Non USA/Europe located story

[JakobKings]

I don't live in Europe or the United States, so my stories aren't set in those places. I created a fictional city in my country and the characters are there. Normally, I don't pay much attention to geographical details, it's a generic city. But the culture is clearly not American or European.
So I ask you: would that bother the reader? Would the reader stop reading something because it's not set in Europe/USA?
I try to "translate" the names of the original stories. Thiago becomes James, Marco becomes Mark, Júlia becomes Julie, Cássia becomes Cassy, and so on.
What do you think?
By the way: what is the ideal length for each chapter? When to publish a story in one go and when to divide it into chapters?
Thank you!

 

[NoTalentHack]

Nah. I know there are folks writing here from Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, and South Africa, at least. Make it clear, and you should be fine.

 

[Escierto]

It would not bother me if the setting is not in a western country. It’s fine if the names remain in the original language. In fact I prefer it that way.

 

[HordHolm]

Generic city is a favourite location of mine. I try to add a few details that are common to cities across the industrialised world, but without branding them - so it's 'convenience store' rather than 7-11 or Circle K. It seems to work.

 

[SimonDoom]

I don't see a problem. It might be a problem if you used vocabulary that would be unfamiliar to Americans and Europeans, but it doesn't sound like you're doing that.

 

[MrPixel]

And they are likely to order a pizza from Dominos, a bucket of chicken from KFC, a latté from Starbucks, and a Royale with cheese from McD's. They are frickin' everywhere!

Our kid, who's stationed in Beijing, recently sent us a picture of a Dominos pizza he had delivered. Eel was the primary meat.

 

[onehitwanda]

Generic city is a favourite location of mine. I try to add a few details that are common to cities across the industrialised world, but without branding them - so it's 'convenience store' rather than 7-11 or Circle K. It seems to work.

Ah, Generic city - located close to the balmy delights of Hill Valley.

 

[SouthernCrossfire]

Generic City in Anycountry usually works well, though some readers don't catch that and quibble with details about things not working as presented.

Regarding your second question on chapter length, relatively common advice around here is that chapters of a story should be at least two Lit pages long (something well over 4K up to about 7.5K words) for readers to get back into the groove of the story and feel like it's going somewhere. Three pages (about 8K to 11K) is generally preferred by some. On the rare occasions I do a chapter story, I prefer 6 to 10K words and generally enjoy reading that range assuming the chapter advances the overall story.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Non USA/Europe located story​

I think it’s interesting to have a variety of locations and cultures.

Em

 

[TheRedChamber]

I don't care where a story is set. Or rather, I enjoy it when stories are set in interesting and well-described locations, but if an author is writing well, practically anywhere can be interesting. So hearing that you're writing in 'generic city' is worrying to me.

That said, it does throw me off when I read stories where I can't quite place where things are taking place. If you're claiming that the city is generic but the culture is clearly not Western, well, that's going to drive me mad trying to pin down where exactly things are taking place - which is going to be all the harder if you're messing with names as well. I've kind of had this discussion regarding some of the stories which I've beta-read - readers naturally assume, in the absence of other information, that stories are taking place in America, but if half-way through you get casual mentions of chopsticks and serving green tea, then you're suddenly questioning whether the characters are immigrants to America, living in their own country, or else just happen to like green tea and constantly on the look out for clues rather than just kicking back and enjoying the story.

(Actually reading your post again, maybe I've got the wrong end of the stick - maybe the country is clear, just the city is fictional - in which case, carry on...)

 

[John_Vandermeer]

No issue as far as non US/EU location. In fact, as others have mentioned, might be preferred. Provides more escapism. All my stories have been located in specific places in the US so far, but those places have not been explicitly named unless you are familiar with them and know their geography, nicknames and such. I believe readers would be negatively distracted if they feel the story requires knowledge of a place they don't know. And my stories most certainly do not require knowledge of a place.

As for chapter length, maybe 5K to 10K is a sweet spot? I like to write long novellas/short novels that have six to eight of those. And probably the best way to release them is a few days apart after you have written the whole thing, thought that is most certainly NOT what I have done so far. I have written one, on occasion two, chapter at a time, and release them before going on to the next.

 

[MrPixel]

I use IRL locations as Easter eggs. I enjoy imagining a reader suddenly realizing "Gosh! I know exactly where that is!"

 

[SyleusSnow]

Most Lit readers appear to be in the US, so I cater to that audience with American spelling, "college" instead of "university" and, like others, set stories in Generic City in AnyWesterncountry (or if it needs to be a more exotic, Generic Village in far off Madeupistan). I use generic terms like coffee shop and supermarket. Being vague helps with realism... readers build their own imagery and fill in details based on their own experience.

But sometimes setting plays a role in a story. Back to Where It Almost Began is set in a port city. I tried making it vague enough to be nearly any port on the East coast of North America, though in reality it's St. John's Newfoundland. So far no one seems to have guessed, though terms like "snot gobbling" are a dead giveaway

That said, if the setting or culture is key to the story or even just adds color, go for it. I love stories with interesting settings... provided the lingo is comprehensible and unique practices taken for granted locally are eased into (sauna in Finland, or the heavy drinking culture in Korea and Japan come to mind).

When the setting is "exotic", I suggest establishing the setting early as possible. Nothing more jarring than enjoying a story, having built up a clear mental picture of the setting only to have it revealed on page 3 that it's some far-off place with bizarre lingo and customs... like Auckland or Minnesota

 

[yowser]

Most Lit readers appear to be in the US, so I cater to that audience with American spelling, "college" instead of "university" and, like others, set stories in Generic City in AnyWesterncountry (or if it needs to be a more exotic, Generic Village in far off Madeupistan). I use generic terms like coffee shop and supermarket. Being vague helps with realism... readers build their own imagery and fill in details based on their own experience.


That said, if the setting or culture is key to the story or even just adds color, go for it. I love stories with interesting settings... provided the lingo is comprehensible and unique practices taken for granted locally are eased into (sauna in Finland, or the heavy drinking culture in Korea and Japan come to mind).

When the setting is "exotic", I suggest establishing the setting early as possible. Nothing more jarring than enjoying a story, having built up a clear mental picture of the setting only to have it revealed on page 3 that it's some far-off place with bizarre lingo and customs... like Auckland or Minnesota

Mostly agree with this approach. I dislike 'generic' settings however, and prefer a realistic 'made-up' setting to a universal nowhere.

Many of us readers like to travel in our readings, so please do introduce us to new places, and the right details can enliven a story immensely. But they need to be the 'right details', not an overloading of trivia, but the kind of thing that somehow sets the character(s) apart (it's cold in the Fall, need to get the snow tires out for the car, try to remember where you parked your down jacket).

A good setting can do wonders for even a middling tale, and if you paint a good realistic picture, there is much to be gained. Good details let the reader know that the writer is perceptive, an important asset anytime, but particularly when the story involves intimate, closeup activities.

 

[Rob_Royale]

I've been co-plotting a story with a British guy on a story set in India. He knows the locations and culture quite well and I've been enjoying the experience. I don't think that sort of thing would bother the average reader. And I wouldn't bother to translate the names. Exotic names are a nice change.

As for story length, if the whole story is 80K, then yes, breaking it into 15-20K chapters would be advisable. In my opinion. But if the whole story is 20-30k, then leave it as one story. In my experience so far, stand-alone stories do better with readers.

 

[Britva415]

It's not a bother, if a story isn't set where I live.

I don't see a need to English-ize names. People's names are what they are. The only thing I might appreciate would be for the author to choose names which make the character's gender clear.

 

[joy_of_cooking]

I would prefer you didn't translate the names, especially if there are other practices or events that wouldn't happen in a place where everybody is named Julia and Cassie.

 

[JakobKings]

After reading these replies, I'm gonna think a bit more about those names. Maybe, it's better to keep then like originally written.
Thank you all for the insights!

 

[theWollstonecraftWoman]

I loved my trips to Europe and the Middle East, but use American locations (Mostly in Colorado) because I know them. I don't always even name the locations. The location needs a flavor to it. I'd love to set one in Paris, but I'm sure the city has changed since my last visit in 2010. Write what you know pertains more to locations than almost anything else. Do your tales your way, with names and locations you are familiar with, and you'll enjoy it more, and so will the readers.

 

[MillieDynamite]

I've never been to Europe, but I've been to Texas, for they tell me I was born there. LOL

I loved my trips to Europe and the Middle East, but use American locations (Mostly in Colorado) because I know them. I don't always even name the locations. The location needs a flavor to it. I'd love to set one in Paris, but I'm sure the city has changed since my last visit in 2010. Write what you know pertains more to locations than almost anything else. Do your tales your way, with names and locations you are familiar with, and you'll enjoy it more, and so will the readers.

 

[theWollstonecraftWoman]

I've never been to Europe, but I've been to Texas, for they tell me I was born there. LOL

The grinding bones sound you hear, is the late great, Hoyt Axton, turning over in his grave.

 

[Britva415]

Band mate: "Lookie here, where you from?"
Bo Diddley: "South America."
Band mate: "You don't look like no South American to me!"
Bo Diddley: "I'm still from South America."
Band mate: "What part?"
Bo Diddley: "South Texas."

 

[AchtungNight]

If you set your story in The City, remember your characters should not do evil or they may encounter the Tick! Spoon!!!!

 

[DickandDoof]

Most Lit readers appear to be in the US, so I cater to that audience with American spelling, "college" instead of "university" and, like others, set stories in Generic City in AnyWesterncountry (or if it needs to be a more exotic, Generic Village in far off Madeupistan). I use generic terms like coffee shop and supermarket. Being vague helps with realism... readers build their own imagery and fill in details based on their own experience.

But sometimes setting plays a role in a story. Back to Where It Almost Began is set in a port city. I tried making it vague enough to be nearly any port on the East coast of North America, though in reality it's St. John's Newfoundland. So far no one seems to have guessed, though terms like "snot gobbling" are a dead giveaway

That said, if the setting or culture is key to the story or even just adds color, go for it. I love stories with interesting settings... provided the lingo is comprehensible and unique practices taken for granted locally are eased into (sauna in Finland, or the heavy drinking culture in Korea and Japan come to mind).

When the setting is "exotic", I suggest establishing the setting early as possible. Nothing more jarring than enjoying a story, having built up a clear mental picture of the setting only to have it revealed on page 3 that it's some far-off place with bizarre lingo and customs... like Auckland or Minnesota

Maybe if you talked about drinking screech and kissing cod it would be more of a giveaway.

 

[Rustyoznail]

I don't live in Europe or the United States, so my stories aren't set in those places. I created a fictional city in my country and the characters are there. Normally, I don't pay much attention to geographical details, it's a generic city. But the culture is clearly not American or European.
So I ask you: would that bother the reader? Would the reader stop reading something because it's not set in Europe/USA?
I try to "translate" the names of the original stories. Thiago becomes James, Marco becomes Mark, Júlia becomes Julie, Cássia becomes Cassy, and so on.
What do you think?
By the way: what is the ideal length for each chapter? When to publish a story in one go and when to divide it into chapters?
Thank you!

I started writing with the US audience in mind, then I quickly gave it up after realising that was pointless. My Aussie-based stories reflect what I hear every day and most are based in areas I know, and I have a reasonable number of followers. I work with a couple of Indian writers who don't Anglicise their stories or names at all, and they have a good following. Stick to the names of your country. It adds character to your characters.

As for story and chapter length - you'll get fans for any length. A Lit page is around 3750 words, and a story of 2-3 pages seems to be what a lot of readers like. Having said that, I have a couple of stories over 40k words which aren't chaptered. They do have scene breaks where needed.