I know, I know.  It’s Saturday. 

It’s been said that there are only two stories in the world: the hero’s journey and the stranger coming to town.  Of course, the stranger story is just the hero story told from another perspective.  I’m not sure I buy it.  Although many stories have these basic patterns, sometimes the main story is boy meets girl or child/oppressed person overthrows authority. 

Anyway.

For today, tell the stranger story from either perspective.  If you’re looking at it from the visitor’s perspective, look at travel guides & pictures, listen to music, and eat the food of your strange land to get a feel for it.  If you’re telling the story from another perspective, first take a really clear look at your community.  How would you describe it to someone else?  Now, how would you describe the opposite?  How would your community react if that opposite showed up on its doorsteps and tried to carry off your favorite daughter? 

Happy writing!