The setting for my story is New York City. How important is it to remain true to the geography of the city? I'm not sure if I should be specific in describing the locations of characters and using actual places (not major ones, like Central Park, but minor locations) or if I should keep it vague and let the reader's imagination create the visual around him. I'm wondering how important it is, if I say the character is on a certain street, if I describe the setting around him as close to reality as possible. Thoughts?
It depends on how important the specific location is. But I think generally it's better to be quite specific when using actual places. You don't necessarily need to describe the streets in detail, but you can/should name them.
You don't need to go wild with detail. But I'd do some research online. Always good to be armed with some facts.
It is a story you are writing and so everything you are writing about shoud in essence remain part fictional especially places, away from the grims of reality. I much prefer to read of a different perfect NewYork I have never actually get to in reality. Bringing something new to an already exiting real places is part of the fun.
get it at lest get it somewhat right. I hate stories/movies/ shows/ where they walk off Brooklyn bridge and are in central park. so i say lotsz of realism
Do some looking around on Google street view. I have a story set in Goteborg, Sweden, where I have never been, and that was a tremendous asset.
Really?? that would be interesting to read. What kind of story is that? I think this is part of the fun, setting the story in a place you've never been, It's like travelling in a way, but I agree it's also a risk.
I started writing a story set in Istanbul. I spent hours and hours on Google maps, plotting my MC's walks and rides, searching nice photos on Flickr so I can describe more accurately what she is "seeing", and even meeting a couple of Turks online to discuss which jazz club should she visit! ....And after writing down 10,000 words on it, I found out that the reason she went there in the first place (some academic/genealogical work) is best done NOT in Istanbul, but Ankara!!!
if you want your work [and yourself as a writer] to be taken seriously, you'd better be accurate, since too many readers will have been to or lived in nyc, for you to get away with inconsistencies...
