Forum What do places really look like, or what do you do..

I have a detail fetish. Truly, I mean it. So what does that mean? I am currently working on five seperate stories, each set in a differnet place. One in Missouri, one in Colorado/Montana, one in Kyrgyzstan, one in Europe, and one in Florida. When I first started writing on them, I justed used personal experience, imagination, conversation with others that had traveled around, and a bit of reading to paint what I wanted it to look like. I should note here that this was during a period of what might gently be called isolation from the warm glow of the internet. Since returning to the modern world, I have realized that some of these places are rather different from how I pictured them. I have also discovered the wonder/curse of Google Earth. If a story is set in a contemporary world, does it matter if you accurately reflect places? How okay is it to invent new places, cities, countries and such, and how far can you readjust our world to do so without losing the audience. My biggest fear is radically reshaping something, and in the process lose the reader.

what a fascinating question. I may say that truly open minds, as yours seems to be, are probably going to produce the best works of fiction.
I'm glad you are interested in re-evaluating your own process of perception. Just as an aside, some classes in perception, psychology, and brain physiology may really stimulate your fervor on this subject.
Also, I could never work on more than one work at a time. There really is no such thing as 'multi-tasking' and I feel that it detracts from the focus on the work to switch from one project to another. I find that the attention must be focused for some time on one subject in order for the imagination to truly produce some stunning imagery. I am also liable to spending a great deal of time on describing settings, but as my chosen genre is horror, that is normal and expected.
Anyway, good luck on your main question. It is probably impossible for anyone to truly answer it. Perception is a very personal and idiosyncratic process.
Just keep on writing.

I disagree with the last post. Multi tasking can help when you hit a roadblock in your writing. I constantly switch from piece to piece to keep the creative juices flowing when they dry up on any story in the works.
As for google earth, that is really a judgement call. I google places too just to figure out where in the hell my characters are. However if I want them to cross a river in Arizona where no river exists, then damn it they're crossing a river. It's your story and writing a work of fiction gives you a bit of creative license. Don't get so hung up on what others will notice on the details that it causes major changes in the storyline itself. I assure you, as an avid reader, no one is going to notice discrepencies like that unless they are severe (like saying the statue of liberty is in California). But even if you did do something that drastic with your setting, if you have convinced your reader that it is a fantasy world of your making, they'll forgive you and go with the flow.
Just write what sounds convincing to you, its your world you're creating after all.

I agree with the above post, except for the multi-tasking part. I also have a tendency to over-describe a setting for fear of having the character plunge into the setting. There comes a time when you have to just stop the description, and let poetic license take over. So what if the river does not actually exist... it could exist. Use your imagination instead of relying on reality. Some of my stories have changed important historical facts... so what?
Theres no FICTION POLICE, at least not yet.

i think as far as detail goes, it is a matter of if you can close your eyes and imagine yourself there within the story... not specifically in the city/state that the story is taking place - but maybe the location of the story (ie house, farm, beach) enough detail that makes you see that is i think the best option...

I used to wonder this also. The saying goes, "write what you know" but for those who never leave their hometown, how many places can you have that are set in rural Pennsylvania/Ohio/Wyoming or the proverbial New York City. They get old or monotonous very fast. In order to overcome our lack of traveling or geographical knowledge, we have to use our imaginations. With fiction, you really have a creative license to do what you wish, but a lot of fiction sells because it is something people can relate to. However, when I ponder the same question you are asking here, I always think about Kurt Vonnegut, who made an incredible name for himself in fiction and he created religions, scientific facts, places, people, diseases, and all kinds of other things up. I think if you are a genuinely good storyteller, these details will not be scrutinized, but instead will be appreciated as the threads of a well-woven story.