I don't know where to set my novel?

Question

Currently, I am working on a novel and it has to be set somewhere where there is a forest. If there isn't a forest then I'm stuck because it makes a lot of problems for me and the story then gets harder to write. 

I have looked at loads of maps to find a nice small place where I can set the novel but there aren't any places that are suitable.

It has to be a town surrounded by forest and a while away from the nearest town/city. I set it in England but now I want to set it somewhere else but I don't know much about these other places which is why I want to set my novel in England. 

After no luck, I made the town up but now I'm starting to think this wasn't a good idea.

Can someone please give me some advice don't say use spell check or look at more maps please.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Why is Forks plagiarism with vampires and werewolves?  That would be my suggestion, too, but only because I live in the Northwest and Forks is the center of forestry around here.

Why not somewhere in the Cascades range, in Canada, Washington, or Oregon?  Or the Willamette National Forest in Oregon?  Or near Coeur d'Alene in Idaho?  Or Juneau, Alaska?  Just about anywhere in southeast Alaska should have plenty of forest.  Sitka, Alaska is very pretty and a perfect sleepy little town to be ravaged by a werewolf.  So is Ketchikan.

Scott B · Answer

I'd go with some place familiar first. Since it's a novel, you can make up the town and surrounding area, but it's easier if you base it on some place you know.

You could take the area of England that you know and adapt it to a fictional location in Germany's Black Forest, Canada, Lithuania, or just about anywhere. I'd think that having a novel set in a real town would actually be a bit of an obstacle, but it's your book and you can do what you want.

CM · Answer

There's this little town called Forks in Washington state that is right by the olympia national park.  The forest there is actually a rain forest and it's beautiful.

Anonymous · Answer

North Carolina has a lot of forest area. It's not rain forest but there are very heavy wooded areas there.

Just to let you know Forks wouldn't be plagerism unless you were writing about vampires. Then I would reconsider. If you are merely writing a story & would like a heavy forested area then I wouldn't see a problem with it.

Anonymous · Answer

pick a place that you know very well, like your home town, or a place that you've always wanted to go. Be sure to be specific and make the readers feel as if they are in your book. The woods are always a good place to set something that is suppose to be gloomy and mysterious. Good luck

denise m · Answer

Red Lodge Montana is a wonderful small town set in the mountains surrounded by forrests.  Good luck with your novel.

greenpink · Answer

Somewhere in New England, America?  LIke Upstate New York or something?

Ace Librarian · Answer

Upstate New York has lots of forest area.

Andy · Answer

There's tons of forest area in Guatemala.  RAIN forests.

bewerefan · Answer

You're not going to believe this, but your best bet for thick and vast forests is New Jersey.  Seriously!

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I don't know where to set my novel?

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