I talked in an earlier post of the advantages of setting a story in your home town or a place you’re very familiar with. It’s often easy to weave some of this local color into your narrative. However when I travel interstate or overseas I always try to get to places that are off the beaten tourist track. I love investigating the way the locals live. I don’t just mean their houses or apartment blocks. I talk to them and whenever possible accompany them to the place where they work or to those where they enjoy their leisure. This includes nightclubs, cafes, community centers, parks etc.
Writers always endeavor to absorb the atmosphere of a place and the way of life of its inhabitants. They have a heightened awareness of their surroundings. They take photographs and make notes of things while they are fresh in their minds. They may not use this information right away. Perhaps they won’t even use it for years. But at some stage it will seep back into their minds and they will write a story around the vivid memories that are stored in their heads. On the other hand they might be inspired to write something straight away about sites and sounds they have experienced.
Whenever you travel to somewhere new, take in as much as you can of the place. Tune in to its vibes. Seek things that are out of the ordinary. Someday you’ll be glad that you did!

Posted on August 29th, 2009 by Pat Turner
Filed under: News