"Sense of Place is Vital In Creating Characters"

WRITER'S GUIDE TO PLACES authored by Don Prues and Jack Heffron is an extraordinary useful guide for writers, who wish to discover a sense of many places unfamiliar to them.

An astonishing number of lesser-known tidbits are included in the book pertaining to many of the well-known cities located throughout all fifty states, Canada and its territories and the people who reside within these geographical areas. For example, if an author is interested in building a character from Orlando, he or she will be provided with brief overall information concerning this city as well as some facts and peculiarities the character might know.

Other useful data would indicate how to paint a more accurate picture of a character portraying one or more of the following traits: a trendsetter, a culture maven, a theme park guru, a family man, a down-and-out individual, someone who works in the citrus industry and a recent immigrant from elsewhere in the world, and myths and misconceptions.

All of these are placed within the context of the particular city or state, and point out such information as to where might these people live, a description of the area and the industries situated within this locale and exceptionally grand things the character may be proud or sad about.

The writer is also exposed to a variety of interesting and peculiar places to set a scene. In Orlando, the guide points out eight different possibilities: Beacham Theatre (a 1920 movie house), a walk on the campus of Rollins College in Winter Park, Orange Avenue, Orange Blossom Trail (known as the red light district), a boat in Lake Harris, a rodeo, Walt Disney World and a hot air balloon ride over the theme parks.

Other handy information provided are insights into characters, from his or her rivalries to what she or he is proud or ashamed of to local slang, local food, basics that a character may take for granted, that can be injected into a story.

One of the great pleasures of travel is learning all about the idiosyncrasies of a particular country or city. When an author provides interesting background information he can transform even the most undistinguished scene, building or character into something fascinating. This meticulously researched and easy-to-read book will certainly prove to be a catalyst in generating ideas as well as creating an effective sense of locale to pass onto an author's readers. The authors have also included various useful suggestions as to where to seek out further information concerning a particular locality.

Reviewed by Norman Goldman
Courtesy Bookpleasures
Posted January 13, 2003