One of the most interesting things about the United States (at least where I am) is that you can travel four hours in one direction and end up somewhere that feels like a different world. I visited an old friend in a place like this over the weekend, and it really got me thinking about how much of my writing is inspired by places I visit.
My husband is the biggest fan of my writing. I call him "the idea guy" because every time he reads something I write, or talks through a new concept with me, he comes up with at least two or three brilliant ideas that take it to the next level. So, naturally, we spent much of our four-hour drive this weekend discussing the book I am writing and what's in store for our characters in the next few chapters.
It struck me during our drive how much of the world-building we are doing is based on our experiences traveling the real world. With every new setting, the first words out of our mouths are "Just like that place we went to in..."
I mean, it's amazing how much our seemingly fantastical world resembles the most fascinating places we've been on our real planet. There might be a lesson in there somewhere.
This weekend we traveled to rural Pennsylvania from our home in the Connecticut suburbs of NYC. We were absolutely struck by the beauty of the farmland, mountains, and changing leaves around us. Our conversation soon turned to an island our characters will visit in book two - I suspect it will look very much like the dips and turns of Northeastern Pennsylvania.
In the chapter I'm writing right now (or, ahem, should be writing), the characters are traveling through a network of river tunnels, searching for a discrete route into a guarded city. It doesn't take long to realize that much of my description in this chapter is very much inspired by a past visit to the Blue Grotto in Italy.
In fact, when I look back over the book, nearly all the wondrous places I've created for the world of the 7 Isles are inspired by somewhere I've been. It makes me wonder what this fantasy land would look like if I had never visited these places...
Which brings me to this thought question: Do you need to travel to be a good writer? Do you need to see a variety of amazing places for yourself to build a world for your characters? I'm not sure.
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