When writing, how much of your book do you...?

L

Leigh K. Black

New member
Make up?

Even in fantasy stories, there tends to be some element of truth. Not that I want to reference Twilight, but it seems to be the book most people have read, so here goes: Forks, the small town in which the story takes place, is an actual town. So despite the whole "vampire" thing, there's a bit of truth to the story.

When I'm working on a piece, sometimes I'll do research to have things be as realistic as possible. Other times, I'll make up nearly everything.

So when you write, no matter if it's fantasy or realistic fiction or whatever other genre (excluding nonfiction), how much of your story is truth and how much is made up? How do YOU decide?
 
Good question.

I know what you mean. I'm writing (rather, attempting to write) a book right now and at first, I had a hard time finding a town that suited the setting I had pictured in my mind. So, instead, I decided to come up with my own little place.

It gave me much more freedom than using a town already in existence. I got to make up the street names and the businesses and the schools and the population. It was great. :)

But it all depends on my story. If I'm writing something that needs a lot of realistic detail (like a court trial, or something dealing with a medical condition), I obviously can't go bullsh*tting my way through. I'd have to do a lot of research and learn a few things from someone who deals professionally with those issues.
 
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