The six series characters I write about are set in different times, from the 1880s through today. The fast pace of things today with science and technology and the evolution of humans from the slower-paced 20th Century to the run-amok 21st Century, I find myself preferring to write stories and novels set back in time. The research needed to write stories set in the 19th Century is time consuming but keeps me focused on the characters and the story rather than what's happening today.
When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, it took me a while to write a story set around that time. Janet Hutchings at Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine inspired me to write a Katrina story for EQMM's Salute to New Orleans Issue (Vol. 128, No 5, Nov 2006). It was a dynamite issue and I was happy to see my story in it.
I've written a few Katrina and Hurricane Rita stories after. Eight years after Katrina, I finally wrote a Katrina novel – City of Secrets (2013). Needed time to reflect.
Which is why I have written nothing about the pandemic and don't plan to anytime soon. Y'all can to that and I see many of you have done a good job with it.
Which brings me to the topic of this piece – when to set a story.
Editor Malcolm Cowley explained the four stages of writing a story:
1. The Germ of the Story where the idea for the story inspires a writer
2. The Conscious Meditation where the writer thinks of a way to present the story
3. The First Draft where the writer writes the story
4. The Rewrite where the writer gets it right
When a writer like me gets inspired, I need to figure which character is right for the story. And just as importantly, when do I set the story. A product of the last half of the 20th Century, I am more comfortable writing about that time. I know the people (I am one) and what was going on then. My history degree helps me go back in time with my stories set in the 19th Century.
I'll probably still write stuff set in the 21st Century but the main characters with not be Gen X or Millenials. For sure, dude.
Side Note:
The sculpture Mackenzie, a product of my artist/sculptor son and the LSU School of Art, stood in our front yard since 2011. We used it on the cover of City of Secrets.
Mackenzie was destroyed last year by Hurricane Ida when she blew a large sweetgum tree across our yard.
Hey, the tree trunk missed our house at least.
That's all for now.
www.oneildenoux.com
You need to get MacKenzie repaired! That is a very cool sculpture.
ReplyDeleteI love MacKenzie - yes, get it repaired!
ReplyDeleteI understand about setting things back in time - for one thing, before cell phones and security cameras everywhere, people really could disappear, there might really be no witnesses, etc. Plus the research has its own charms.
Interesting post. I've long wanted to take the [very intimidating!] leap into historical fiction. And yes, I hope MacKenzie is restored!
ReplyDelete