Write Every Day: Day #2

[auroracloud]

Hello again! Here is the check-in post for the June Day #2 of Write Every Day. If you didn't see the previous post yet and are wondering what this is, I'm explaining it here.

Today, it was exciting because I went out on a research trip - nothing fancy, just travelling to a place where some of my novel is supposed to take place in, looking around, walking, taking many photos, guided museum tours, etc. As a result, I'm pretty drained now! So nothing fancy in today's post, I'm too sleepy already. But it was nice and useful. I was silly and forgot to take my sunglasses, though, and the sky cleared up in the afternoon, so I got a bit of a headache, but the painkiller has kicked in now, so I'm okay.

Today's Writing

In a way, today was all writing, since I was spending most of the time on stuff related to my novel project, but there weren't many words, though I took some research notes. But I also got ideas for some supporting characters that I'd known I should have, and I got ideas for names for characters, so at home I wrote some new character notes as well.

How was your writing today?

Tally

Day 1: alexcat, alexseanchai, auroracloud, carenejeans, cassini, china_shop, cornerofmadness, falkner, luzclarita, shopfront, silveradept, sylvanwitch, used_songs, ysilme (14 so far)

Let me know if I missed you, or if you wrote but didn't check in yet. You can join in or drop out any time!

Comments

[ysilme]

That research trip sounds lovely! I've found again and again that it makes a difference if the author of something, particularly if it's historical, has visited places and did hands-on research like that. And I don't mean the kind of background where you could retrace the steps of a fictional character in the town where the story is playing, for example, or if the corner pub the antagonist likes to take a drink has ever existed and whatnot. But I think you can tell if the author has ever been to a place or a similar place to what they're writing about. Personally, I also find it much nicer to write about things, surroundings, places etc. I'm at least a bit familiar with - but that might well just be detail-obsessed me. ;o) But for nearly all of the places I've written about, no matter if fantasy or fandom or so, I have rather clear mental images of how the places look and "feel" for lack of a better word. For the latter,
I'm kind of "recording" possible or concrete inspiration or info all the time when travelling, often taking pics especially for that, or needing/wanting to see some detail, inspect some place or something of the like to collect all the details I might need or want one day. *g*
My tally's only 70 words for yesterday; it's got horribly hot which is making my head cold even worse, and I'm also having much worse pollen allergy problems this year than usual, once again the skin-contact variety when pollen as well as soil and plant dust raise itchy, painful wheals where they come in contact with sweaty skin. But some gardening work needed to be done, so I couldn't avoid it.

[auroracloud]

I've found again and again that it makes a difference if the author of something, particularly if it's historical, has visited places and did hands-on research like that.

I agree! I find it invaluable, especially with historical fiction, it makes it much more real to get to the ground and get to know the places. I also feel it makes it much easier to write and to really see the places and events in my mind. I'm also really into writing that has a strong sense of place, and I've discovered I love to write about places I know, and try to make the setting properly a part of the story. And even if you're writing about a place you can't visit, or about a fictional world or another planet or such, it can be helpful to go to places like it. Like if you were writing about a fantasy world or a planet that's covered by huge forests, it's a good idea to visit real old forests if you can.

I'm sorry you're feeling poorly with the head cold, the pollen allergy, and the heat. I hear that pollen allergies are particularly vicious this year, because of the weather patterns this spring. I fortunately don't get any, at least not from plants which grow here, but a lot of my friends are allergic to birches, which have had a crazily intense pollen spring. Hope you feel better soon and that the worst pollen phase passes.