A question (new to forum)

[aw99999]

Hello Everybody:

Good afternoon,

Dear friends, I have a deep deisre to write a novel about my country. I need some ideas to start. I think I have a lot of materials but don't know how to start and what should the story be based upon? I also have this fear that many novels like this(about countries) have already been written by famous authros. Like " midnight's children" by rushdie and the "the tin drum" by gunter grass. So is it not wise to write about a country? OR if it is then what should be some ideas upon which the story should be based?

I shall be highly thankful for your answers, suggestions and advice.

Thank you again so very much!!!

Hope to hear you soon.

 

[Ol' Fashioned Girl]

First and foremost, welcome to AW, aw99999. As for the answer to your questions... that's much more difficult. It's my feeling that the country (unless you're writing a textbook or making a documentary) is more the setting than it is the story. The history of the country may inspire the story, especially if you have a particular piece of history that seems to hold a lot of folks' interest (like the Civil War or the Reformation or the Renaissance, for instance). I'm fascinated by Tudor England, so I chose an event (the downfall of the Catholic Church there in that era due to Henry VIII's desire for a son) and added a character from my imagination, and explained the event from a different perspective.

I don't know if that's exactly what you're looking for in the way of advice, but it was the closest I could come.

 

[Luke flees the scene]

Hi there, aw99999. Ideas for writing a novel on your country? Well, I guess it really depends on what country you're from. There was a time when I was inspired to write a novel about the war in Iraq, but I never really got to finishing it. I got about ten thousand words into it and threw it out because I didn't like how it was going.

But anyway, you could possibly write about a certain event in history and add your own twist to it. Like, you could add your own characters or events into it to make the event even more unique. Or you could write about a certain war that took place, or a certain battle. I hope this helps.

Oh yeah, and welcome to Absolute Write. =D

 

[Raphee]

I guess aw99999 question stems from the question, that if you want to write about a specific country, then is there an international audience.

The answer is yes aw, as you yourself answered by mentioning Rushdie and others. You need to have a story first. Great characters, plot and voice.
The country itself does not matter as other than a setting.