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META: How Much To Write About (say) Ketchikan?
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Scott Eiler
Apr 28, 2012, 9:12:19 PM4/28/12
to
I'm in a unique situation today. I've written a story about
Ketchikan-Alaska (http://www.eilertech.com/stories/2010/sinking.htm),
*and* I've been there
(http://www.eilertech.com/domination/journal/journal24.htm), *and* I'm
reading another story about Ketchikan.
In my own story I chose to not include details about the city. I did
describe that it had a hostel, and a fancy hotel which could see the
waterways. That's all the story needed. My story took place mostly on
the water.
In the story I'm reading, the author chose to describe the city. One
action scene was so geographically accurate, I could trace the
characters' steps. He didn't say *exactly* which direction the creek
flowed, but he *did* describe the historic boundary between white man's
and native territory at the creek, the boardwalk beside it, the
boutiques alongside it, the bridge at the shore, the tramway leading
down to the boardwalk, and the long way up the hill to the tramway.
Aside from there being a hotel lobby at the top of the tramway, his
details were *meticulously* correct. But might that perhaps be overkill?
How much detail do *you* like in your stories, RACC? Would you put more
in if only you could?
--
(signed) Scott Eiler 8{D> -------- http://www.eilertech.com/ ---------
Let's take a look, if you will, at the Second Amendment of the
Constitution, which protects every American's right to shoot another
American. This cherished constitutional right to shoot people and make
them dead is currently recognized in all fifty states, most recently
Florida.
- The Borowitz Report
(http://www.borowitzreport.com/2012/03/29/an-argument-against-healthcare/),
March 2012.
Ketchikan-Alaska (http://www.eilertech.com/stories/2010/sinking.htm),
*and* I've been there
(http://www.eilertech.com/domination/journal/journal24.htm), *and* I'm
reading another story about Ketchikan.
In my own story I chose to not include details about the city. I did
describe that it had a hostel, and a fancy hotel which could see the
waterways. That's all the story needed. My story took place mostly on
the water.
In the story I'm reading, the author chose to describe the city. One
action scene was so geographically accurate, I could trace the
characters' steps. He didn't say *exactly* which direction the creek
flowed, but he *did* describe the historic boundary between white man's
and native territory at the creek, the boardwalk beside it, the
boutiques alongside it, the bridge at the shore, the tramway leading
down to the boardwalk, and the long way up the hill to the tramway.
Aside from there being a hotel lobby at the top of the tramway, his
details were *meticulously* correct. But might that perhaps be overkill?
How much detail do *you* like in your stories, RACC? Would you put more
in if only you could?
--
(signed) Scott Eiler 8{D> -------- http://www.eilertech.com/ ---------
Let's take a look, if you will, at the Second Amendment of the
Constitution, which protects every American's right to shoot another
American. This cherished constitutional right to shoot people and make
them dead is currently recognized in all fifty states, most recently
Florida.
- The Borowitz Report
(http://www.borowitzreport.com/2012/03/29/an-argument-against-healthcare/),
March 2012.
Andrew Perron
Apr 29, 2012, 2:10:08 AM4/29/12
to
On Sun, 29 Apr 2012 01:12:19 +0000 (UTC), Scott Eiler wrote:
> In the story I'm reading, the author chose to describe the city. One
> action scene was so geographically accurate, I could trace the
> characters' steps. He didn't say *exactly* which direction the creek
> flowed, but he *did* describe the historic boundary between white man's
> and native territory at the creek, the boardwalk beside it, the
> boutiques alongside it, the bridge at the shore, the tramway leading
> down to the boardwalk, and the long way up the hill to the tramway.
> Aside from there being a hotel lobby at the top of the tramway, his
> details were *meticulously* correct. But might that perhaps be overkill?
>
> How much detail do *you* like in your stories, RACC? Would you put more
> in if only you could?
I like to put in a fair amount of local flavor. Not so much that it sticks
> In the story I'm reading, the author chose to describe the city. One
> action scene was so geographically accurate, I could trace the
> characters' steps. He didn't say *exactly* which direction the creek
> flowed, but he *did* describe the historic boundary between white man's
> and native territory at the creek, the boardwalk beside it, the
> boutiques alongside it, the bridge at the shore, the tramway leading
> down to the boardwalk, and the long way up the hill to the tramway.
> Aside from there being a hotel lobby at the top of the tramway, his
> details were *meticulously* correct. But might that perhaps be overkill?
>
> How much detail do *you* like in your stories, RACC? Would you put more
> in if only you could?
gratuitously out, calling attention to itself, but wherever it might
matter.
Andrew "NO .SIG MAN" "Juan" Perron, a soupcon~
Scott Eiler
Apr 29, 2012, 7:46:26 PM4/29/12
to
boundary between native and white man's territory. At least the other
details helped the story. Unless the natives make a political comeback
when I read some more, I don't think the boundary will make a difference.
... Obviously my plan to read trashy science fiction this weekend is not
succeeding. 8{C>
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