forum Please Help With My Chracter's Background (THX)

Started August 29, 2018 by A Name With No Girl

tune

It is post zombieppocalyps world, about 5-10 years in. One of my MCs is from a different place (let's call it original place - OP) than the place where the story happens (events's place - EP) and it's a main influence on her character. She is very lonely because she has no ties in the EP and she also has no chance to ever reunite with her family, since they're still in OP (and I'm not talking about different cities: EP and OP are in diferent continents). In addition, she uses the fact that no one knows her from pre-zombieppocalyps and her foreign culture in order to avoid dangerous people and hide informaition from them.
So I'm conflicted over where exactly should be OP and EP. Originally I was thinking about my country as OP and USA as EP, but then I've realized that while I know enough about MY country and it's culture to have a character from there, I might not know enough about USA to base my story there. However, if I choose my country as EP I'll feel very uncomfortable to have a MC from a whole different culture which I know nothing about, especially MC whose culture is a main trait of hers.

What do you think? Do you have tips or suggestions about studying and writing convincely a different culture?

I think you should have her OP as your country especially since that is a main trait of hers. In order to get that trait across it is important that it's an accurate representation of her past and her cultural background, besides if you do the USA as your EP you can always search the internet. With USA because it is so popular and well known there are plenty of sources out there that can accurately sum up the look and cultural difference. Even by watching programs from USA (which isn't too hard BTW) can help get that across as well

I agree. Use OP as your country and EP as the US. Plus, you've got a post-Zombie Apocalypse America, so you're given some creative leeway.
Although if you have any specific questions about the US, there are plenty of American users on this site, including myself, that would be happy to help you.

Thank you!