Should I Make up a place for my New story or should I use My SMALL home town?

Question

I'm an amateur writer and I want to write a story. Do I place the setting in MY Home Town or should i make a place. I live in a very small town and everybody is connected to somebody in one way or the other. The problem is when I write people teed to find themselves in my writing. What should I do to keep this JUST a BOOK for Entertainment ONLY

Answer 1

If you're afraid people will read it and see themselves in it, you can try some subsititution. For example, if you live in a small town in terms of geography, you could make the town in your story spread out but with a small population. If the people in your story are students in school, you could change them to being volunteers that are helping the community. Just let your mind go and if you have a good imagination, you can do it. I wrote a story about a person who talked to her cat. So I changed the situation, and wrote a story where a person talked to her falcon.

Answer 2

There is nothing wrong with taking people from your normal life and incorporating them in your story, its people you know, you kind of already know their personalities, so its easier to write a story, in my opinion. Your first story, in my opinion, should be something you know about so that you can get a feel for writing. You could create a world, like J.K. Rowling, but make sure its good and ties up any loose ends. Go with your heart, it usually wont steer you wrong, story wise anyways. I hope you have good luck in writing your story and if you want, we could talk a little more.

Answer 3

if people find themselves in your writing, i would recommend using a fictional place. it can be a small town though, as that is what you know and it would sound the most convincing.

you could base your characters on people you know, just make sure to mix up their personalities and mannerisms. and obviously don't name characters after your friends!

i don't know why you don't want to base your story on your life. i would find it very flattering to be written about by a friend, even if it was accidental. and authors always say write what you know.