Current Project: Leg Shaving Leads to Trouble
Status: Still truckin'...
I'm sorry about my EXTREME tardiness today! I just got back from a trip late last night and still getting my bearings. I went to read the blog for today, saw it was empty, then the lightbulb turned on.
My trip is what leads me to today's topic. I went to Philadelphia for the better part of a blessed, whole week to attend a conference on classical archaeology. I'll be honest, I didn't make it to much of the conference ;) I spent most of the time exploring Philadelphia!
I started off the trip with a trolley tour to get my bearings of the city. Definitely worth the time and money. I got to see so many incredible cities (plus quickly learn where not to go after dark...). I also spent much of the days walking around the city and visiting historical places, museums and bars. Hey, it's like the beer capital of the country, right!?!
As I wandered around Philly, I began to picture scenes and characters in my mind. There's the bartender (at my new favorite place) from Manhattan who was definitely a cynical hipster with a great sense of humor. But sarcastic as all get out. "Please tell me you did not go on the trolley." Yeah, Dave. I did. Also the greeter at Chilli's. A cutie pie who talked so much my food was cold before I got to it (well worth the cold food, however). He swore he was shy, but said he couldn't stop talking if he got a person to laugh at him once. My bad!
Then trolley driver who stopped the trolley to talk about chicks with some guy on the street he knew. The trolley tour guide who was all smiles when the trolley was full, but when I was fortunate enough to be the only person on board at one point, she let go of the facade and told me about how much she hated her job. But how much she loved the city.
All of these people, although they were real, began to take shape as secondary characters in a story. As I walked around the city, the buildings etched themselves in my mind, demanding to be described in print. I swear the atmosphere itself was tangible!
I've never reacted so strongly to a city before. I loved it. Both to visit, and as a setting to my writing. I can clearly see myself setting books throughout the greater Philly area. A ghost story about Eastern State Penitentiary, or a love story about a jaded tour guide in Independence Hall.
My fingers are itching to write! But not until I finish my current WIP, you darn fingers!
Have you ever reacted strongly to a place, realizing instantly that it was going to be the setting of many books to come?
7 comments:
Wow! Sound like you had a great time in Philly! What fun! And inspiration.
Place, mainly historic, always seem to conjure up story ideas for me. Get the present WIP done so you and get these other stories on paper while the enthusiasm is still there.
Lisa, I've never felt as strongly as you did about a place because what you described seems almost like a spiritual homecoming. How about a story about about that! Add some time travel!
I have however, been in cities or places that inspired me -- sometimes just a single building, and once that starts, every place there seems to scream for a chance to make it into the action. That's happened several times and I always love it.
Glad your conference was so inspirational!
Paty, it was definitely a great time. I can see how historic places would influence what you write, that makes perfect sense! I'm hoping to get a lot done on the WIP before I move in a few weeks.
Alice, that's a good way to put it. A spiritual homecoming. Oooh time travel! That's a great idea!! I have been watching a lot of Doctor Who lately as well... Thank goodness for photographs, especially when a single building does inspire you. If it takes a while to get around to including it, it would be nice to have something to recall the details.
Sounds like you had a great trip, Lisa!
I don't think I've ever been to one place that's truly inspired me to the point where I know a series of books will be set there. Though every time I go somewhere tropical, tons of ideas pop into my mind. (I love me some tropics.)
Glad you're back...we missed ya!
Hey, Lisa!
Sounds like you love to travel, and how great to be so inspired by the places you go!
I like to think about traveling, but in reality prefer to be home when it comes time to settle in for the night.
I'm more inspired by a individuals buildings, as if they have stories to tell. Then I build imaginary towns around them.
Glad you had such a wonderful time!
Yea!! Yer back! I've been thinking about you and hoping you had a great time!
I love your blog post. It's so fun to read about the places you've been because you always write it so well that I feel like I'm there with you experiencing it all, too. :)
Speaking of writing where you've been well...
Did you know that Australia is doing this thing where their tourism people pick one person to go Down Under for 6 months and they pay for everything and you basically get to do everything they have lined up for you and all you have to do is blog about it. Like snorkeling and hanging out on the beach and stuff... Isn't that cool? They basically pay you to be on vacation in their country because they're trying to boost tourism in this recession. You would be so kickin' at this "job" because everyone would want to go after you wrote about your fun time there! Not that I want to get rid of you or anything, it was just a thought and a way for you to make money while having a kick-ass time. :) I'd totally miss you if you went there for six months. Maybe it was six weeks, but I'm not sure. My 17-year-old is the one who told me about it and I told her there's no way in hell she's going. LOL
I love your current project's title... Leg Shaving Leads to Trouble. That's hilarious! And I have to say that I was caught off guard because my eyes were a bit blurry, so I immediately focused them, when I read your "Status:" Still truckin'... I thought for a nanosecond that it said something else that rhymes with truckin' LOL How grade school is that of me?!! Duh!!
Anyway, I'm glad you had such a great time in Philly and I'm looking forward to reading your books about it.
No, I haven't had a place grab me so much that I had to write a story with it as the setting, yet. ;)
I'm waiting anxiously to read about all the places you shouldn't go in Philly after dark. LOL
Hey Lisa, here's the link for that Australian thing...
www.islandreefjob.com
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