What I'm Reading: I just started BLACK DUCK by Janet Taylor Lisle. It is about a rum runner's boat during prohibition. My "research reads" pile is slowly getting smaller.
What I'm Writing: Still researching for my YA Hist Fic. My outline is coming along nicely, and I have found answers to some of my pressing questions.
What Works for Me: Field Trips! Nothing inspires me more than visiting an actual setting in my work. Midway through my first draft of COMMITTED (a YA Hist Thriller that takes place in an asylum) I took a little trip to a real asylum turned museum. It was fascinating, and I got to add lots to juicy details and sensory images to my WIP.
PS- the weird look on my face is due to the fact that I was ALL ALONE in the morgue when my phone decided to do this weird malfunction with all the blurry orbs flying around everywhere... I snapped my selfie and got the heck out of there!
What Else is Going on: My husband whisked the kids away to visit his parents last weekend, so I got three whole days to myself! You would think I would have been really productive and gotten a bunch of stuff done, but really I did this:
My sister-in-law and I, goofing off.
PS- I realize that I have been the world's worst comment-backer, so if you comment this week I swear that I will reply! Cross my heart!
So cool that you got to visit a morgue! (And freaky your phone did the thing.) Field trips/hands on experience and research really helps me too when it's possible. Sadly I'm writing about supernatural beings right now. Hahaha.
ReplyDeleteLove the foam hair! Hilarious!
Field trips! Yes, that's so helpful. In my case, I visited the setting of my story first and was inspired to come up with a story based on that experience/setting. But actually being there is fantastic! I can't even imagine visiting a former asylum. Creepy, but also kind of fascinating I expect. Have a great week, Niki! :-)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with that first draft :D
ReplyDeleteOooh, creepy selfie :O
Have a great week!
I love the crazy hair picture. Yay for enjoying your alone time. And yay for field trips. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteField trips are the best! Maybe you should schedule a visit to Rum Island Springs. They used to stash casks of rum on Rum Island...who knew? (Vacation excuse...everybody needs them)
ReplyDeleteLove the picture of you and your SIL goofing off. I think it counts as productive. ;)
Visiting places you use in your setting/or similar to, is a great inspiration! Sounds like your asylum visit got a little creepy!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your outlining!
Whoaaa you're brave for visiting a morgue! A friend of mine went to an abandoned asylum to research for her novel, and jeez, I got scared just thinking about it, haha :) Maybe my next novel will require a field trip to somewhere like, say, Hawaii ... or Fiji ... haha :P
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with the outlining, have a great week!
-- Caitie
There are few things creepier than old asylums. You're brave for taking a field trip to one! Best of luck with the continuing research! :)
ReplyDeleteVisiting a Morgue... Wow. I dunno if i would be game enough to. Good luck with your outline.
ReplyDeleteLove that picture! And yay for time to yourself! Also, I LOVE fieldtrips to the places I write about. Most of my places are fictional, but I count FTs to the beach and football and soccer games as research.
ReplyDeleteField trips are greaaattt research fodder! I love them. :D That moment in the morgue must have been so scary though!
ReplyDeleteResearch trips are fun! Yikes, that experience sounds pretty scary, though!
ReplyDelete