When writing a story?

Question

When writing a story is it okay to use a real place but invent what it looks like? For example, I have used Gearhart, Oregon in my story but, the actual place doesn't have a high school which is one of the main components of my story. Do I have to change the setting or can I just add a high school in?

Thank you in advance. :)

Answer 1

Maybe you could just make up a new name of the town and call your invented town a suburb of Gearhart. Or maybe you don't even need to use Gearhart by name, you could just say "a suburb in Oregon" or something like that. I think it's risky to invent elements in a real place, since people do actually live there and might point it out.

Maybe you could use the name of a tree or part of nature with an adjective. Like High Rapids or Grand Willows. I don't know, sorry, haha.

:]

Answer 2

not really.

i'd just make up the city. much less complicated.