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Hey guyssss ?? I need help!
So there’s this story that I’m dying to write, or at least start plotting and such. But I’m hesitant to go ahead with it… and that’s because it takes place in a completely different place and culture that I’ve never had experience with…at all.
It happens in Africa.
Now granted, I’m writing from the POVs of Americans, so that does make it a little easier. But the amount of research I’ll have to do is daunting. I haven’t even chosen the specific country in Africa yet.
I’m starting to wonder if I should just change the setting and tweak the story a little bit. It could take place somewhere in the United States and still have the same effect, albeit a little different (the plot still isn’t totally fleshed out in my mind yet)
So I’m guess I’m trying to figure out if changing the setting is a good idea, or the fear of a mountain of research is what’s holding me back…
And on that note, any tips for researching something like that? I don’t even know where to start. ?
@koshka @elishavet-pidyon @rae @hybridlore @savannah_grace2009 @freed_and_redeemed @whalekeeper @loopylin @grcr @highscribeofaetherium @ellette-giselle @anyone else ofc! : ))Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende
@esther-c My grandma currently has a friend visiting who is from Uganda and my dad recently went on a short trip to Nairobi, so if you have any more specific questions I can probably ask either of them for you. :]
⭐️World's Slowest Writer⭐️
Is there a reason why you want to set the story in Africa? Maybe you just want a fresh but still realistic setting, and if so, that’s fair.
I’ve never been to Africa, but I have a friend my age who travels the world almost nomadically with her family. She’s definitely been there! And she is an avid writer. So I can contact her with some questions to see if she has answers for you.
I am out of signature ideas
First of all, cultural research?! You have my mostly undivided but prone to rabbit trailing attention. Now, Africa is very big and is as diverse in people groups, religions, climates, and cultures as most other continents. I would get an idea of where you’re sending your charies first to narrow down the scope of what you’re tackling. Then find look up what people groups are in that region, and dive into the local culture (if you want some help with digging around, let me know! I research this sort of stuff for fun).
Second, I don’t know what region you’re thinking of, or if my very limited knowledge would be helpful, but I’ve been to South Africa for a few days. Summer 2024 (which was their winter and thus very confusing. Lol).
A cup of tea is cheaper than therapy.
I would personally love to see you write a book set in Africa. It’s a beautiful place with a rich tapestry of cultural history. And research can be broken down into manageable bites. Mountains don’t have to be climbed in a day. 😉
A cup of tea is cheaper than therapy.
A story set in Africa? Sounds great to me! I do see what you mean about the culture difference, and I’m just going to say up front that it’s a good thing you recognize the need to study instead of going with stereotypes! Still, don’t let it hold you back. If changing the setting ends up being the answer, that’s ok, but research doesn’t have to be hard. You could draft as you research if you don’t mind fixing issues pater. Whatever approach you take there, first figure out what country/region fits the story best. Then you’ll know where to focus your efforts.
Suggestions for a culture study:
Look into traditional clothing, religions, food, and home life. That tells you a lot about a cultural mindset. Which by the way, if you get the mindset right, little details won’t matter as much. You can find out stuff like this by a direct look up, but also see if there are any cultural/reenactment groups since they’re kinda experts. (I know reenactment is a big thing in Europe, but I don’t know about Africa. Some African groups are really into keeping their culture alive though)
Get a vague understanding of their history. You don’t have to become an expert, but the past shapes the present. For Africa, make sure you know if anyone tried colonizing the area, and if so, who.
A few other rules of thumb questions: is it a cold or warm culture/collectivist vs individualistic? Does it have a relaxed social structure or defined classes and/or polite norms? Is it a guilt, law, or shame based society? (How a misdeed is defined) Remember, cultures are made of people and events. They’re like icebergs. There’s a deeper reason why a culture works the way it does, usually a value that rules the visible parts of life. Once you pin down those deep values, the rest fits in place.
I do have a friend who grew up as a missionary kid there. If the area is near where you pick, I can ask her questions for you. ?
You have listened to fears, child. Come, let me breathe on you... Are you brave again? -Aslan
So, I haven’t read what other people have said, so if I accidentally repeat them sorry.
This might sound weird, but imagine your story in a make-believe country. Does it affect the plot? Is the story drastically changed? If it’s not by putting it in a hypothetical country, then you should be able to change the setting.
As for researching, I have no idea, but you should ask @raxforge . He has been to Uganda before, so while he’s by no means a scholar, he has been to Africa, so maybe he can help.
Confuzzled, RAE
(PS. Pfp by SelkieSeal on Unvale. My dear Chase ❤️?)Ok, thank you so much!
I guess my main question right now is how did your dad feel being in a completely different culture? What was the culture shock like and how did he view this new place as an American?
Is there a reason why you want to set the story in Africa? Maybe you just want a fresh but still realistic setting, and if so, that’s fair.
Yeah, a little bit of that, but one of the main characters is pretty impulsive and trying to figure out what he wants to do with his future, so he impulsively decides to go on this missions trip in hopes of it pushing him in the right direction for his future (and just for the adventure of it, bc that’s what he’s like)
And the other MC… well, she still needs a lot of developmental work, but being a different culture is really going to shake her and push her along her arc.
I’ve never been to Africa, but I have a friend my age who travels the world almost nomadically with her family. She’s definitely been there! And she is an avid writer. So I can contact her with some questions to see if she has answers for you.
Ok! It would be great if you could ask her the questions I told Loopy. I don’t have any super specific ones right now as I’m still in the early stages of planning.
Thank you so much! Having you break it down like that makes it feel a lot less daunting. ?❤️
Thank youuu, those questions are going to be SuPeR helpful diving into the research side of things. ??
Mmmm, the more I think about it, the more I feel like it definitely should take place in a country in Africa (right now I”m leaning towards Kenya), because it’s so different from our culture and will really play an important role in the MCs’ character arcs.
tysm!!
Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende
I’m late to the party here, but I’d suggest maybe looking up blogs by people who travel and write about their experiences in other countries. You’d probably be able to get a peek into the culture of Africa through the eyes of an outsider that way. As Koshka mentioned, African culture can be vastly different depending on which part of the continent. I have a friend who spent two weeks in Kenya earlier this year, and another friend who lived among tribes in Ethiopia for two months. My dad has also done a lot of missions trips and has a lot of stories from those trips (like the time he went to take a shower and discovered a dangerous snake- I’m pretty sure that was in Africa). I have a number of friends who have been to Egypt, too, which has more of a Middle Eastern flavor to it. So I can maybe ask questions from some of them, if that would be helpful. If you’re looking for some perspective on culture shock, I’ve also been to a third-world country (not in Africa though) and have definitely experienced it to some degree (as well as reverse culture shock).
"Real love is for your good, not for your comfort." -Justin Whitmel Earley
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