" (duh) between the two. So I've got a convenient imaginary corrupt pesthole to use in my novels, without any risk of offending either Pasadena or Deer Park.
My 2nd novel begins at a shady topless bar located on Telephone Road in southeast Houston. Telephone Road is real, and it was captured by the delightful song "Telephone Road" on the excellent album "Houston Kid" by Rodney Crowell. Now, as my private detective describes, Telephone Road has gentrified somewhat since the 50s of the song, but places like the KitKatKlub still exist there. And so my story begins...
It's okay to use real places (my first novel used Nasa Spaceflight Center) but you sometimes have to tread lightly.
Also remember that your publisher's attorney and editors will vet your books if you don't, and perhaps find places or names that might be better changed.
"Ineluctable modality of the visible..."
