What was it like in southeast NE during the 90's? (Omaha: transfer, university)

[Siana West]

I'm from Denver and am working on a fictional character who was raised in De Witt, NE. She would have attended Concordia University in Seward during the 1990's, and I assume she would've gone to Lincoln to party.

Would anyone like to share a slice of life with me? I'm curious to know about the daily life and entertainments of small town Nebraska teens during the late 1980's/early 1990's. I'd also like to know about college life in Seward and single life in Lincoln during the 1990's. Any insight will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks and happy new year to everyone!

[ColeSD]

Hi Siana.
Hate to say this, but "Write what you know."
Even if you got three million stories, nothing can replace the youth YOU had.

What's wrong with a character being from Denver?

[TheMac]

I also have a take on your character. If she's from Seward and went to Concordia, chances are actually more likely that she DIDN'T go to Lincoln to party. That's just assuming she was the "typical" person I guess.

Small towns in Nebraska generally have huge get-togethers, from my experiences, in their own little towns. I mean, it's not like Lincoln is NYC, sure there are more bars, but I'd be willing to bet that most people from small towns around the Lincoln/Omaha area are more comfortable sitting around drinking in their own environment with their close knit friends. Just an observation. Unless something major in your story happens in Lincoln.

Otherwise, head your character down to "bar row" between 12th-17th & O St.

[mattpoulsen]

I actually disagree. Her character attended college in Seward. I was, at one time, a college student who attended college at Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, and we regularly drove to Omaha (and sometimes Lincoln) to go "party."

It is normal for people in small town Nebraska to travel from town to town. That's part of small town life. Its not a big deal to travel 30 miles or so. And, as an irrational college aged kid, driving 25 miles from Seward to Lincoln is not big deal at all. I think driving from Concordia to Lincoln to go "party" on occasion is absolutely something that a typical Concordia student may do.

Plus, the nightlife in Lincoln is much much more conducive to the "college experience." The "O street" bars are notorious throughout the state. And you ask any college age kid in Nebraska where to go "party" in Lincoln and they'll say "downtown" or more specifically "O street." If you aren't aware of the downtown "O street" seen, its basically about a 3/4 mile stretch of nothing but bars on both sides.

Interestingly, I transferred from MLC to the University of Nebraska in 1996. So, I have both perspectives and I'll guarantee there were people coming from Concordia college. At any rate, the "bars" downtown that were big college hangouts in the '90s are pretty much still there. There is Iguanas (lame!), Sandy's (not quite as lame), Woody's (tolerable), and the Brass Rail (used to be ok) to name a few. The Brass Rail at one point was featured in Playboy magazine as one of the more notorious college bars in the U.S. (I can't remember exactly what the topic of the article was).

[TheMac]

I'm not saying they absolutely don't come to Lincoln. Obviously its a case by case basis, but certainly there are people in the smaller towns who identify more with the type of environment that a small town provides for partying, as well as people who would rather go back to Lincoln.

[mattpoulsen]

Yeah, I understand what you're saying, Mac. I just wanted to point out that its not at all out of the norm to do as she is suggesting her character did. That's all. She obviously has a reason for that Seward-Lincoln connection, so I wanted her to know that its absolutely within reason.

[Katiana]

I tend to agree with "write what you know". There's lots about Denver to write about. Not that I could tell you; I grew up in PA.

[itsMeFred]

I'm another who would be hesitant to write about an area that I need to research too much.
But that said, your character would have definately gone dancin' at the PlaMore!


Or at least I did...

[mattpoulsen]

Ok. I have to chime in on the "writing" thing. This person is obviously a fiction writer. Authors very often write about places they've never been and they supplement their lack of personal knowledge with research. You don't really know how significant the Seward-Lincoln sub-story is. It could be half a chapter and relatively insignificant.

I mean think of all the great fictional novels and think about whether or not the author's personal experience. I just don't think Dan Brown needed intimate knowledge of Vatican when he wrote Angels and Demons. He researched it.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by mattpoulsen

Ok. I have to chime in on the "writing" thing. This person is obviously a fiction writer. Authors very often write about places they've never been and they supplement their lack of personal knowledge with research. You don't really know how significant the Seward-Lincoln sub-story is. It could be half a chapter and relatively insignificant.

I mean think of all the great fictional novels and think about whether or not the author's personal experience. I just don't think Dan Brown needed intimate knowledge of Vatican when he wrote Angels and Demons. He researched it.

Well, yeah, but I bet that research included a trip to the Vatican. I agree it may be a small part of the overall plot, but since this person is asking for help on CD, it's my educated guess s/he isn't a renowned writer yet. I took a writing class once and we were taught. the "write what you know" approach. Yes, research is a part of it, but I don't think I'd do my research on CD.