Hi friends. Sometime in early pandemic (2020? 2021? Who the hell knows!) my buddy Margaret Wilkerson Sexton asked me for some thoughts on writing about place for a class she was teaching. I had recently published a novel about New Orleans, a place where I live but am not from. As a counterpoint, Margaret is from New Orleans and has written (brilliantly) about New Orleans in her novels, but does not live here anymore and hasn’t for a long time. So my response to her was written mainly from the perspective of a person who is writing about a city I have a new relationship with, although I think there are lessons we can take from it, no matter our angle.
I like your distinction between location as a character and location just as important as character. I think it plus with the different meanings of the word character, as in, a person, or a vibe.
Your advice confirms my commitment to spend a weeek in Chicago in April to walk the streets and spend time researching for my novel set in Chicago 1928-33. I’ll takeva walking tour Gangsters and Ghosts and another of the Art Deco buildings. You’re from Chicago so please share suggestions. I booked an Airbnb in the west loop. Looking forward to having boots on the ground for research.
I like your distinction between location as a character and location just as important as character. I think it plus with the different meanings of the word character, as in, a person, or a vibe.
Your advice confirms my commitment to spend a weeek in Chicago in April to walk the streets and spend time researching for my novel set in Chicago 1928-33. I’ll takeva walking tour Gangsters and Ghosts and another of the Art Deco buildings. You’re from Chicago so please share suggestions. I booked an Airbnb in the west loop. Looking forward to having boots on the ground for research.
Lovely advice!