Comments on: How to make travel-scenes interesting http://www.superheronation.com/2009/07/07/how-to-handle-traveling-in-a-novel/ How to write a superhero book, comic book or superhero novel and get it published Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:42:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Crystal http://www.superheronation.com/2009/07/07/how-to-handle-traveling-in-a-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-132713 Crystal Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:43:00 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=3909#comment-132713 FotV/Anna: Guess where I got the "hotwire a car" idea from? You guessed it...Maximum Ride I didn't even know that this would work out in real life...That same scene, where they get pulled over, was when I stopped liking the series so much. (Yes, the main reason I liked it was because Angel was cute. :) ) B.Mac: If they got pulled over by the police, they are <i> definitely </i> in trouble: 1. Stealing cars is, y'know, pretty bad. Jail time! 2. Mutants are not allowed to do a whole list of stuff. Traveling outside of their home city is one, as is driving...There are others. This is not just jail. This is getting thrown in a top secret facility in Washington, DC, where Adam is. Yeah...Still deciding between walking/biking...I don't know if Eva would even be able to ride a bike, though, without being too obvious, but, then again, who wants to <i>walk</i> from Ohio to Washington, DC? Not me, I can tell you that. FotV/Anna: Guess where I got the “hotwire a car” idea from? You guessed it…Maximum Ride I didn’t even know that this would work out in real life…That same scene, where they get pulled over, was when I stopped liking the series so much. (Yes, the main reason I liked it was because Angel was cute. :) )

B.Mac: If they got pulled over by the police, they are definitely in trouble:
1. Stealing cars is, y’know, pretty bad. Jail time!
2. Mutants are not allowed to do a whole list of stuff. Traveling outside of their home city is one, as is driving…There are others. This is not just jail. This is getting thrown in a top secret facility in Washington, DC, where Adam is.

Yeah…Still deciding between walking/biking…I don’t know if Eva would even be able to ride a bike, though, without being too obvious, but, then again, who wants to walk from Ohio to Washington, DC? Not me, I can tell you that.

]]> By: B. Mac http://www.superheronation.com/2009/07/07/how-to-handle-traveling-in-a-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-132613 B. Mac Tue, 14 Jun 2011 04:52:08 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=3909#comment-132613 "Though if Daniel has stolen cars before he might have enough experience to drive competently. Additionally he could have a fake ID." I dunno. If the police have pulled him over, I don't think a fake ID would help very much. (When you hand over your license and registration, the officer will check the license and registration in his computer to see if your registration is current, if there are any outstanding warrants for your arrest, if your license is legit, etc). I don't think a fake ID can withstand electronic scrutiny very well--there won't be any record of your alleged license number and your alleged name in their database. <br /> Realistically, if a character has been pulled over by police (for, say, speeding or appearing young enough to concern a tollbooth operator or because the police were looking for this particular stolen car), there's pretty much no way the police could go through this encounter without discovering the car was stolen. So, if the character doesn't do SOMETHING, he's getting arrested. The only remotely plausible escape opportunities I can think of involve 1) using superpowers, 2) driving away while the police officer is going to use his computer (HIGHLY idiotic in real life), and/or 3) being a Congressman. “Though if Daniel has stolen cars before he might have enough experience to drive competently. Additionally he could have a fake ID.” I dunno. If the police have pulled him over, I don’t think a fake ID would help very much. (When you hand over your license and registration, the officer will check the license and registration in his computer to see if your registration is current, if there are any outstanding warrants for your arrest, if your license is legit, etc). I don’t think a fake ID can withstand electronic scrutiny very well–there won’t be any record of your alleged license number and your alleged name in their database.

Realistically, if a character has been pulled over by police (for, say, speeding or appearing young enough to concern a tollbooth operator or because the police were looking for this particular stolen car), there’s pretty much no way the police could go through this encounter without discovering the car was stolen. So, if the character doesn’t do SOMETHING, he’s getting arrested. The only remotely plausible escape opportunities I can think of involve 1) using superpowers, 2) driving away while the police officer is going to use his computer (HIGHLY idiotic in real life), and/or 3) being a Congressman.

]]> By: FotV/Anna http://www.superheronation.com/2009/07/07/how-to-handle-traveling-in-a-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-132599 FotV/Anna Tue, 14 Jun 2011 01:52:18 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=3909#comment-132599 I suggest the stealing bikes thing. Though if Daniel has stolen cars before he might have enough experience to drive competently. Additionally he could have a fake ID. Maximum Ride (yes, I know. The worst and most inexcusable, cheesy, and contrived deus ex machina in I think the third book?) has the kids hotwire cars and drive across the country when they aren't flying so you could probably get away with it if you go that route and actually know how to drive and research how to hotwire a car for accuracy. I suggest the stealing bikes thing. Though if Daniel has stolen cars before he might have enough experience to drive competently. Additionally he could have a fake ID.

Maximum Ride (yes, I know. The worst and most inexcusable, cheesy, and contrived deus ex machina in I think the third book?) has the kids hotwire cars and drive across the country when they aren’t flying so you could probably get away with it if you go that route and actually know how to drive and research how to hotwire a car for accuracy.

]]> By: Crystal http://www.superheronation.com/2009/07/07/how-to-handle-traveling-in-a-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-132584 Crystal Tue, 14 Jun 2011 00:22:30 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=3909#comment-132584 Thanks! 5 states was just an estimate that I had...I'm not sure even where the story is set. Right now, I'm kinda considering Ohio, but that could change. I know that they need to get to Washington, DC, though Anyway, hiking was originally my first thought, but I was worried about the toll that it would take on some of the younger people. I had an idea that some people would be sympathizers, and, therefore, be willing to let a few mutants sleep over, so that they don't have to camp. Also, I can just see Daniel getting frustrated with his (slower) companions: "Come <i>on</i>, guys, we don't have all day! Can't you go any faster?" "No!" Yeah...Great idea! :) Thanks! 5 states was just an estimate that I had…I’m not sure even where the story is set. Right now, I’m kinda considering Ohio, but that could change. I know that they need to get to Washington, DC, though
Anyway, hiking was originally my first thought, but I was worried about the toll that it would take on some of the younger people. I had an idea that some people would be sympathizers, and, therefore, be willing to let a few mutants sleep over, so that they don’t have to camp.
Also, I can just see Daniel getting frustrated with his (slower) companions: “Come on, guys, we don’t have all day! Can’t you go any faster?”
“No!”
Yeah…Great idea! :)

]]> By: B. Mac http://www.superheronation.com/2009/07/07/how-to-handle-traveling-in-a-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-132567 B. Mac Mon, 13 Jun 2011 22:24:51 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=3909#comment-132567 "What would you suggest to be the best way to travel across five states? ... They don’t have a car…Do you think that it would be realistic for them to walk all the way?" Depending on the states, possibly. The northeastern states are smaller and not very mountainous, so I don't think it'd be too hard to hike across five state lines. For example... <br /> Philadelphia, PN to Trenton, NJ is 30 miles on foot. (~12 hours on foot). Trenton, NJ to New York, NY is 60 miles on foot (about one day). NYC, NY to Hartford, CT is 110 miles on foot (about two days). Hartford, CT to Providence, RI is 80 miles on foot (about a day and a half). Providence, RI to Boston, MA is about 40 miles (~18 hours). <br /> I think you could hike from Philadelphia to Trenton to NYC to Hartford to Boston in 7-10 days with rest time factored in. Maybe they'd go a bit slower if they’re cautious about minimizing contact and/or dodging police. PS: If they own bikes (or steal them), they could probably go much faster—maybe 10-15 miles per hour, so this hike would drop to 2-3 days, I think. Stealing a bike is a much less serious crime than stealing a car and a kid on a bike's going to attract a lot less attention than an unlicensed teen trying (probably not very well) to drive. It's not just a matter of recklessness, but of competence/experience. (Also, even a tall 15 year old's going to raise some eyebrows at the toll-booth ;-) ). “What would you suggest to be the best way to travel across five states? … They don’t have a car…Do you think that it would be realistic for them to walk all the way?” Depending on the states, possibly. The northeastern states are smaller and not very mountainous, so I don’t think it’d be too hard to hike across five state lines. For example…

Philadelphia, PN to Trenton, NJ is 30 miles on foot. (~12 hours on foot).
Trenton, NJ to New York, NY is 60 miles on foot (about one day).
NYC, NY to Hartford, CT is 110 miles on foot (about two days).
Hartford, CT to Providence, RI is 80 miles on foot (about a day and a half).
Providence, RI to Boston, MA is about 40 miles (~18 hours).

I think you could hike from Philadelphia to Trenton to NYC to Hartford to Boston in 7-10 days with rest time factored in. Maybe they’d go a bit slower if they’re cautious about minimizing contact and/or dodging police. PS: If they own bikes (or steal them), they could probably go much faster—maybe 10-15 miles per hour, so this hike would drop to 2-3 days, I think. Stealing a bike is a much less serious crime than stealing a car and a kid on a bike’s going to attract a lot less attention than an unlicensed teen trying (probably not very well) to drive. It’s not just a matter of recklessness, but of competence/experience. (Also, even a tall 15 year old’s going to raise some eyebrows at the toll-booth ;-) ).

]]> By: Crystal http://www.superheronation.com/2009/07/07/how-to-handle-traveling-in-a-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-132529 Crystal Mon, 13 Jun 2011 19:16:40 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=3909#comment-132529 Just one quick question: What would you suggest to be the best way to travel across five states? Superhumans are not allowed to use public transportation systems, and no one is going to let three mutants get into their car, so hitchhiking is out, too. They don't have a car...Do you think that it would be realistic for them to walk all the way? The two other options that I have are: 1. Daniel and Rebecca are 'normal' enough to be able to get on a bus, no prob. Someone could then smuggle Eva in. Or... 2. Daniel's fifteen (close enough; he's tall for his age, and somehow, I can't see him being that reckless of a driver) , so someone could, I don't know, hotwire a car or something, and he could drive. Which one would work best? Just one quick question: What would you suggest to be the best way to travel across five states? Superhumans are not allowed to use public transportation systems, and no one is going to let three mutants get into their car, so hitchhiking is out, too. They don’t have a car…Do you think that it would be realistic for them to walk all the way?
The two other options that I have are:

1. Daniel and Rebecca are ‘normal’ enough to be able to get on a bus, no prob. Someone could then smuggle Eva in.
Or…
2. Daniel’s fifteen (close enough; he’s tall for his age, and somehow, I can’t see him being that reckless of a driver) , so someone could, I don’t know, hotwire a car or something, and he could drive.

Which one would work best?

]]> By: Jeremy Melloul http://www.superheronation.com/2009/07/07/how-to-handle-traveling-in-a-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-94336 Jeremy Melloul Sun, 12 Dec 2010 21:50:37 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=3909#comment-94336 I like the unique obstacles they encounter along the way and the differing modes of transportation. The train, specifically, comes to mind. I like the unique obstacles they encounter along the way and the differing modes of transportation. The train, specifically, comes to mind.

]]> By: B. Mac http://www.superheronation.com/2009/07/07/how-to-handle-traveling-in-a-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-34609 B. Mac Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:22:29 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=3909#comment-34609 Hello, JM. What do you like about King's traveling scenes? Hello, JM. What do you like about King’s traveling scenes?

]]> By: The ReTARDISed Whovian http://www.superheronation.com/2009/07/07/how-to-handle-traveling-in-a-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-34600 The ReTARDISed Whovian Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:12:39 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=3909#comment-34600 This will help me a lot. At least two of my ideas (it may become one, because I can probably combine them) have lots of travelling in them, because in one the protagonists are trying to cross the country to a place that is safe from the invading army. In the other they are trying to find a diamond that will save the main character’s country from being trapped in crystal for all eternity. This will help me a lot. At least two of my ideas (it may become one, because I can probably combine them) have lots of travelling in them, because in one the protagonists are trying to cross the country to a place that is safe from the invading army. In the other they are trying to find a diamond that will save the main character’s country from being trapped in crystal for all eternity.

]]> By: Ragged Boy http://www.superheronation.com/2009/07/07/how-to-handle-traveling-in-a-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-34488 Ragged Boy Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:10:36 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=3909#comment-34488 Hmm, I'll have remember this. I've been planning a survival story. Hmm, I’ll have remember this. I’ve been planning a survival story.

]]> By: J.M. http://www.superheronation.com/2009/07/07/how-to-handle-traveling-in-a-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-34485 J.M. Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:06:07 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=3909#comment-34485 Just finishing up the Dark Tower series, and King does this particularly well, especially in the first two books. Just finishing up the Dark Tower series, and King does this particularly well, especially in the first two books.

]]> By: B. Mac http://www.superheronation.com/2009/07/07/how-to-handle-traveling-in-a-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-34467 B. Mac Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:23:41 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=3909#comment-34467 Also, this article doesn't really apply to comic books very much. Because of length requirements, most comic books avoid long traveling sequences. Additionally, most comic books are set in modern times where traveling is not very dramatic. (Would you want to read 20 pages of the X-Men traveling from New York to Japan?) <br /> The only exception I can think of is that the protagonist in <i>Y: The Last Man</i> has to travel thousands of miles across a post-apocalyptic United States. Also, this article doesn’t really apply to comic books very much. Because of length requirements, most comic books avoid long traveling sequences. Additionally, most comic books are set in modern times where traveling is not very dramatic. (Would you want to read 20 pages of the X-Men traveling from New York to Japan?)

The only exception I can think of is that the protagonist in Y: The Last Man has to travel thousands of miles across a post-apocalyptic United States.

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