I used to sail on Lake Michigan. When you're sailing a boat and pushing the rudder a little bit one way and the other way, and trimming the sails, there's a point where you feel that the boat and the wind are working perfectly together. The boat does faster and faster. It is like the Wizard of Oz , because Ben's house looks a little bit like Dorothy's, but Dorothy's house goes too much more interesting place. It's true Ben gets to see some very interesting sights, but it's a pretty lonely trip.
Stories always require some character, even if it's just an ant.
When I imagine a story, I can't imagine it without a character. As I think more and more about the story, the character becomes clearer, and it might even be that when I finish the story I've changed the character. But really the characters are born with the story. I had an experience like that once. I reached in my pocket to make sure that I had my wallet, and it wasn't there.