They (you know, they, the ones that know everything) say you should write what you know. I’ve discovered there are some practical reasons for this. It’s really hard to imagine and create a world so complete you can describe it in minute detail. Or at least enough detail so it comes alive for readers. My respect for science fiction and fantasy writers has increased a google-fold. They create entire worlds from scratch, sometimes with languages and detailed maps. Keep that in mind next time you read JRR Tolkien or Ursula LeGuin.
On one hand, if you’re making it up, then no one can tell you it’s wrong. Readers won’t criticize why you have a house next to a pub rather than the fire station. You made it, you can put things where you want, paint the cows purple, and have people with three arms (gosh, that’d be handy – get it – handy). On the other hand, you need to remember every detail of a village you create on page one, so you can put the horse trough in the same place on page 380. Unless you draw them, there are no photos to reference or sites to visit. With creative freedom comes great continuity struggles.
With my book, I have a real-life city with real-life places to reference. So this should be easier, right? I can go to the art museum, Summerfest, Miller Park, etc and describe what I see, smell, hear, taste, and touch. I still need to make it interesting to read, but half the work is done. Whew. But there is still the line between how much fact can I use? Should I mention real restaurants, weather men, radio shows, and bands? Will these people prefer not be to be mentioned, even if it’s positive? Can I get away with discussing the local restaurant empire without stepping on any toes? I’m not slanderous, but some businesses and people may prefer not to make a cameo in my book.
And what about the fictional places within the real city? Where should I locate Lou’s restaurant? Should I give it a fictional address or a real one? What about Lou and Al’s apartments? Can I give them an apartment located where none exist? Will I need to get addresses accurate, or can I just make them up?
As you can tell, writing a novel with a real-life location has an entirely new set of problems. Where does reality leave off and fiction begin? And will the reader even care? These are some of the dilemmas I’m working through this week. I’ve been writing Lou’s apartment for the first time. I envision it on the East side in one of the many older apartment buildings. I even went through the ads to find some pictures (I thank the Google gods every day for making research easier). I cobbled together a fictional apartment from 2 real apartments. As far as I know, this place doesn’t exist, but it works for my purposes. Lou’s restaurant and Al’s apartment evolved the same way. Parts are inspired by real places I’ve been or restaurants where I’ve worked (yes, dear reader, I have worked in many a restaurant kitchen. Be nice to restaurant employees, they work their tails off), and other features are complete fictions; created to serve my narrative.
This leaves me where? I guess I’m trying to meld the fictional and real Milwaukee as much as possible. I’m using real places, real Milwaukee icons, and real Milwaukee events to make to make it more authentic. I’m changing a few things that are relevant to the heart of the story and I’m rearranging where some unimportant buildings are downtown to suit my purposes.
So, dear reader, what are your thoughts on accuracy in novels? Is all forgiven because its fiction? Or do you want places in the novel to be the same as they are in real life?
