My novel, Going to the Beginning, was a contemporary urban fantasy. It was set in a fairly generic suburban neighborhood and the setting didn't have much breath or life to it.
I didn't think much of it until I looked over a critique from Sheena*. She mentioned that some things in the sort seemed out of date. They were too.
While I was thinking this over I began to play around with some ideas. What if it wasn't contemporary? What if my characters were in the future, the old west, or another time in history?
As I jotted down a few ideas I thought about one of my aunts. She was a feisty and adventurous young girl. There were several traits of hers that I wanted to showcase in my main character, Julianne.
My aunt would have been Julianne's age in the early sixties. Once I realized that, more ideas started to fit together. My story was still an urban fantasy, but it wasn't going to be set in the current era anymore. It was going to be set in 1964.
Since then other plot points have fallen into place or make more sense then they did before. It's almost as if it was meant to be.
How do you decide the time and place of your novel? Has it ever changed or evolved as you were writing?
*Yes, that very same talented Sheena.
It's such a blessing to have other writers we can turn to (especially ones as awesome as Sheena). I've changed worlds and age groups but not times yet. And usually it is for the best. Happy writing!
ReplyDeleteTime and setting tend to stay the same for me as well, but character ages and genres change frequently, as do various plot points. I'm sure setting changes will happen to me soon!
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