Undefined future/present setting

[KayJuran]

Normally, I'll go for the typical fantasy medieval-style settings, with no defined time, but as though it's in the past. Not necessarily with magic, but still with the Lords, Royalty, fighters etc.

This time around, I want to try something different. I think I'd like to experiment with a setting that's something near our time period, but with differences. I don't want to have to define where it is either, probably something Western, but I don't want to necessarily use place names, countries etc.

Does anyone have any advice for writing a story like this? And.. does any part of what I said actually make sense..?

Thanks in advance,

Kay

[Imp]

Do you want it merely to be undefined, intentionally left open? Or would it work better to imply an alternative reality? If not alternate, it could always be in an invented place, I suppose - but then the first questions still apply.

[Snoink]

Don't exaggerate it. It's normal for your characters and it should be normal for you when you write it. If they don't have light bulbs, for instance, don't make them go, "Oh, if only we had such-and-such technology!

And don't rub it in. In the long run, it's the plot and characters that count. That's why stories are timeles. So describe what you need to and then back away and let your characters do their thing.

[KayJuran]

Imp - I suppose it could sorta be implying an alternate reality.. that way, I don't have to have/mention certain technologies and little things can be different from our world. I never thought of it like that before..

Snoink - Thanks for the advice. Looks like useful stuff to remember.