As a writer, I can put my characters anywhere in the world I’d like to see them. I can take them to exotic tropical locales, heart-stopping mountainsides, even underwater to a coral reef. Of course, I can also leave them at home and just have them wish and pine to be taken elsewhere.
One of the underlying themes in all my books is that there really is – as Dorothy asserted – no place like home. We’re comfortable there; it’s familiar; for most of us, safe. Home is where that proverbial heart is and many characters never leave the comfy confines of the places they grew up in. Some of the best stories I’ve ever read concern characters who were born, lived and died in the same place. And they were happy. I love to write coming-home stories because I feel as Dorothy did. Surrounded by the people who love you best, homecoming stories have a special place in my heart.
But isn’t it kind of great to have wanderlust? To dream about being shipwrecked on a tropical island, or snowbound on a majestic mountainside? Of course, since I write romance stories, it would have to be the hero and heroine who are snowbound and shipwrecked, because, where’s the fun if it’s just one character? Unfamiliar territory brings with it all sorts of plot lines, character growth and development, and of course the ability to bring two people together who might never have met otherwise. Agatha Christie was famous for taking her characters and dropping them all over the world.
Let your imagination take you – and your characters – anywhere they want to go.
What if your H/H were running from a band of thieves in a Moroccan souk?
Or trying to escape from a group of militant terrorists in the African jungle?
You have the power to put your characters anywhere you want them to be, whether it’s in a small town in the middle of America or the largest city in the world. Like your kids, they go where you take them. And like your kids they complain, moan about almost everything, but ultimately come to the conclusion that the trip was worthwhile and fun.
So, where in the world have your characters gone? Let’s discuss….
Peggy Jaeger, Author 
I admit I’ve been playing it safe so far by keeping my characters in Florida/Georgia. It’s what I know. But, I have been thinking about expanding out – Maybe a remote cabin in the Smokey Mountains – someday.
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Sandra – I’ll admit I’ve played it safe, too. All my books take place in the north east, where I live. This blog was my delusions of grandeur moment!
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I would love to set characters in adventures all over the world. However, I have not been all over the world. I have set stories in locations I’m not very familiar with, but it requires a lot of research. My books set at home come much more naturally to me. How much fun would it be to actually be able to go all the places you’d like to set a story in so that you have a real feel for the place? I’m looking at you Hawaii!
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Jan, I haven’t been that many places either and I agree, it would be better if you could research your places in person…but I think that’s why we are good writers – because we let our imaginations travel for us!
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I just got back from Thailand which was a bucket list trip for me. I’m STILL sorting through my adventures and soaking it all in. Take a look at just the beginning of my travels if you’re interesting… https://onweekendswewander.wordpress.com/
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Kate – your travelblog is lovely. Great tidbits about travel,there.
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One of my current WIP’s (shelved currently but may drag it back out soon) features a heroine who travels for a living as a freelance photographer. Her home is her RV, and she goes everywhere. She wanders because she is lost, though, having suffered a childhood trauma. She finds her feet unwilling to wander once she meets the hero, though. I have had fun sending her all over the place. But most of my stories are about people who are homebodies.
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