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Old 10-03-2017, 06:09 PM
 
5 posts, read 2,400 times
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Hi,

I am thinking of setting my novel in Idaho, but I don't have a lot of idea of what the culture is like right now. I don't know where to look but thought I would start here. What are some of the basics, about the rural and urban cultures? Where should I begin?
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Old 10-03-2017, 07:50 PM
 
Location: Idaho
6,341 posts, read 7,697,984 times
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Idaho has many faces. Geographically, it is a huge state. Doesn't look all that big on a national map, but it takes over eight hours to drive from the southern end to the northern end. The varied topography goes a long way in defining the culture. It is very different from place to place.

Best advice I can give you as a starting place, absent a personal visit, is to read this very forum, (and the associated Boise and Idaho Falls sub-forums). That will give you a flavor of the place and its people.

p.s. Don't neglect the City-Data data pages. There is a whole host of information there, especially if you have the ability to 'read between the lines' and are good at 'data analysis'.
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Old 10-04-2017, 09:23 AM
 
Location: North Idaho
32,528 posts, read 47,585,883 times
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I think it is a little odd to set a novel in a place you know nothing about. Writing always seems more authentic when the author knows what they are talking about.

Is there some reason that only Idaho will do and the book can't be set in a place you are familiar with?

At the very least come and take a couple of vacations in the area you have chosen for the settling of your story. Personally, I don't think you get much of a true feeling from reading C-D because of the limited types of people who post causing information to have a slant.
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Old 10-05-2017, 09:27 AM
 
Location: The City of Trees
1,402 posts, read 3,349,049 times
Reputation: 2183
Quote:
Originally Posted by maria121212 View Post
Hi,

I am thinking of setting my novel in Idaho, but I don't have a lot of idea of what the culture is like right now. I don't know where to look but thought I would start here. What are some of the basics, about the rural and urban cultures? Where should I begin?
You could start by reading through The Boise Weekly. That would give you an idea of what the urban culture in Boise is like as compared to the rest of the state's more rural culture. Reading articles of the states local newspapers online is also a great resourse to obtain a feel of what goes on and what makes the big news in different cities in Idaho.
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Old 10-05-2017, 05:38 PM
 
7,354 posts, read 12,590,395 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke View Post
I think it is a little odd to set a novel in a place you know nothing about. Writing always seems more authentic when the author knows what they are talking about.

Is there some reason that only Idaho will do and the book can't be set in a place you are familiar with?

At the very least come and take a couple of vacations in the area you have chosen for the settling of your story. Personally, I don't think you get much of a true feeling from reading C-D because of the limited types of people who post causing information to have a slant.
Hey, I think we've got tons of diversity here!
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Old 10-06-2017, 11:49 AM
 
Location: Sandpoint, Idaho
3,007 posts, read 6,264,701 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by maria121212 View Post
Hi,

I am thinking of setting my novel in Idaho, but I don't have a lot of idea of what the culture is like right now. I don't know where to look but thought I would start here. What are some of the basics, about the rural and urban cultures? Where should I begin?
which Idaho do you want to write about?

* natural
* prepper
* patriots
* hunters and fisherman
* hippie
* millenial
* ag business
* tech
* transplants
* pioneers
* urban subcultures
* religious
* atheists
* libertarians
* conservatives
* apolitical
* Statists
* those seeking to preserve
* those seeking to transform


...each setting can support an interesting novel
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Old 10-10-2017, 03:45 PM
 
8,431 posts, read 8,644,724 times
Reputation: 5603
I'd recommend you begin with 500 hours to 5 years of research & direct experience, if place is important.

Last edited by NW Crow; 10-10-2017 at 04:09 PM..
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Old 10-12-2017, 10:11 AM
 
Location: "The Dirty Irv" Irving, TX
4,001 posts, read 3,228,893 times
Reputation: 4821
I would recommend not writing a book about something you don't know anything about.

You could end up writing the book equivalent of that terrible Lindsay Lohan film "Georgia Rule" which was set in Idaho by people who had no idea what they were talking about. The film also looks like it was shot in SoCal because it was.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_Rule
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Old 10-19-2017, 09:16 AM
 
5 posts, read 2,400 times
Reputation: 10
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sandpointian View Post
which Idaho do you want to write about?

* natural
* prepper
* patriots
* hunters and fisherman
* hippie
* millenial
* ag business
* tech
* transplants
* pioneers
* urban subcultures
* religious
* atheists
* libertarians
* conservatives
* apolitical
* Statists
* those seeking to preserve
* those seeking to transform


...each setting can support an interesting novel
Thank you. I think I'm mostly interested in rural? Basically it's a book with some creepy / supernatural elements.

Can you tell me more about pioneers?

I know a lot about cowboy culture from a Texas background however I don't know of that extends all the way there.
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Old 10-19-2017, 09:18 AM
 
5 posts, read 2,400 times
Reputation: 10
Quote:
Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke View Post
I think it is a little odd to set a novel in a place you know nothing about. Writing always seems more authentic when the author knows what they are talking about.

Is there some reason that only Idaho will do and the book can't be set in a place you are familiar with?

At the very least come and take a couple of vacations in the area you have chosen for the settling of your story. Personally, I don't think you get much of a true feeling from reading C-D because of the limited types of people who post causing information to have a slant.


Are you a writer?

It's almost as if I'm trying to do a lot of research starting here so that when I do write it doesn't have to be uninformed. You do realize writers do that all the time? I don't want to be limited to only places I've lived.
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