Disappearing Your Character

How to Write a Realistic Vanishing Act

Elizabeth J. Baldwin
When you are writing a story and need for a character to disappear you need help. Over 50,000 adults disappear every year. 10% of them are never found. How does that 10% succeed in staying off the radar? What must they do to successfully vanish from their former lives?

I wrote a story one time where a mother and her daughter had to disappear until they could reach safety. I think I did okay, I know I would have done a much better job if I'd had The 33 Worst Mistakes Writers Make About Disappearing in the U.S., by Judy Rosella Edwards

If anyone thinks about the subject for even a few minutes they know disappearing isn't as easy as it once was. We live in an age of information deluge. Our lives are open to anyone who takes a few minutes to look. You think not? Look your own name up on the internet.

Aside from the ease others can access information about us, we need identification. Lots of it. It isn't enough to have a driver's license anymore you need extra identification to access your bank account, to prove you have insurance, own your car. Getting on a plane without id is definitely not an option. I might have had my character get on a train before I read why that wouldn't work.

Getting a job is nigh impossible without reams of information. Even illegal aliens know to have various papers and cards if they want to get a job.

If your character needs to disappear, then you need The 33 Worst Mistakes Writers Make About Disappearing in the U.S., by Judy Rosella Edwards

Published by Elizabeth J. Baldwin

I trained people to handle horses and other animals for several decades. My book Horses is for ages 9-12. The ISBN is 978-0778737759. Other books are available at http://shop.hollylisle.com/jamaffiliates/...  View profile

  • The 33 Worst Mistakes Writers Make About Disappearing in the U.S., by Judy Rosella Edwards
  • How can a writer get their character out of town?
  • What special problems face teens who runaway?
  • Is it possible to work without a Social Security card?
50,000 adults disappear every year. Ten percent are never found.

3 Comments

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  • Barbara Lee Norris11/21/2008

    Even worse, try putting someone's email in google. The information given there shocks me! I think it would be very hard to disappear nowadays. Interesting article. I like your writing style.

  • Elizabeth J. Baldwin10/16/2008

    LOL That'll work for sci-fi and fantasy, but for a "serious" thriller or suspense novel?

  • Sheryl Young10/15/2008

    Interesting topic! How about just some invisible paint or something like Chevy Chase in the Invisible Man movie?

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