From the Caribbean to London: How Real Journeys Inspire Fictional Ones

Writers find inspiration in many places — a snatch of overheard conversation, a photograph from years ago, or even the memory of a journey that changed everything. For me, travel has always been more than moving from one place to another. It’s about transformation, both for the person making the journey and the story that comes from it.

In my novel Wherever You Will Go, Essie leaves Dominica in 1948 to search for her missing husband in London. He was one of thousands who arrived in Britain aboard the Empire Windrush, but when his letters stopped coming, she set out across the Atlantic with nothing more than a clue to his whereabouts.

This journey was inspired by the real experiences of the Windrush generation — people who travelled thousands of miles, often leaving behind loved ones, in the hope of building a better life. Their courage, resilience, and hope echo through Essie’s story, just as they do in the lives of so many who made that voyage.

But not all fictional journeys are based on historical migrations. In my upcoming novel However Far We Fall, the movement is emotional rather than physical. Characters travel between past and present, and the distance they cover is measured in years of longing, regret, and rediscovery. The first draft was like a meandering road trip with many scenic stops. Now, as I work on the second draft, I’m more certain of its destination.

Whether a character’s path takes them across continents or just across the street, each step changes them. As a writer, I’m fascinated by the way setting shapes story. For example the sound of a busy London street can carry the same emotional weight as the roar of the Caribbean sea.

For readers, these journeys can be just as powerful. A well-drawn fictional voyage can transport you into another life, another time, another perspective. You might turn the last page feeling like you’ve travelled far, even if you never left your favourite reading chair.

If you’d like to read more about the journeys that inspire my writing, you can find out about Wherever You Will Go. And if a real-life journey has changed you, whether that’s across the world or down memory lane, I’d love to hear about it in the comments.