An Unforgettable Snapshot

There’s a quote that says, “I’m a writer… Everything you say or do may end up in my novel.” As writers, we often include pieces of our personal lives into our writing. It may be physical aspects, elements of personalities (family, friends, or our own), or even quirky habits. But one thing I was reminded of not long ago is how adding pieces of geography can enhance our story. It’s all about location.

Recently, I had the privilege of going on a week-long missions trip to El Salvador. As our bus bumped along the mountainous dirt roads, it hit me. This would be the destination of my main character in my most recent WIP. She needs to do some travelling and this is the perfect place. The wild dogs laying in the sun, panting in the heat, the chickens clucking along the roadside, the run-down structures propped by a stick, that housed some of the most delicious food in the entire country. The impact of what I saw each day hit me so hard, I knew if I could get it into words, it would strike my reader the same way.

To remember everything I saw, I started taking pictures. I snapped everything. I even took a picture of the road the day we had to unload the bus and finish our trek uphill on foot, carrying all the supplies we needed for the school we were visiting. I still remember the scorching sun, the flying dust, the people sitting in the shade watching us, and the rocks and sticks that caused us to stumble.

I also remember the little girl from that school who gave us a glimpse into her brutally abusive life. That trip, and that day in particular, changed my life. Every emotion, every piece of scenery, and every memory will most likely make its way into my novel.

Why is this a good thing? As we write about things that are meaningful to us, that have impacted us, that are positive or negative influencers in our lives, it’s usually easier for us to put these experiences onto paper in a way that others can see, feel, and imagine what we are describing. One of my favorite book series was written by Karen Kingsbury about a family named the Baxters. In each book I could feel myself being pulled in by the emotions, experiences, and conversations that took place within the family. I could also picture the entire town in Indiana, the lake, the house, the school, even the river, because of how she portrays the town. In fact, she did it so well that for a while my daughter wanted to go to college out there because it seemed like the perfect place.

When you write, do you put any pieces of your own life into your work? Do any of your characters portray traits of someone you know? Do your physical settings resemble a place you know or love?