“What Town Does Your Main Character Call Home?” by Joan Y. Edwards
Does your main character live in a small town with parades going down Main Street to celebrate the oldest citizen in the community? Are there hundreds of people or thousands?
Perhaps your main character’s niece is a cheerleader in the parade or an uncle who is the mayor.
It’s possible that your main character is a flight attendant who only gets home to see his parents once a year. He currently lives in Tokyo.
On his days off he might use the services of a rickshaw pulled by one man to go shopping.
Your main character might prefer the romantic city of Paris, France, but he might suffer his greatest defeat at the base of the Arch de Triumph! His date turned him down and his boss fired him.
He could try for a job taking care of the trees along one of the main thoroughfares in Paris. He could be so determined to find a job that he checks in every building for ten full blocks to find a job.
He may feel so lost that he feels he needs the help of the Pope in Rome, Italy to pray for him.
He may feel like he wants to go to a small fishing village.
Or be one of the consultants on how to build the safest home in case of a hurricane in Miami, Florida.
Whatever town, city, or village you choose for your main character, make it add tension to the story that’s so bad he might want to move or be frightened to move. Or when he moves that the problem inside him is still there waiting for him to solve it?
Where would you want to live if you didn’t live where you are now? What city, town, or village would add more stress to your main character’s life? I appreciate www.morguefile.com for letting me use their pictures for free. Thanks for sharing my blog with others.
Other Questions to Inspire Your Writing:
- What Shoes Would Your Main Character Wear?
- In What House Would Your Main Character Reside?
- What Will Your Main Character Drink?
- What Will Your Main Character Eat?
Joan,
I enjoyed dreaming of places to live, I mean for my MC to live. 😉 Seriously, I found your suggestion very helpful about having the home setting add tension to the story, so much so that the MC may want to move. Thanks for your series about characterization.
Dear Linda,
Thanks for writing. I’m glad you enjoyed dreaming of places for you and/or your characters to live. I hadn’t thought of what it would be like for me to live in each of these places. Life would have advantages and
disadvantages at each place, I’m sure.
Thanks for appreciating the characterization series. I’ve had fun doing it.
Celebrate today. Don’t wait.
Never Give Up
Joan
Loved the idea of someone going to 10 buildings on a block in search of a job! Great way to help us with our character building! Thank you Joan!
Dear Kathleen,
Thank you for writing. I’m glad that you loved the idea of going to 10 buildings in a block in search of a job and thought it was a great way to help you with your character building!
Celebrate you now.
Don’t wait.
Never Give Up
Joan
I took a city girl, put her in small town British Columbia, in an isolated ski resort. I used a fictitious town and ski resort so I wouldn’t be limited by an actual place. It’s fun to write about a character who is out of her element. Clothing was a change for her from city wear to ski resort wear.
Dear Kristina,
Thank you for writing. You were wise to take a city girl and put her in a small town in British Columbia in an isolated ski resort. Your character would definitely be in for a change in clothing.
Hurray for you and your characters!
Celebrate you now.
Don’t wait.
Never Give Up
Joan
These are great photos and good reminders to develop setting and its relationship with the main character.
Love,
Janis
Dear Janis,
Thank you for writing. I’m glad you believe these photos are good reminders to develop setting in view of its relationship with the main character.
Celebrate you today. Don’t wait.
Never Give Up
Joan
Another fun post, Joan. I think your imagination is going to town creating these mini-scenarios!
Dear Carol,
Thanks for writing. I’m glad you are enjoying this series of mini-scenarios for characters. I’m having fun, too. It’s a win-win situation. It’s especially good when other people read it and enjoy it with me.
Thank you.
Celebrate you today. Don’t wait.
Never Give Up
Joan
Thanks Joan, I enjoyed all of your pics and Ideas.
Dear Susan,
Thanks for writing. I’m glad you enjoyed the pictures and the ideas. One idea leads to another and another until BINGO…the best idea of all enters your mind!
Celebrate you now. Don’t wait.
Never Give Up
Joan