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The Attraction of Exotic Places #1

7/15/2014

6 Comments

 
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The Attraction of Exotic Settings

#1 in a series on the call of other places

Buon giorno! Namaste! G’day!

Exotic places grab my imagination and fire multiple story ideas. My husband and I, and sometimes our children, have travelled quite a lot, through Asia, Europe, Britain and west coast America. Culture, attitudes, languages differ and therefore understandings or interpretations of even basic things can be challenging. My first attempt to order a latte in Tuscany highlighted this for me. A latte in Italy is hot milk, not the milk coffee we associate with the name here. Fortunately, an Austrian customer who spoke Italian and English cottoned on to my surprise and the situation was easily remedied. And I quickly settled on cappuccino as my preferred form of coffee.

Language incorporates different cultural understandings and these aren’t limited to languages other than English. Differences between various forms of English can be humorous as well. A simple example from my next release is that Matt, the Irish hero of Engaging the Enemy, cannot use the word ‘kid’ when referring to a child because he thinks of a baby goat. He uses ‘bairn’ which confuses Andie. Even simple colloquial names for a child differ and it’s important to accurately reflect culture as well as character in your writing.

 Then there are basic, everyday actions such as driving. Stick to the left, overtake on the right. Easy. Unless you’re in Hawaii, or Europe. The first heroine I created landed on Kauai, jet-lagged and annoyed by being given a different vehicle to the one she’d ordered. On turning out of the airport, she was confronted by a truck bearing down on her before she remembered and dodged into the ‘wrong’ lane and breathed a sigh of relief. So many of our daily actions are automatic and instinctive after a lifetime of repetition.

Even crossing the road in a country where vehicles drive on the right hand side offers potential for conflict. For a writer, these offer a treasure trove of potential, from first meetings to conflict situations. I took this idea and placed it on the Amalfi Coast road for my novella, One Night in Sorrento. Luca almost literally runs into Rhiannon because she forgets the traffic drives differently there. (She also learns what it’s like to ride behind a hot Italian biker, but that’s not part of this discussion ;) )  

Our first encounter with a zebra crossing in Hanoi was beyond scary. Expecting traffic to stop as we stepped off the kerb, we were taken aback that the lanes ahead continued as if we weren’t there. What we had to learn—and quickly—was that you cross slowly in what amounts to a dance between you and the road traffic. They glide forward until you are in their lane then slip past as soon as you’re out of their direct line. Slow and steady is the goal but it took nerves of steel to become acclimatised.

Next week, join me as I delve deeper into writing exotic settings.

Please leave a comment and tell me what would you like to see discussed here. Or share an exotic experience!  If you enjoyed this post, I'd appreciate you sharing on FB, Twitter etc.

I’d love to hear from you! Till next week,

Ciao!  


6 Comments
Devika Fernando link
7/15/2014 03:25:24 pm

Great article. :-) I love exotic settings. My WIP is set in Sri Lanka, where I currently live. Being a half German who grew up in Germany, I know just how exotic and different things can be, so I guess for me it's a little easier to write because I am used to the European as well as the Asian way of life.

Reply
Susanne Bellamy
7/15/2014 03:31:10 pm

Living in another country is the best way to become immersed in its culture and great experience for a writer! Lucky you, Devika! Now I know who to ask for SL and German details. Thanks for stopping by.

Reply
Kariss Stone link
7/16/2014 08:02:10 am

Wonderful article Susanne. Having read both your excellent books, and remembering those funny situations your heroines were in bring brought back great memories. I remember our very eye opening trip to Egypt, seeing the pyramids, the soldiers with guns, the run down shacks on each side of the highway where impoverished people lived, multitudes of apartments and high rise buildings in the desert half finished and deserted. It was an intense experience. Looking forward to seeing Matt and Andie interract. You sure have wetted my appetite, Susanne! Kariss xx

Reply
Susanne Bellamy
7/16/2014 09:00:23 am

Hi Kariss,
Thanks for visiting and for your kind words. I would love to travel in Egypt; the most I saw was as a child from the boat deck as we traversed the Suez Canal. I'll bet the pyramids were awe-inspiring up close! But the poverty in some countries is affecting in a different way.
I do hope you enjoy Andie and Matt - barely two weeks to release day!

Reply
Noelle Clark link
7/22/2014 03:24:31 pm

Great article! You know I love an exotic location. Thanks for sharing these insights.

Reply
Elizabeth Ellen Carter link
7/22/2014 03:40:11 pm

Ah, I feel refreshed from my mini holiday already Susanne!

Reply



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    Story elements surround us every day, from new places to a favourite piece of music or an odd moment witnessed in passing that becomes a scene in our work. On this weekly post, fellow authors will share some of what inspires their stories and their lives. Sit back and make yourself comfortable with the drink of your choice as the curtain rises. 

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