Fifties Flashback

Friday, February 27/09



You know it's one thing to think back on fifties music, college life, and girl friends, but it's another story when you actually sit down and write a novel set in the late 1950s. I found that out immediately, when I started describing the characters in my novel Choices. Girl's hair styles---shoes and don't forget those white socks---skirt length---did they wear hose? How much did a hamburger cost? Smoking---in class---by teacher and students? Well, I found out that your memory is not to be completely trusted when you're trying to be exactly correct in your character descriptions. So it was dig out the old Annuals from The University of Arkansas and pour through the pictures of co-eds. Then do interviews, because, even though you might have experienced those times, your memory isn't 100%. How did that research help me as I started to write Choices? Well, it took away a lot of the uncertainty of not only how the students dressed, but the layout of the building during that time period. I actually went back to the University several times---I'll admit, usually it was for a football game, but after the game or the next day I spent hours walking the campus photographing everything that I wanted to mention in the novel. For instance: In the novel, the meeting place for the two principal characters is on the top step at the front entrance to Old Main, the oldest building on campus. Everybody that ever went to the University is familiar with Old Main, but how many steps are there from ground level to the front door? They're 9. I think, even when writing fiction, when you set a novel in a real place, be as accurate as possible. That's what I've tried to do in Choices.

On my blog later today I'll past in a excerpt to show you what I mean.

Off to Chicago tomorrow---Monday I'll include a restaurant review of the Presidents favorite restaurant.

More later.