Sunday, 26 April 2015

How To Write Novels Set On An Unfamiliar Territory

By Alta Alexander


There are a lot of reading materials that we can find both on local shops and on stores. Those of us who consider reading as an effective means of combating stress and easing the tension that we feel likes to go over the selection in hopes of finding some great works. Reading has been proven to be therapeutic for many and has continued to survive as a recreational activity.

The industry of publishing books and all other reading materials is big. Such is proven with the number of books that we read here and there. Regardless of how fast we are at reading, we cannot keep up with the speed of publishing all around the world. Working on novels set on Pacific Coast Highway is one thing that may be a challenge to those who are not familiar on the place.

Veteran or not, if you do not have any idea on how it looks or feels like, you will end up guessing and doubting the quality of your work. This is why knowing the area where you choose to bring your story is very important. If you are writing about something and want to know the area better, then take a look at these following things that you can do on your end.

Read relevant information. This is the primary thing that you can do to learn about anything. You can either go online or secure books about the place that you are writing. It could be about the culture, religion, and the geography of the site. All of these can be useful in visualizing its appearance.

Visit the site. After you get its basic information, your next option would be to go there. Even if you have perfectly memorized the details of a site by simple reading, its a whole new different experience if you get the chance to walk on the real streets and see all those things that are described online. If you are writing about a character treading the road you are taking, at least you know how it actually feels to be there.

Engage with the locals. Different localities have different practices. If you are not familiar with something, then the best people that you can ask about it are the people who are living on the place. May it be about their practices and traditions, you are sure to get direct answers. If you come in the right time, you might get the chance to attend to some events with cultural value to the locals.

Look into the historical background. You do not have to be working on a historical story to want the information. Any kind of data which can be considered as minor but is interesting in itself can land a spot on a page that you are writing.

Constantly practice the art of observation. There is lot of difference when you look at something and when you observe it. When you do the latter, you will be able to see details which you might have otherwise missed if you did not look carefully. Observing allows you to stitch actions and get the meaning of it.

Writing can be exhausting. Add it up to an unfamiliar topic and you will surely start to question why you are doing it in the first place. Always settle for excellence on the write ups that you have. Know every detail that it will need to contain.




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