Where are there a lot of bums?

Question

I am writing a story about a bum but i don't know what the setting should be. Do you have any ideas?

My story is going to be about a guy that loses a bet and has to go live in the streets like a bum. Can you please give me details on the setting?

oh...and also...The guy meets another bum that helps him out and tells him where to get food and where to sleep and stuff like that so can you tell me how homeless shelters work and where they sleep(like in an alley or under a tunnel/bridge).

Answer 1

Atlanta.

Answer 2

You might want to read some of the more well known novels, so you don't accidentally find yourself doing what has been already done, or if you do, you do it better than has been done already.

One that easily comes to mind is Simenon's Le Clochard, or "The Bum." I am not sure of the English translation of the title. It might be The Tramp. "Lady and the Tramp" I think is translated as "La Belle et le Clochard."

In "American Psycho," Brett Easton Ellis writes a lurid scene where the anti-hero murders a homeless man after killing his dog.

I wish you the best. Maybe the best thing you can do is just go work in a homeless shelter and take lots of notes. Carry a notebook with you at all times. A PDA might also be useful in entering notes. Or a small MP3 or mini cassette recorder.

You could also volunteer to serve in a soup line, pass out clothing or food at a pantry.

I would ask why you are writing this novel. If you can express this in writing, say just in essay form, that could become part of the preface or introduction. This could also unlock some part of the plot, and give you another character.

For settings, I would suggest your own home town. What city do you know better than your own home town? And if you think there aren't any homeless or poor there, go check with some social workers, police, or church folk who do charity. You may be surprised.

Answer 3

There is a street in Vancouver, B.C. Canada named Hastings St., Known as skid row, this is where loads of bums hang out, lots of homeless people. Shouldn't be that way, but sorry to say it is. They sleep in doorways, trash cans, alleys, cardboard boxes, parks, even on bus stop benches, very sad situation. In every town these days you will find homeless people, if you want to call them bums then so be it, but I do feel sorry for them. They also can be found sleeping under bridges, and in the bushes until it gets so messy that the highway department comes along and clears all the bush away. Good luck with your story.

Answer 4

write about you r own bum silly, bums are everywhere as a matter of fact heres a little song

oh bum you came and you gave me a quarter
i spent it on a sip of booze instead of food and now im hungry
oh bum o bum some times tis not your fault
we have to help you out cause if we dont your never get out
oh bum o bum dont worry world poverty is going to be elimated
you be off the street and youll have something to eat and some thing covering your feet
dont your bum ... try going down town and asking a bum to show you but dont wear good clothing no money just a pen and paper and get him tobring them all out in the open and do it on paraliment hill hahahahahahahahahahahahaha oh if i hd the time

Answer 5

Volunteer at a homeless shelter or at the library. You'll actually get to meet and talk with homeless folks. This can give your story some added depth.

And you could set it in a shelter or a church soup kitchen.

Answer 6

Downtown San Antonio, Texas

Answer 7

Any major city is a good setting - now just think - where would YOU want to sleep and find food in a city? A lot of them hang out behind restaurants at closing time to see what gets tossed.

Answer 8

Los Angeles

Answer 9

You can find them in most cities there are usually homless shelters but BE CAREFUL. Don't approach homless people randomly in a street it may put you into an unsafe situation. There are many books with accounts from homless persons and vagrents at your local library, but if you must have personal accounts of how life is, go with a friend and interview people at a homless shelter or soup kitchen , durring the day this will ensure your personal safety. Never approach alone, and never approach if you're not in a public place.

Answer 10

Vegas. There's a lot of crazy bums walking around on the old strip. It's pretty scary.

Answer 11

i was recently in Paris, and under the bridges that cross the Seine are a lot of dirty beds and such...prime bum place. Also, Paris is a radiant place, so if you do your research, the setting could be fantastic!