Need help writing a novel (Pittsburgh, Beaver Falls: home, neighborhood, elementary school)

[lmphillips]

Hi Pittsburgh,

I'm writing a novel about a girl of seventeen who meets her father for the first time in Beaver Falls in 1985. She lands in a private jet at Pittsburgh International Airport and must drive to Beaver Falls by car. I have never been to the area, all my research has been done online. Since the year is 1985 I am having trouble finding information about population and scenery on the way to Beaver Falls. Can anyone help me? Thanks for your time.


Lora Phillips

[DonnaPGH]

In order for your novel to be believable you will have to go there yourself. How can you write a good novel by what other people say, or I should say you can't write a good novel without being there yourself. The sites, the sounds, the smells, all of which make up a good book, cannot be duplicated. Only a good writer knows that.
Good luck with your novel - you're off to a rough start.

[lmphillips]

Dear Donna,

I just need a few points of interest for one paragragh. You're right it would be better if I could visit. Since I can't revisit 1985 I guess I'm stuck. No, wait I can use my imagination, like say, Homer did when he wrote The Odessey. I don't think he saw any of the places he wrote about since he was blind. I was mainly looking for facts about the city. The fact is, if all of them are as rude as you I will use a different city. Thanks.

[lmphillips]

Dear Donna,

You're right. I realize that I didn't say that it was for one paragragh. My frustration with trying to find the information got the best of me. Yes, I was hurt by your attitude. Whenever I've asked for information before, I just received the facts. It probably will be a lame novel, but I am compelled to write it. Again, I'm sorry for offending you.


Good Bye

[DonnaPGH]

You go girl! Now THAT'S the attitude that will get you a good novel! Persistance!

Let me know when your book hits the stores.

Good luck!

[Tallysmom]

Hi, Lora -- I am from Monaca/Beaver area from around that time -- and it depends on where you have her driving from -- there were many ways from the airport...

And I'm taxing my brain and can't find my atlas.

I can remember a little drive in food place in the back of New Brighton, near Beaver Falls called Hanks -- home made soft serve up front and burritos in the back -- they had "El Scorcho" sauce. Then there's Jerry's -- with the fried mushrooms... Mmmmm... we used to play putt-putt golf at the Stop-n-Sock...

I also remember the Rochester/Monaca bridge was still closed by the time we moved to California in 1984... my memory is that it reopened in 1987... We lived as newly married right over that bridge -- having it closed made for a quiet neighborhood....

[tomaso62]

I grew up in Beaver Falls, and visit there every other year or so.. The way that almost everyone takes, even back then, was Route 60 straight from the airport to Route 51, in Chippewa. From there, there are 2 ways you can go. You can take a left onto 51, a right about a tenth of mile onto a shortcut to Darlington Road called Braden School Road. Then turn right onto Darlington Road, driving past a few small businesses and restaurants, the Catholic Cemetery, the Beaver Falls Cemetery, and to the top of Steffin Hill. Left down Steffin Hill, and at the bottom you're in Beaver Falls. If you turn right, you take a long slow left curve downhill, until you get to the bottom of 8th St Hill, turning up and to your left, it is a very steep hill, lasting about half a mile, and when you get to the top, there's the Patterson Elementary School with the playground on the right. Go to the stop sign at Darlington Rd, make a left, drive about a quarter of a mile and make a right down 11th St Hill. At the bottom of the hill, you're in Beaver Falls. Both hills are steep hills, Steffin is longer, but not as steep, but 11th St is a lot steeper, but not near as long. There are other ways, but they would take alot longer, but Beaver Falls is a long thin city, so there are faster ways to other parts of town. From the airport to Beaver Falls, is nothing but interstate driving through rolling hills with sheer cliffs on the sides or deep valleys, like the one over Brady's Run Park. Once you get to 51, it's small town driving. If you still want this, I hope it helps.

[newcomer843]

Already your poor writing skills are obvious. You didn't say you need info for just one paragraph - that would have been different. You went on by saying "Im writing a novel about a girl . . . .

Instead of reading what someone has to say on a forum and taking it with a grain of salt, you are a very deffensive person (guess I hit a sore spot with you).

Congratulations on making that writer feel so small, Donna. You're obviously a real big shot. Before insulting somebody else's writing skills, though, you might want figure out how to spell words like "deffensive."

By the way, what books have you written that gives you so much authority about what good writers do. That novelist was right in the first place: authors have to do research for stories all the time. She (or he) shouldn't be the one apologizing, you should, for pretending to be an expert on something you know nothing about. Correct me if I'm wrong. What are your credentials, Donna?

[Katiana]

tomaso62 got it right. I grew up in Beaver Falls, too, and I can tell you, not much has changed since 1985! I was just there this fall. Of course, it is beautiful in the fall, but the town looks pretty shabby.

[Lookingforasafehome]

I am sorry but I failed to see where this person was so rude here, what did she do so wrong? She asked for info, what is wrong with that? Sorry but you all did not have to be so mean to her, geez, PGHERS are suppose to friendly, I know I was when I lived there for awhile, or am I missing something here? Anyhow I would be more than happy to help this person out, I lived there in the early to late 80s but not on that side of town, but I could give some input, please email if your still around, again...did i miss something here? Geez people!