Vacations are like writing a book. There are planners and pantsers. Planners are me. I plan months in advance down to what we do each day and where to eat etc. Okay, that’s a little anal. A lot anal, actually, and shoots spontaneity all to hell and back but then we’re not sitting in the car and wondering, Gee, what should we do today. I have maps and charts and reserved the house or car got plane ticket…whatever all done by January for a trip in June.
Then there are the pantsers who wing it. They throw the family in the car and take off for…out West. And all goes well and they have a great time and do the next thing out there and I am so jealous of them I could spit… Just like I’m so jealous of those authors who wing it and wind up with a great book.
Okay, so you’re going on vacation…somewhere, planned or unplanned and it will be great to get away. So, while your away do you ever plan on visiting places you’ve read about in romance books? Or seen in the movies?
There’s this movie, Something to Talk About with Julia Roberts and Dennis Quaid and there’s a scene in Savanna at a place called Six Pence. When I went to Savannah I ate there and sat at the very table. Fun!
And then there’s that bench that Forest Gump sat on in Savannah when he’s waiting for the bus. So many people came to sit on that bench it caused traffic jams and they had to move it. Same with the bird girl from Midnight In the Garden of Good and Evil. They had to move that statue too.
I wanted to go to the top of the Empire State Building to see the sight but also because of An Affair To Remember. What about Gone With the Wind? Did you ever plan to visit a plantation? Go to Atlanta and visit Peach Tree Street? I think ever other street in Atlanta is Peach Tree Street.
If you read historicals I bet you’ve wanted to visit an English castle or sail on one of those big sailing ships. Did you do it? Plan to? I went to a castle and it’s damp and dark and it kind of killed the idea I had in my brain of how neat a castle is. I was happy to go back to my hotel with hot running water.
So, the questions are… Are you a planner or a pantser with the vacations thing and have you ever visited a place you read about or saw in a move?
I have a totebag from our June Reader-Writer Get-together that I’ll give away and I’ll throw in a book from my back list.
Hugs, Dianne Castell
I’m a planner…but maybe not months in advance. More like a week or a couple of days before actually leaving home.
As for visiting places that I read about…I would love to. I really loved going to the castles and things around the UK that I read about. Of course, since then, there are loads of new places I have read about so I really need to go back again!
I am a pantser. I don’t really like to plan that far in advance. I am more spontaneous then anything else. I have never been to any place from a book but that sure sounds like fun! I read a book once where the characters visited literary places. I think the book was Literacy and Longing in LA.
I’m a planner… and, though most times, all plans fall through, I must have a plan, lol
I haven’t visited a place I’ve read about or saw in a movie, but I have plans to visit Montana… because as a little girl I saw it on a commercial
I do like to plan a little of the trip. But usually it doesn’t quite turn out that way. I would love to go to some of the places I read about or see on tv. can’t afford it yet though.
I think I’m a little bit of both in that I take time in selecting where I’m going, planning the where and when, but once I get there I like to play it by ear and see where that takes me. Can be tons of fun.
I’m a planner, but my idea of planning is maybe two weeks before saying let’s go to..and making reservations.
Some might call that a bad planner. I’ve never been anywhere I read about,but there’s lots of places on that list I’d like to go to.
I remember seeing South Pacific as a kid and really wanted to visit there. Never made it yet,such a faaar flight from Cincy.
I love books where the setting is like another character in the book. When I read Midnight in the Garden of G and E I really felt like Savannah was a character. I’m sure it’s one of the reasons I decided set my next series there.
Well, in actuality, neither since it’s been so long since we have gone on an actual vacation that needed to be planned. LOL We either go out on day trips or something that’s only a couple of hours outside the house type of thing. But I guess with that I can say plan because we usually have an idea where we are going. . . like if we know we’re going to a particular restaurant to eat. But alas, that’s about it.
Lois
I am a planner and a pantster. I like to plan out some of the events we are going to do and leave room for spur of the moment decisions too.
When I read a book set in a locale that appeals to me, I want to go there and see it.
I’m both a planner and a pantster. When it comes to road trips I’m always making itinerary’s and mapping out routes. But I also like to be spontaneous ~ if we come across a road we’ve never been on before we take it ~ we’ve found alot of neat things that way.
One of my most favorite places to go his Yellowstone and surrounding areas in Montana and Wyoming. We try and go at least 1-2 times each year. Two years ago I came across author Linda Jacobs book SUMMER OF FIRE which is set in Yellowstone during the fires of 88. It was fantastic. Next she had RAIN OF FIRE. I took both books with me on our trips and it was really interesting finding places we hadn’t already visited that she had in her books. Her next book LAKE OF FIRE is going to be released this fall and I already have it pre-ordered and a trip planned. lol
I am a planner all the way! I hate surprises that I have no control over, the make me nervous.:lol:
I’m not much for a traveling so I enjoy letting the books I read take me to the destination through the author’s words.
I am a planner since I do not want any surprises and feel it is important to have everything looked after so there are no worries. I would love to visit places which I have read about in books. They sound so exotic and wonderful.
I always plan ahead of time since I consider it vital to have a stress-free vacation especially so during the busy summer. It would be great to travel to areas that I enjoy reading about and a few that I have seen were a lovely experience.
I’m a pantser. When I visit somewhere, I tend to want to see everything. lol I have visited Myrtle Beach and I think I saw a couple of movies that were set there.
I mostly am a planner but along the way we will go some place or stop some place not planned because the place seems interesting. So panster comes into play also. I like to be organized and know what is coming and no big unexpected surprises.
I have never visited a place that was mentioned in a book so to speak. It would be fun!!!
TOTAL planner. I actually drinve my friends nuts with the planning.
That doesn’t mean I’m not flexible whilst we’re on the trip, but I like to know what I’m getting myself into!
Cheers,
Deb
I am a planner and like to start planning months ahead. One year we planned on visiting some plantations in Louisiana which is something I had always wanted to do from having seen them in movies andreading about them in books. We also decided to stay at a bed and breakfast which I also had never done before. It was fun and one of my favorite vacation memories.
I am a planner – liked to have all my ducks in a row. But some things are done as we go – so I am both. LOL.
I am a bit of a pantser but my husband is a planner so he makes me make decisions and think about what I want to de even when I want to put it off.
seems that a bit a pantser and planner is the best. I think it’s easier to pants-it if you drive so you can get off the beaten track. I really want to go to Yellowstone some day. A dream vacation.
Day trips and weekend trips are great too. A nice break in the action… And I don’t have to cook! Anytime I don’t have to cook is a vacation!
Can you be a bit of both? I plan where to go and when, and pay for the rooms ahead of time, but I also leave time to visit out of the way places. I also never plan where meals will be eaten. And since we travel with kids……even the best laid plans sometimes go awry.
I’ll never forget my trip to NYC with my three daughters. I have NO sense of direction and the great people of NYC came to my rescue. On busses they’d gather around and show me on the map where to go. One man came out of his shop to help me figure out the map, another crossed the street…in NYC no easy task…to help.
What a great trip. I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart of NYC.
Dianne – I know what you mean about having no sense of direction.
My Gramps gave me a hand held compass before my first big trip alone.
I needed it. Would have been more hopefully lost in Montréal than I alreay was!
It was the best gift ever
I would have to say that I’m a pantser. I did once visit the Grand Hotel which is located on Mackinaw Island in Michigan. This hotel was featured in the movie Somewhere in Time with Christopher Reeves. What a beautiful place to see.
I am a bit of both. I like to plan to go somewhere, and when – but once there sort of take whatever comes to mind to do. I have never visited anyplace that was in a book, although some day I would love to go and visit a castle.
I love to plan a long awaited holiday. Otherwise it is too difficult when you arrive. Staying at a lovely B&B or a resort is the ultimate but I reserve ahead.
Since I rarely travel when I do I make a plan way ahead so that everything is totally booked and I have no worries. I feel better about things and know that when I arrive I can relax and enjoy.
I always plan a vacation, look up the area and then arrange for a place to stay. I feel better that way and it always works out well.
Planner for the most part. My dh and I went on a tour of the farm house where Witness with Harrison Ford was filmed.
planner, because work gets in the way. i traveled when i was younger, now have to watch those bills
I guess I’m both. But I do like to just wing it if the schedule allows. If I try to plan it too much I have a habit of clock watching rather than enjoying the experience.
I’m a planner. Spontaneous doesn’t seem to be in my vocabulary. I wish it was but I just wasn’t raised that way I guess. I don’t think I’ve ever planned a trip to see something I’ve read about but I’ve been to lots of places and I truly have never been disappointed. I’m also a list maker lol.
Well, I put all your names in a hat…actually a box…and drew out Crystal’s name.
Congrats, Crystal. I’ll send you a tote with a copy of Star Quality, an anthology with Lori Foster, Lucy Monroe and me. We had a great time writing it as the stories are connected.
Thanks everyone for taking part.
See you again soon.
Dianne
DianneCastell.com
PS–excerpts for The Morgue and Merrier (Zebra) and I’m Your Santa (BRAVA) are up at my website.
wtg crystal