1 Topic by dagny (edited by dagny 2020-05-22 03:51:37)

Topic: Pandemic Dilemma

I am wondering about our new normal as a nation and how it will effect my stories set in the present. Should I mention masks, unemployment? Should my characters voice opinions about the situation or would that be author intrusion? And what about masks, standing six feet away from another person when talking, or greeting with a nod and not a kiss on the cheek, or a handshake?

What about my responsibility as an American? Should my characters express fear, wallow in depression? Or should they express hope and pride in American exceptionalism? Should my characters suffer though lay offs and food bank lines? Should they work from home? Talk about how it is to be stuck there?

I have a more pressing problem; I write crime fiction and right now the crime rate is pretty low. Will anyone believe that my criminal endangered his life to commit a crime?

Or would it just be easier to postdate the story prepandemic?

I know I'm not the only one up against this. I'd like to hear what you have to say about it.
smile

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Re: Pandemic Dilemma

Your not alone. My story is set in the present in Rome, the Vatican, and the Holy Land. I have only limited information in English about how those regions are handling the pandemic. It would require significant changes to incorporate the pandemic. Since it's still very early in the pandemic saga, I've decided to write my first draft without it. There'll definitely be a second draft, so I'll make my decision then. If I had to choose now, with so little information available, I would turn back the clock far enough that book one would precede the pandemic. Since mine is about the Apocalypse, I can easily incorporate it into books two and three as one of the many plagues that will affect humanity in the End Times.

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Re: Pandemic Dilemma

Good morning!

There are plenty of crime novels featuring extraordinary situations exploited by criminals: A serial murderer during, and directly after, the bombing of Dresden, The Last Detective hunting a murderer during the last weeks before a massive comet hits earth. I'd say go for it: show the worst and best people during the current pandemic.

Stay safe! This virus is nothing to fool around with.

Ray

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Re: Pandemic Dilemma

I think if the current situation fits well with whatever story you're working on, then use it. Although overall crime might be down, there's a large increase in the number of fraud cases linked to the pandemic, with people stockpiling needed supplies and selling them for a whopping profit or trying to sell 'miracle' cures.  Here's a couple of links to articles about what's happening in Italy regarding their crime groups:

https://www.occrp.org/en/37-ccblog/ccbl … ime-groups
https://nypost.com/2020/04/20/the-mafia … -lockdown/

Dirk:  Here's one regarding the Holy Land. Might be of limited use, but something to check out:
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news … ping-29759

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