Humans are sociable creatures by nature. And our fellow humans are an important part of our travel experiences. Therefore, they are an essential element in our travel stories, too.
Think about it. How many times have you heard someone say that it was people, not places, that made their journey so memorable? The same is true of your travel story. A well-formed character can really bring your story to life, capturing the essence of what you are trying to say and giving it added depth and texture.
As an important protagonist in your story, you will have to describe your character. What they look like. What they wear. Their views and beliefs. Their personality. Their strengths and their foibles. One, or all of the above, could be vital to your story.
Using a real person in a non-fiction story can be a bit of a minefield. I’ve been writing about travel for a couple of decades now and writing about people is still the trickiest part. Having said that, I have picked up a few techniques and golden rules over the years that have helped me. They could help you, too …