I aim to write either contemporary or literary fiction (I am not sure yet what will fit my stories more, I have not written yet). I am wondering which country I should set my stories in. I do not live in the UK or USA, I live in The Netherlands. I plan on writing my books in English. I do not really have an interest to set my stories in The Netherlands. In England they seem more private and reserved in their manners and and converstations, but in the USA they seem more open with such things. How do you decide which country to set your books in?
I almost always set them in the UK unless there's nowhere that fits the setting I need for the story. Or sometimes in Japan.
How do you expect the "national character" to fit in with your story - with plot and characters? Will it be a relevant thing? I think maybe the decision should be based on what kind of story you want to tell. At the same time, I think you'll find all sorts of different individuals in both places. Sometimes writing against stereotypes makes for a more compelling story. I'm in Canada - another great place to set a story!
Agreed. Canada is a great place. I have a few fanfics set there. Even though I live in the US. I think the main thing with placing stories in other countries that I consider (although it may be rude) is how much research can I actually get my hands on about it. Like, I wanted to set a story in Edwardian England, but couldn't find enough on that 10 year era? So, kind of ditched the story. The US/Canada/UK are pretty easy to research- rather than an somewhere more obscure- or rife with political bias in accounts. (Yes, there is some in USUKCAN, but some countries, I feel have more of this going on in research texts.)
Extra note: From what I have seen on TV and read, this is rather true. Not always the case, but people in the US are very open. Sometimes, too open. (Please shut up. I don't want to hear about the birth of your son and all the gory details when we met 1 hour ago?) But anyway, the US once you're friends, you're friends and I at least believe in close friendships. Like, going to friends when I have a problem, or need support. I can't speak for the UK, but I just have a sense the culture is more reserved. I sometimes wish the US was more reserved. Like, I kind of miss formal names sometimes. Like even lawyers I have worked with as a Paralegal have been like: "Just call me 'First name''. And I'm like, "Okay..." But I feel like Mr/Ms. Last Name is more respectful? I just think there is a line between casual and professional that needs to be drawn. Because I'm just old-fashioned like that, I guess.
I live in the uk so far I’ve set stories in, the Uk, the US ( various states) , Peurto rico, the Bahamas, Jamaica, France, Spain, Holland, Ibiza , the Indian Ocean territory, a made up country in Africa, Vietnam, Canada, the Maldives, and a fantasy world
How about Scandinavia? You're close enough to understand it and that setting does really well with the big markets.
If you set them in Scandinavia, you just gotta up the "private and reserved" of the English by a factor of ten. I swear, if you try small talk on the bus, you may as well be an alien invasion.
I live in Australia, but I have never tried to write a story set here, because we have over 200+ ethnicities and nationalities here ... so trying to write a typical "Aussie" would be a nightmare. There's no such thing! Honestly, writing a story to conform to a national stereotype doesn't work. Take your example of the "reserved Englishman" and the "more open American". I've been to the UK (but not the USA, though I have many pen-pals in both countries), and I've met many different people in the UK. Some people in the UK are reserved and quiet, some are open and friendly. Same about the USA. Why, bless me -- it all depends. The best advice I can give you is this: ignore stereotypes, especially national ones. Write your characters the way you want them to sound, and if they all sound the same, go back and give each one of them some different characteristic -- a verbal tic. Maybe John speaks slooower, to put an emphasis on certain wooords? Or Mary speaks-really-fast-and-happy-hooray!! Isn't this exciting?! I'm so excited!! Aren't you?! OK, those are simple ones. What about slang? Suppose John says, "I'm gonna open a can o' whoop-ass on yo' ass, mother---" What does that tell you? He's angry, and we'd better run away ... or, maybe he's just a poseur, and he wants to look and sound like one mean-ass hombre. Ya follow? OK, that slang is simple and very "Hollywood". It's just an example. Dialects, accents, and slang in foreign languages is more complicated still, and isn't something I've mastered. But I've picked up a few words in (for instance) Scots Gaelic. It can help to spice up your dialogue, but be very, very careful to do your research. All right, I've rambled enough. Sorry! I hope this is helpful.
