The Importance of Place

[I. B. Trippin]

Originally Posted by cpg35223

Wow. Totally missed my point. All I was trying to do is state that great writers come from unexpected places, and then explained why their sense of place gifted those writers with narrative power. In that sense, my post was not a discussion of the South per se, but rather how a given location could have fictive possibilities that belie either its perceived glamor or lack thereof. Could Flannery O'Connor set her books in Vermont? Possibly, but I don't see it happening.

I suppose if you boil my point down to its essence, it is really this: The longer you live in a place, the more interesting it becomes, and the more interesting a place becomes the more it sustains you as a writer. Hope that's clear to you now.

Yes, it appears, based on your clarification that I may have missed your intended meaning. I think you have a very good point, as stated here. However, my own experience with living in the same place I'm ill-suited to, for the long term, is that it and its people have remained the same or have become even less interesting and therefore, less evocative of creativity. As you and I, in essence, have both said, "different strokes". Some people grow into a place, some people grow out of a place....or never fit there, to begin with, as in my case.

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by I. B. Trippin

Hi Mightyqueen801,

I think it is much preferable to actually live in the place you are writing about or at least, to have a background there. In the case of New Jersey, specifically, I'd say it would far better to live there 'cause things can change quickly and if you're not there at the time it happens, you may never really understand it in complete context.

I remember a movie, Gangs of New York, set in your general area in that same time frame. It approached the subject less from the typical historical narrative standpoint and more as an action/adventure movie, with a very gritty, realistic and elemental tone. Much of the imagery has stayed with me today, though the movie was in theaters 10 or so years ago. Even without the Hollywood treatment, I expect the New York/New Jersey area was a very restless and interesting place in those times.

I recall reading an article, many years ago, about a writer who had a knack for researching the locations for her stories, so thoroughly that her descriptions left readers with the impression that she not only lived there but had intimate knowledge of sites depicted in her books, when in most cases, she'd never been to the locale she was writing about. There are a few writers who have this gift. I'm a research nut and aspire to be one of them but while the results are very satisfying for the reader, the underlying research is quite labor-intensive and time-consuming. Of course, this sense of place can be accomplished in many different ways. I'm a big fan of a current bestselling author who was born in New Jersey and sets all her stories there. She is a prolific serial writer who uses the same formulaic approach in every story but it works remarkably well because of a few techniques that seem somewhat unique to her writing, one of which is the colorfully entertaining and, by all accounts, very accurate portrayal of family and community relationships and interactions between the natives. She does establish a sense of place in briefly describing geography and atmosphere but shines most, by far, in her depictions of the people, their daily lives and relationships.

I too, like to go to the actual locations and let impressions just wash over me, something I don't think any amount of remote research can truly replace. Just slowing down your mind and allowing it to focus on relatively small, seemingly ordinary things can yield so much in understanding. Not to be morbid, but cemeteries are often a good place to pick up impressions about people and communities too.

First one that came to mind is Mary Higgins Clark, who I have had the pleasure of meeting once. I lived in the same area as she does for most of my life, and she's a celebrity of sorts around there.

I think there's another prolific mystery author in Central Jersey, though her name escapes me at the moment.

My favorite author also lives in New Jersey. I was astounded to discover that, because she writes medieval historical fiction and researches it meticulously, and I always thought she was a Brit.


Nothing morbid about cemeteries. That made me laugh. My family has always loved going to cemeteries, and I still visit old historic ones whenever I can find them. Sometimes my sister joins me. She has photographed hundreds of graves for Find-A-Grave.com

[I. B. Trippin]

Originally Posted by Mightyqueen801

First one that came to mind is Mary Higgins Clark, who I have had the pleasure of meeting once. I lived in the same area as she does for most of my life, and she's a celebrity of sorts around there.

I think there's another prolific mystery author in Central Jersey, though her name escapes me at the moment.

My favorite author also lives in New Jersey. I was astounded to discover that, because she writes medieval historical fiction and researches it meticulously, and I always thought she was a Brit.


Nothing morbid about cemeteries. That made me laugh. My family has always loved going to cemeteries, and I still visit old historic ones whenever I can find them. Sometimes my sister joins me. She has photographed hundreds of graves for Find-A-Grave.com

Mary Higgins Clark had slipped my mind. I do like her writing but have not read all her books yet. But no, she's not the one I was referring to. I'll give you a few hints:

* Born in South River, NJ.
* Now maintains two homes, neither of which is in New Jersey.
* Started in the romance genre' at the beginning of her career.
* Best known for serial works of fiction, primarily labeled as adventure but also romance/comedy/mystery/suspense.
* Her first book in the series has, after much unnecessary delay on the part of the studio that bought it, now been made into a movie which will hit theaters nationwide next Friday.

One of the things I like about the older parts of the country is the old cemeteries. Imho, the newer ones are tacky and commercialized, not much more than bone warehouses but the older ones have, dare I say, more personality: landscaping in which nature is maximized, rather than minimized, open spaces are aesthetic, not a missed opportunity to make a buck, each marker/headstone is unique, and there is a sense of style in everything from the perimeter fence, (if it has one), to the footstones on the graves. Some of the old, country cemeteries, especially, can be so unique and beautiful - a good place to rest.

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by I. B. Trippin

Mary Higgins Clark had slipped my mind. I do like her writing but have not read all her books yet. But no, she's not the one I was referring to. I'll give you a few hints:

* Born in South River, NJ.
* Now maintains two homes, neither of which is in New Jersey.
* Started in the romance genre' at the beginning of her career.
* Best known for serial works of fiction, primarily labeled as adventure but also romance/comedy/mystery/suspense.
* Her first book in the series has, after much unnecessary delay on the part of the studio that bought it, now been made into a movie which will hit theaters nationwide next Friday.

One of the things I like about the older parts of the country is the old cemeteries. Imho, the newer ones are tacky and commercialized, not much more than bone warehouses but the older ones have, dare I say, more personality: landscaping in which nature is maximized, rather than minimized, open spaces are aesthetic, not a missed opportunity to make a buck, each marker/headstone is unique, and there is a sense of style in everything from the perimeter fence, (if it has one), to the footstones on the graves. Some of the old, country cemeteries, especially, can be so unique and beautiful - a good place to rest.

I just did a Google search on "South River, NJ" as an exact phrase and "author" as an included word. "Janet Evanovich" popped up. I'm not familiar with her books, but her name is familiar because it's on poster ads at some of the train stations I pass through when commuting. I wondered what types of books she wrote--I figured by the big marketing effort and the expense to place those giant ads, she had to be a popular author.

[I. B. Trippin]

Originally Posted by Mightyqueen801

I just did a Google search on "South River, NJ" as an exact phrase and "author" as an included word. "Janet Evanovich" popped up. I'm not familiar with her books, but her name is familiar because it's on poster ads at some of the train stations I pass through when commuting. I wondered what types of books she wrote--I figured by the big marketing effort and the expense to place those giant ads, she had to be a popular author.

Yes, she's the one! I must say, I became a fan of hers in a very roundabout way. I used to visit the bookstores, (my home, away from home), and see whole sections of row upon row of identical, brightly colored bookcovers bearing short titles, which always began with a number. Though my intuition is usually impeccable and has actually saved my life a few times, something made me instinctively steer clear of those books.

Many years later, I was talking with a co-worker who shares my passion for reading and she described Janet's Stephanie Plum series, (those books with the tacky covers), in glowing terms and I had to admit that they sounded like something I would really like, in terms of reading for entertainment. I got #1 and though some elements took getting used to for me, became hooked over time. I've now read all eighteen of the "number" books, all her "between-the-numbers" books, (spin-offs of the numbers series), one of her graphic novels and will soon be reading some of her earlier work, as well. #19 comes out in June 2012, I believe. Meanwhile, as mentioned earlier, her first Stephanie Plum, (number series), book, "One for the Money" has been made into a movie and will premiere in theaters nationwide Friday, January 27th and I will be there, despite my discomfort with some of the casting decisions.

Stephanie Plum is a young woman, (late-twenties to perhaps, very early thirties), of Hungarian-Italian, (ROWRRRR!!!), ancestry living in Trenton, NJ, (double-Scorpio place, for all you fellow-astrologers out there), when she suddenly loses her job as a lingerie buyer for a local department store. Fiercely independent, she rejects her family's pressure to rush right out and get married and/or move back in with them for the long term. Through a series of coincidences and luck, she becomes aware of and blackmails her way into a job working for her sleazy, lowlife uncle, as a Bond Enforcement Agent, aka, Bounty Hunter.

Woefully short of any of the requisite physical conditioning, knowledge or tools of the trade, she just wings it, dazzled by the large lump sums advertised for the capture of some high-profile bail jumpers. What she lacks in formal preparation, she more than makes up for with a powerful combination of charm, sheer determination, and most of all, luck. Her most tangible benefactors/guardian angels are the two primary love interests of her life between whom, she cannot decide, (according to a post on the author's website, Janet has decided that in astrological terms, she is a Libra. I concur.). One is a former wild street kid, she grew up around, turned Trenton cop, while the other is a mysterious, rogue, bad-boy fellow-bounty hunter who deftly walks the line between good and the darkside. She loves one, (in the standard, fight and make up every few days tradition), and lusts after the other one, while plying her trade; tracking and capturing some truly terrifying bad guys. Despite her incredible luck, she is also equally prone to mishaps and embarrassing gaffs, with chaotic and hilarious results.

I mentioned earlier that this author has some key techniques that really carry the day for her, one being the knack for building a sense of place through her portrayal of characters and their relationships. Another one, certainly no less significant, is her technique of taking an ordinary main character/protagonist and surrounding her with the most bizarre, outrageous supporting cast and then compounding the effect by placing her in the most horrific, ridiculous situations imaginable.

Some of the books in the series are, imo, better than others but they all share that quality of compelling you to turn the page to see what happens next. As I mentioned to you in another thread, I love comedy and try to approach everything with a sense of humor but there is not that much that really makes me laugh out loud at this stage in my life. Several of the Stephanie Plum series books have had me, not only laughing out loud but having to stop, lay the book down and catch my breath, before continuing.

Anyway, most of her books are under 400 pages and provide a quick, light and fun experience. I highly recommend them to anyone who likes adventure, comedy, romance, mystery, suspense or just a delightful change of pace.

This is a link to her website: Janet Evanovich | New York Times Bestselling Author Janet Evanovich It has lots of great information about the author and her books. The only thing I'd change about the website is that the homepage does not really give an inkling as to the scope of the author's work, or a chronology, rather it usually prominently features one book or the latest developments regarding a current publication. On my first visit, I had a sensation similar to being thrown into the middle of the ocean with little by which to orient myself. There are links scattered throughout and I strongly suggest taking the time to follow those links and explore everything this site has to offer, though it is not readily apparent on the homepage. It features a lot of quotes from her books, which if you haven't read them yet, leave you kind of lost. Also, the bio and anecdotal information about the author's approach to the daily process of writing was longer, more memorable and truly funny, when I first visited the site. I hope they will consider bringing these back in their original form. Fortunately, they do change and update the website somewhat frequently, so it is developing. I visited it while posting this link and found out that they have made some changes that, effectively, make a liar out of me, with regard to some of the things I'm griping about. How's that for quick results?

You can sign up to received updates and information about coming publication dates, booksigning tours and other pertinent news, via e-mail. They will not deluge you with mail, spam you or sell your info and I can vouch for that through my own experience.

[Bunjee]

Could it simply be the type of writing that inspires you? We're all human beings living in history so a place's richness of it is a relative claim, and ultimately not essential. What's bracing is to come across a passage that in simple words so distills an emotion that the truth of it is undeniable. And we all have emotions, no matter where we live.

My family is not pedigreed. Where I grew up is rather nondescript. In fact, it's a suburb of Los Angeles. Still, I went to school with the children of the dustbowl migration. In nearby cities, the elder blacks had moved in a generation or two earlier to enjoy a house and community, just like the white folks. They worked at the Firestone plant. They'd achieved middle class. One very old man amazed himself by, for the first time, not stepping off the sidewalk for a white man approaching in the opposite direction.

The plant closed decades ago, and the neighborhood fell into an economic shadow. But the stories are still there to discover, no less true and no less affecting. Well, for me anyway, which gets back to personal inspiration. For me social history is happening right here, right now, and no less than anywhere else.

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by Bunjee

Could it simply be the type of writing that inspires you? We're all human beings living in history so a place's richness of it is a relative claim, and ultimately not essential. What's bracing is to come across a passage that in simple words so distills an emotion that the truth of it is undeniable. And we all have emotions, no matter where we live.

My family is not pedigreed. Where I grew up is rather nondescript. In fact, it's a suburb of Los Angeles. Still, I went to school with the children of the dustbowl migration. In nearby cities, the elder blacks had moved in a generation or two earlier to enjoy a house and community, just like the white folks. They worked at the Firestone plant. They'd achieved middle class. One very old man amazed himself by, for the first time, not stepping off the sidewalk for a white man approaching in the opposite direction.

The plant closed decades ago, and the neighborhood fell into an economic shadow. But the stories are still there to discover, no less true and no less affecting. Well, for me anyway, which gets back to personal inspiration. For me social history is happening right here, right now, and no less than anywhere else.

I like this. I think that way, too.

Re the passage I underlined above--I once read a book that was an Oprah selection back in the days when she did that and introduced new writers. I read one called River, Cross My Heart, which had interested me because the author was from New Jersey, my home. Even though the story centers on a young black teenager growing up in 1925, the book was readable because the emotions in the story crossed the lines of age, race, and time.

[Thepastpresentandfuture]

From my experience, there is usually so much importance on sense of place that has the potential to influence someone’s entire life, including their day to day lifestyle, personal accomplishments, intellectual/spiritual/creative inspiration and abilities, and how well they write.

However, it depends on the individual, the surrounding environment they are looking for, and how sensitive, perceptive, and intuitive they are with personal surroundings.

I prefer to be in neighborhoods, cities/towns, regions of countries that I find encouraging and useful for my lifestyle, and has pleasant, good, inviting energy for my life. I realized I write the best when I am in those places, and finding it easier to have an overall healthy lifestyle.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

When I write, I am sitting at the computer and it makes no difference what the scenery is like outside, because I am not looking at it.

I've got a comment for OP that has nothing to do with writing.

Why spend your live living in a place that you dislike? There are so many great places to live. Unless you are tied to a place by a job that is so good that you can't give it up, pick a place that you think you will like better, pack up, and move.

Just a warning, though. It's difficult to write in a great place to live because you tend to be out doing fun things instead of sitting at the computer and writing.

[masonsdaughter]

Does your place give you the backdrop you need to concentrate? Do you need chaos or completely tranquil, or somewhere in between? Some people can create entirely in their heads no matter what is going on around them, other people need things going on around them, while others need complete silence with no distractions. The trick is finding out what you need, then finding it for the time period for you to write or create.