How A City Can Be A Character In Your Novel
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Writing Speaking -> subcategory Writing.
How a City Can Become a Character in Your Novel
Can a City be a Character?
Years ago, during a writing class, I was advised to make Toronto, my birthplace, a character in my book, Conduct in Question. This advice puzzled me for a long time, but I think I've finally grasped its significance.
The Question of Intimacy and Perspective
Does living in a city all your life prevent it from becoming a character due to familiarity? I've often wished I could see Toronto through a visitor's eyes, but that's surprisingly difficult.
In The Art of Travel, Alain De Botton suggests that when we travel, we're more receptive and curious. We view places like Paris or Buenos Aires with wonder. At home, however, we're so accustomed to our surroundings that we often overlook them.
Discovering Your Hometown Anew
How can a writer make their hometown an engaging setting, let alone a character, if it's so familiar? The key might be in distinguishing intimacy from mere familiarity. Intimacy implies a deep understanding, while familiarity can lead to indifference.
In Jan Morris's writings, she describes Toronto in the early 1980s with words like calm, polite, joyless, and introspective. While Torontonians might seem reserved, as a lifelong resident, I know there's more beneath the surface.
Toronto: More Than Meets the Eye
Consider Toronto's geography. It's set on Lake Ontario and crisscrossed by ravines that offer a slice of untamed nature among urban life. Walking along St. Clair Avenue, you can suddenly find yourself in a tranquil world filled with trees, plants, and wildlife?"a sharp contrast to the city's bustling streets.
This juxtaposition mirrors people: polished on the outside, with hidden depths. Just like Toronto, there's more beneath the surface.
The Osgoode Trilogy and Toronto's Influence
In Conduct in Question, part of the Osgoode Trilogy, protagonist lawyer Harry Jenkins embodies Toronto's dual nature. Trapped in an uninspiring job and marriage, Harry, like the city, has hidden depths. Questions haunt him: Am I running out of time? Can I make more money?
Just as Toronto's ravines conceal untamed nature, Harry experiences a life-shifting upheaval through a series of events involving murder and fraud. In the second novel, Final Paradox, the theme of masks emerges as Harry delves deeper into his psyche, facing challenges that demand love and forgiveness.
Conclusion
Ultimately, a city can indeed be a character in a novel, shaping the storyline and influencing the characters within it. I've been inspired by Toronto's polished exterior contrasted with its wild, hidden ravines?"the image that underpins the Osgoode Trilogy.
By embracing your city's unique qualities and depths, you can create a setting that resonates as both a backdrop and a vital character in your story.
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