Writing A Road Story
Have you ever thought about writing a road story?
It’s more of a common term in relation to movies. Two famous road stories are “Thelma And Louise” and “Planes, Trains And Automobiles”. They aren’t just about physical travel, but also about a character’s journey of self-discovery and often life-changing experiences.
In novel terms, John Steinbeck’s classic “The Grapes Of Wrath” is a good example of this genre. Set during the US Great Depression of the 1930s, the novel tells of a family forced to migrate from the Dust Bowl farmlands of Oklahoma to the promised land of California.
Writer Of The Week: Barbara Dynes
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Barbara’s story, “Keeping Busy”, appears in Special 203, on sale January 20.
What I like about “Keeping Busy” is that the main character is an everyday guy trying to get by. How important is it to you to make your characters and their circumstances relevant to the reader?
Creating everyday people is very important.
“The People’s Friend” readers like to identify with the characters in a story, particularly the main one. If that person comes across like their friend or sister, they can easily empathise with him or her.
I like to think that my plots, with their solutions, might help readers find ways out of similar situations.
On January 13, we turned 152. What a landmark. What a magazine.
So, what better way than to highlight a little bit about what makes the magazine unique.
Tone
Whether it’s fiction or features, the content of “The People’s Friend” emanates warmth and optimism.
The first ever editor of the magazine, David Pae, said, “We intend that fully one half of the ‘Friend’ shall be devoted to fiction. The Friend being intended for fireside reading, nothing will be admitted into its columns having the slightest tendency to corrupt the morals either of old or young.”
One hundred and fifty-two years on, the magazine has remained true to those founding principles.