It's in Australia - Victoria. I was gonna use Melbourne but I think I'd rather make up my own. I'd feel more in control then, and wouldn't have to worry so much about mistakes!
Can you suggest anything that might help - any "do's and don'ts?
Oh and I want it to be a city, rather than a town, so:
1. How much of a population do I need to have for it to be classified a city and
2. How much of a population would I need to have so that it could have a university?
2007-07-15 06:57:31 · 8 answers · asked by Philomena M 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
There seems to be some confusion - I wasn't asking for help NAMING the city
2007-07-15 07:24:44 · update #1
Melbourne has a lot of people, maybe three and a half million people. Canberra has about 330,000 people. Both have universities: Melbourne University and the ANU. And both are cities. So you have a choice about how big a city you want.
Why not use the real Melbourne but only use the area around the university then you do not have such a big area to deal with.
You could use local color, streets, shops, in that area around Lygon Street, but change the names of the shops, etc. That way you would have a realistic setting for your book.
2007-07-15 07:45:18 · answer #1 · answered by kia 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you need to include a few more details on the book t get yourself a better city name.
For example, if it was a floaty little kids book, something like Dreamton would be ideal, but if it was a more grown up book and a bit soap opera-ey then something like Revertrie would be great. If it is an area with a lot of nightlife and clubs, then Ociana sounds perfect.
Here are some tips for finding a perfect name:
-try find words that fit with the theme and put them together
-take an existing town/city and twist it a bit
Try some city generators from sites like
Seventhsanctum.com
1.around 2000
2.you dont need a certain population for this but try something like 2000 as above
2007-07-15 07:07:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Rather than build from scratch you should amalgamate several cities that you know well, or hit the books and do some research. It is only a backdrop to your story and if you make it familiar then people will believe it.
One great tip that i was given was having a map that covers where all of the action takes place next to my desk. Keep to whatever physical reality you chose, and you readers are more likely to believe.
2007-07-15 10:10:37 · answer #3 · answered by patchcassidy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One trick is to suggest a specific place without actually naming it, you'd be surprised how well that works, a number of authors have done that. It lends to a bit of mystery that keeps the reader wondering.
Or, you can do alot of research, fairly common for writers, just learn as much as you can about a place so you can feel more in control.
The best thing, is to write what you know. Nothing wrong with writing about your home town. I mean, how many Stephen King novels are based on a small town in Maine? *lol*
2007-07-15 07:04:56 · answer #4 · answered by lilykdesign 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A town near me is 13,000 and has a private collage. - by University do you mean a state university? If so I'd say some of the small state university cities are around 100,000.
2007-07-15 07:00:52 · answer #5 · answered by Ralph 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well hte population should be around 20,000 people for a city but for a university should have like 100,000
2007-07-15 06:59:21 · answer #6 · answered by crayonsarecool 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
CHECK OUT THE LINK BELOW
2007-07-15 08:29:51 · answer #7 · answered by Gary Williams 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Speedhaven you can have it on the coast
2007-07-15 07:07:50 · answer #8 · answered by Scouse 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋