Saturday, October 10, 2009

Blog Chain: Take a Trip


First of all, thank you so much for all the well wishes and kind thoughts. My family is finally back to feeling mostly normal, minus a few lingering coughs and sniffles.

And now, it's Blog Chain time! This round, the topic was chosen by the ever awesome Sandra, who wants to know:

What kind of journeys do your characters make? What effects do they have on the characters and the plot? Also, if you wish, please tell us about one of your personal journeys and how it changed you.

Well, depending on what I'm writing, I like to explore other locations, settings, and even times with my characters. When I write historicals, I am able to take the characters all over the world and delve into many different eras. It is fun to immerse myself, through my characters, in past cultures and societies. 

For stories set in present day USA, the physical journeys in my stories often serve as learning and growing experiences for my characters. Something that will happen along the journey will impact my characters and they are forced to react. Going out of your own little corner of the world often means leaving your comfort zone. If I have my characters physically traveling it is usually so they can meet new people, see new places, experience new things, all so they can change and grow on a psychological journey.


I like when my characters change and grow through the things that happen to them throughout the story. I don't think you have to go on a physical journey to take a psychological trip, though I think physical trips can help open one to personal changes because it gets you out of your comfort zone, out of what's normal and accepted and open's your mind to new things and experiences. So, I like to explore all those options with my characters.

How about you? What types of journeys do your characters take? 

Be sure to check out Bonny's answer before mine and head over to Shaun's blog to see what he has to say on the subject! 

13 comments:

Christine Fonseca said...

Ha...you know me - I love putting my characters through their paces. Just love it!

Kathryn Hupp-Harris said...

I don't think you have to go on a physical journey to take a psychological trip, though I think physical trips can help open one to personal changes because it gets you out of your comfort zone...

I write about A LOT of people like this when I'm doing stories for the paper. There are so many people who leave their comfort zone and experience major changes in their lives.

Glad to hear you're feeling better.

Amanda Bonilla said...

Michelle: I couldn't agree with you more about comfort zones. I am a comfort zone person all the way. I shy from change and like everything to stay the way it's always been. But by leaving that comfortable area, whether it be physical or emotional, we allow ourselves to grow.

Unknown said...

I personally travel a lot! It really is a chance to stretch yourself, but I find that with all the modern day amenities, you could easily hide away from those changes no matter where you are. Where's the fun in that? It love that different characters would react to the same new place in unique ways!

I love reading historicals for the same reason you love writing them! :)

Sandra Ulbrich Almazan said...

My recent trip to Japan certainly took me out of my comfort zone!

Kathryn Magendie said...

What a good idea for a blog chain! *smiling*

My character journeys both physically and psychologically - but yes, a character needs never leave a room to journey . . . that's the power of our words!

Shaun Hutchinson said...

Leaving your comfort zone is probably the best way to experience change. You hit the nail on the head. I hate leaving my comfort zone, but once I'm forced to do it, I always have such amazing experiences. Awesome post.

B.J. Anderson said...

I totally agree that a physical trip can be the catalyst for a psychological journey. Great post!

Eric said...

Great post. I like how you mention the impact a different physical location can have on psychological change as well. It's true that when we bring outselves out of what's comfortable physically, we make a change mentally as well. It's inevitable, and the change isn't always a bad thing.

Cole Gibsen said...

Great post and I'm so glad you are feeling better!!!

Unknown said...

Glad you are doing better! I agree that the physical journey can be a great way to showcase and enhance a psychological one. Nice post!

Kate Karyus Quinn said...

It's very true that travelling can take you out of your comfort zone - maybe that's why when I travel whether by car or plane I always end up heading towards the every familiar golden arches and eating at McDonalds at some point (okay they're also everywhere, so that also contributes). Great post!

Rebecca Knight said...

Great point about taking the characters out of their comfort zone so they can grow :). Now you've got me thinking I should go out of MY comfort zone!