The Insecure Writer’s Support Group ~ No#65
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer – aim for a dozen new people each time.
Today I’m sharing the co-hosting duties alongside the following awesome people: Nancy Gideon, Tamara Narayan, Liesbet @ Roaming About, and Feather Stone!
Don’t forget to visit them and thank them for co-hosting!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
MAY 03rd QUESTION: I decided to tweak the question and put it to a few of the Hero Lost anthology authors.
What is the weirdest/coolest thing you had to research for your Hero Lost anthology story?
This is what they had to say.
Ellen Jacobson, “The Silvering”
Wearing of gloves and the taboos associated with removing them feature heavily in my short story, so the coolest thing I researched for my story was the translation of “glove” into other languages. I then used this as a basis for my characters’ names. (You can read more about my take on imaginary languages and names in fantasy stories on the Hero Lost blog.)
Erika Beebe, “The Wheat Witch”
Farm equipment. Old farm equipment. I discovered a war exists between the green John Deer brand and the red International brand. I researched every critical piece of equipment a farmer would need to build a farm from the ground up, alone. Then I faced the challenge of farm equipment through the decades. My story takes place in 1989 and my main character is 55 years old. He grew up on a farm in the prosperous times, then he ends the story with the drought in 1989. I also needed to understand how to repair a tractor too.
Elizabeth Seckman, “Mind Body Soul”
Not so weird, but fun to peruse…in writing Mind Body Soul, I needed fantastic names, so I used the fantasy name creator website. Great place for unique names and information.
http://www.fantasynamegenerators.com/
Olga Godim, “Captain Bulat”
Usually, when I write, I need to envision my protagonist. For my novels, I make up their outer trappings in my mind first: the hair, the eyes, the height and build, and so on, but for my short stories, I do it backwards, except for the vague ethnical leaning. First, I make covers for all my short stories. Even if I never use that cover afterwards, it helps me write a story, serves as a visual aid. When I describe my characters’ appearance later, if at all, I do it based on the cover image. Hence, my research for a short story is primarily a search for the fitting cover images, and most often than not, I find my characters among classical paintings. I write traditional fantasy after all.
When I first conceived my heroine, Altenay, she appeared in my mind as an oriental girl or a Gypsy. That was what I combed the internet for – a classical painting of a Gypsy or an oriental girl. There are many of them, created by a number of wonderful artists, but I found my Altenay among the paintings by a Polish-French artist Émile Eisman-Semenowsky (1857–1911).
Here she is, a painting from 1883. That’s where Altenay’s golden tubeteika with the coins sewed into its edge came from.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2kbB1e6icJc/Uw38zni784I/AAAAAAAAPsI/KqlvMATuH8s/s1600/%C3%89mile+EISMAN-SEMENOWSKY+Une+Beaut%C3%A9+Orientale+1883.jpg
Yvonne Ventresca, “The Art of Remaining Bitter”
The coolest thing I researched for my Hero Lost short story was the idea of hydroponic farming. In “The Art of Remaining Bitter,” the main character’s father manages the farm, and one of the scenes takes place there.
Here are a few of the websites I referred to:
http://www.fox5ny.com/news/56262077-story
https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewweinreich/2015/08/18/ohneka-farms-roadmap-video/#66ee585566ee
http://aerofarms.com/technology/
How did the research translate into my story? Here’s a brief excerpt of how I used the information:
Excitement buzzed through Sylvia as they approached the farm. The glass building towered forty stories high, with floor after floor of produce extending up into the sky. Most floors appeared green from a distance, but if she looked closely, she could make out the orange carrot level above the red of the tomatoes. Art was her favorite subject at school, and she always thought the farm looked like a painting, cheerful and lively.
Tyrean Martinson, “Of Words and Swords”
I researched the lyrics to “How you Remind Me” by Nickelback because the song’s chorus was stuck on repeat in my head and fit my main character’s Maud frame of mind at the beginning of the story. However, not very many of the lyrics really fit his situation so I used only one tiny part of the chorus at the beginning of the story and then returned to it near the end of the story.
Anthology
Can deliverance be found on a bloody battlefield? Could the gift of silvering
become a prison for those who possessed it? Will an ancient warrior be forever
the caretaker of a house of mystery?
hero, twelve authors explore the realms of fantasy in this enthralling and
thought-provoking collection. Featuring the talents of Jen Chandler, L. Nahay,
Renee Cheung, Roland Yeomans, Elizabeth
Seckman, Olga Godim, Yvonne Ventresca, Ellen Jacobson, Sean McLachlan, Erika Beebe, Tyrean Martinson, and
Sarah Foster.
agents and authors, these twelve tales will take you into the heart of heroes
who have fallen from grace. Join the journey and discover a hero’s redemption!
Print: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books A Million
EBook: Nook | iTunes | Kobo | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA
Here’s the blog tour schedule:
May 2 – Stephanie Faris – Guest Post – http://stephie5741.blogspot.com
May 3 – Michelle Wallace – Interview – http://writer-in-transit.co.za/
May 5 – Cathrina Constantine – Spotlight Post – http://cathrinaconstantine.blogspot.com
May 7 – Ronel Janse van Vuuren – Interview – https://ronelthemythmaker.wordpress.com/
May 8 – Bish Denham – Guest Post – http://bish-randomthoughts.blogspot.com/
May 8 – Patricia Lynne – Guest Post – http://www.patricialynne.com
May 9 – ChemistKen – Guest Post – http://hogwartssabbatical.blogspot.com/
May 10 – M.J. Fifield – Guest Post – http://mjfifield.blogspot.com/
May 15 – Alex J. Cavanaugh – Interview – http://alexjcavanaugh.com
May 15 – Juneta Key – Spotlight Post – http://www.junetakey.com/
May 17 – Nicki Elson – Interview – http://nickielson.blogspot.com/
May 19 – Chrys Fey – Guest Post – www.writewithfey.blogspot.com
May 22 – Christine Rains – Review – http://christinerains-writer.blogspot.com/
May 22 – Nick Wilford – Guest Post – http://nickwilford.blogspot.co.uk
May 24 – Toi Thomas – Interview – http://etoithomas.com
Congratulations to all the anthology authors and Happy IWSG Day! I’ll be visiting blogs over the next few days…
Sounds like everyone had fun researching the weird/cool things for their stories 🙂
Yes, it sure does sound like fun! 🙂
What a great idea for your blog post today, so interesting! Another tour to follow, picking up and carrying on!
On my TBR list – love the intro’s – piqued my interest!
You’ll love the stories, Yolanda.
I’m also trying to visit as many stops as possible on your blog tour. 🙂
I love all of these fun and quirky facts from the cool gloves, to the music and the art involved. Thank you Michelle, for featuring us today. I really appreciate it.
You’re welcome, Erika.
I love the concept that surrounds the gloves. It really captured my imagination.
Hi Michelle – well done on swinging the roundabouts round … just good luck to the Anthology and its authors … and to you with your writing … cheers Hilary
I thought it would be a great way to help promote the anthology. Thanks, Hilary.
Great getting the Hero Lost author’s to talk about the research for their stories. Like Olga, I like to use visual aids for my characters. And use Canva.com to create covers too.
Thanks for co-hosting today! Congrats and good luck to the Hero Lost author’s!
Visual aids sound like a great way in which to flesh out the characters.
Tweaking the research question was a very creative idea for collecting examples. Nice. Thank you for co-hosting May’s IWSG.
Thanks, Lynn.
I must say that the story over at your blog really pulled at my heart strings. Hope everything works out.
LOve getting into the minds of other writers. For me, I can research something for hours, sometimes days and it boils down to a sentence or two…but I have to make sure I’m accurate for the reader’s sake.
Accuracy is key. You’re so right.
Great post! I love learning tidbits like these!
Heather
It gives a deeper perspective of the story. Thanks, Heather.
Thanks for co-hosting the blog hop and for featuring the anthology in your post!
You’re welcome, Yvonne.
I loved your story. Great perspective. 🙂
Some fascinating things to research. I know where each one fits into its story and it added to the realism. Big congratulations to all twelve authors!
Exactly that, Alex.
It’s a wonderful collection.
What a great idea! It was fun reading all the answers.
Thanks, Julie!
These are some great research topics! Some of them would keep me busy for quite a while. I’ve researched tattoos, as well. So interesting! Thanks for co-hosting.
Every single day, tattoos are gaining in popularity…and lots of people have tattoos or have considered getting a tattoo. There are tattoo parlors popping up all over the place…and many ways that a tattoo can feature in a story.
Mmm. Stirs the creative juices.
How interesting to read about what each writer researched. Congrats to all the talented authors!!!
Michelle, thank you for co-hosting today!
Thanks, Cathrina!
Great insight in those comments. Dang, now I’ve got something new to put on my Kindle! Happy co-hosting!
There is always something new to put on the kindle.
It never ends, does it?
I can see how research can be fascinating and time consuming. If I found a really cool topic to research I’d probably never get the book written and keep researching!
Neat perspective to read the contributor’s journeys.
I can imagine!
I suppose it’s all about limits…knowing when enough research has been done.
It’s interesting to see what other people are researching. Seems like everyday I research something, but mostly it’s a matter of fulfilling my own curiosity about whatever has come to my mind at that time. I do a lot of researching song lyrics for my Battle of the Bands posts.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
I agree with you. If there’s something I’m curious about, I google it. Simple.
Interesting answers. Thanks everyone. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
Thank you, Anna! 🙂
I’m going to get this anthology. I would love to promo this if anyone needs another stop? Let me know.
Research is often so captivating it becomes more distracting than useful, especially when it’s using the same medium as you’re writing with (the laptop or computer). It’s a simple change of tab and you’re pulled into a black hole from which we must escape. lol.
Contact Diane Wolfe if you want to find out more about the promo/blog tour.
Thanks, Shah!
Congrats to the Hero Lost authors! What a week.
Hydroponic farming would be really interesting. I’d even be willing to try it.
It’s been quite hectic over the past month… 🙂
I love it! What awesome answers, all of them! Can’t wait to read the anthology.
Happy Reading, Crystal!
What a fun post! Love the tweaking of this month’s question for the anthology authors. Congrats to all!
Thanks, Madeleine!
Hope you are enjoying the Story Sparks.
Wow, sounds like a lot of interesting research. I’m going to get a copy of this soon!
It’s a fab collection!
Congratulations to all the authors! Loved hearing their research stories. Thanks so much for co-hosting this month, Michelle. 🙂
Thanks, Christine.
Now, I’m thinking about your smart cars on skis… 🙂
These make for nice teasers. The anthology is on my Kindle as of yesterday. Can’t wait to read it.
They are wonderful teasers.
The image of those infants crawling onto sheets of clear plastic raised high above the floor, is stuck in my mind. 🙂
Thanks for the feature, Michelle!!! I really appreciate it!
You’re welcome, Tyrean.
Thanks, Michelle. I loved reading about the authors’ behind-the-scenes info about researching their stories. Yep, red vs green tractor. I know all about that since my son-in-law is a red tractor mechanic. My hubby is trying a hydroponic project this spring. I’ll share the links with him for more info on growing veggie plants in water. Yummy! Best wishes for success with the new IWSG anthology.
JQ Rose
Who would have thought that a rivalry between tractor brands could lead to such an interesting story…
Love reading what other writers researched! Names seem to be a pretty common item for most of us. Good to know 🙂
I struggle with naming characters. For a while they remain as Ms. X and Mr. Y.
What a neat list from the anthology authors! A lot of fascinating facts in one place is always my favorite. Thanks for co-hosting this month!
Thanks for visiting my blog, S.E.
Sounds like a lot of interesting research went on.
Definitely a lot of interesting research. Sounds like they had fun, too!
Cool post, Michelle. Like the insight into how these authors researched their stories, which all make interesting reading.
Yes, it’s amazing what authors research and how it influences the story.
Fun to read how everyone researches. So many effective ways.
Jacqui, you are officially the Queen Of Research!
An excellent idea. I love the way you tweak the question and promoted Hero Lost.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G
Thanks, Pat!
I thought it would be a good opportunity to promote the book. The stories are fabulous!
I enjoyed learning more about the stories in Hero Lost through what the authors’ researched. 🙂
Thanks, Cherie.
I must say I was fascinated by your map. Wow. 🙂
I’m fascinated by the writing habits, the research of other writers. I tend to fall on the minimal spot of the research spectrum, doing what it takes to make it feel accurate, but knowing any expert will find my descriptions laughable. Sigh, seems I need to add this to the list of things I need to do better.
I’m also guilty in the ‘lack of research department’. Very guilty.
This is my first time here. I’ve followed your blog and liked your page.
It’s amazing how when a writer sits down to write a story, how much more goes into the process. We need to research so that we can become the authority in our stories.
The anthology sounds wonderful and bravo to all who have stories in it. Good luck with the tour. Thanks for co-hosting the May question.
Welcome to my blog and thank you for the follow, Victoria! 🙂
It’s exciting seeing Lost Heroes everywhere. It’s a great anthology. Love the answers given. Writing rituals are fascinating. Thanks for co-hosting, Michelle.
Joylene, thank you for taking the time to visit my blog, considering you must be in a lot of pain after your recent mishap. I really appreciate it. 🙂
Such an unusual range of topics to research. Nice post, Michelle.
And thanks for hosting this month’s IWSG post.
Yes, a range of topics…really interesting.
All done in the name of ‘innocent research’ – just like your phone call to the bank. I think you making that call was a very brave decision. 🙂
So many topics to research; such a diverse set of stories. Very interesting selection, Michelle. Thanks for allowing us such a refreshing stop on our promo tour.
You’re welcome, Olga.
Your story is wonderful!
Wow, quite the variety in what everyone researched for their stories. Cool! Thanks for co-hosting Michelle!
You’re welcome.
You snagged my attention in your post, when you mentioned researching the London theater scene of the 1890’s.
What a clever way to combine the IWSG question with the just-released anthology! I THOUGHT I’d pre-ordered the anthology weeks ago, but thanks for the reminder that today’s the day. It didn’t show up in my Kindle, so I just ordered it… NOW it’s on my Kindle. I’m looking forward to reading it.
Thanks, Susan. It’s a wonderful collection.
Hey, maybe you WILL get to land that plane…one day…?
What a great idea to ask that question of the authors. I liked that they didn’t have an “spoilers” and I could read the whole thing! Now I’m off to buy it!
Thanks, Lisa! Happy Reading!
What a splendid idea for your co-hosting post this month! I loved reading what the authors had to say.
I need that repellent you mentioned on your blog. LOL
That was a great idea, really enjoyed reading all those authors. Thanks for hosting this month.
‘ Juneta @ Writer’s Gambit
Thanks, Juneta!
Have a blast in the Bahamas! 🙂
Thanks for hosting the authors today! I racked my brain but I just don’t think I researched anything for my story! And thanks for co-hosting!
Thank you for putting it all together for my post! 🙂
Hi Michelle! What a great idea to make the IWSG question so practical. I shudder at the amount of work that must go into researching fantasy or sci-fi, although contemporary needs its fair share too. So, a blog tour for the book? How did I miss that?
I agree, Denise. I can’t begin to fathom the amount of research. 🙂
Contemporary isn’t as bad as the fantasy and sci-fi genres…
So cool! Such a great variety of research!!! 🙂
Really interesting, hey? 🙂
Thank you for co-hosting this month. I always find the process of naming characters to be one the most fascinating, and at times, frustrating parts of both character and story development. I even wrote a 30-day blog about it a few years back. I also think the research phase is the really fun part. At that point, there’s no pressure to complete the story; you’re simply learning about something and developing your plot and characters.
Thank you, Toi! 🙂
How is the creation of that language coming along? Sounds fascinating.
Interesting to see what the anthology writers researched. I always admire short story writers because they do so much, including putting in tidbits of research, into their stories. Thanks for being a co-host.
Thank you for visiting, Natalie! 🙂
Thanks for co-hosting the IWSG this month, Michelle! What a fun twist you put on this month’s question for IWSG members! I enjoyed reading the authors’ responses. Happy wiring in May.
Thank you, Louise!
I’m still thinking about your flint-knapping experience. 🙂
I love peeks into other writers’ processes. It’s cool to know those things behind the stories.
Yes, it is…especially once you’ve read the stories…because you can see how it fits into the story.
Who knew farm equipment could be so interesting? lol
Thanks for co-hosting!
Exactly that. 🙂
I use visuals for my writing too! Olga’s description of making her own cover art whether it is used are not is inspiring. I want to try it. Great post! Thank you for co-hosting!
When it comes to making cover art, Olga is so good!
Thank you for the visit. 🙂
Erika’s answer reminded me of driving tractors in my youth. At the time I had no idea I’d become a writer and if I had, probably still wouldn’t have guessed I’d one day use that experience in a novel.
You drove tractors in your youth? What a great experience!
Erika’s answer reminded me of driving tractors in my youth. At the time I had no idea I’d become a writer and if I had, probably still wouldn’t have guessed I’d one day use that experience in a novel.
Sorry! It seems I’ve totally forgotten how to reply to blog posts and messed up!
🙂
These were fun snippets to read. Thank you for sharing them with us. Music helps me too. There is a song that Disturbed did when they first got popular that I want to write a story about…but it’s a bit twisted. Then again, I think that’s why I want to write the story. It would be a fun challenge for me.
FYI, I made the big move away from Blogger and can be found at:
Elsie Amata
Forgot to say thank you for co-hosting!
Thanks for the visit, Elsie! 🙂
Research and revising are two of my favorite things about writing. Thanks for co-hosting!
Thank you, Jennifer!
Thanks for putting this interesting interview together, Michelle. Great insights. As a non-fiction writer, I had no idea that so many writers do so much research when writing fiction. I am learning a lot as I am browsing this month’s IWSG posts! Thanks for co-hosting with me. 🙂 Liesbet @ Roaming About – A Life Less Ordinary
Thanks, Liesbet!
I loved the beautiful photos on your blog. 🙂
Thanks so much for featuring Hero Lost! I loved reading my co-author’s answers. They’re such a creative bunch 🙂
You are all so creative…I especially loved the ‘glove angle’ in your story. So original and very creative. 🙂
Thank you so much for asking the authors about their research. Very informative. I saved their links to check out when I want that kind of information. Thanks, too, for co-hosting this month.
Smart idea to save the links for future reference, Diane.
It’s cool to see what research went into the anthology!
Lots and lots.
I like the sound of alkaline hydrolysis that you mentioned in your post…and wonder how I can work it into a future story. 😉
Fun idea to have everyone from the antho talk about the research they did. Who knew there was a war between farm equipment companies?
We learn new things all the time.
Congrats on your acceptance at Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Colorado Gold Conference in September. 🙂
Thank you! I’m looking forward to it!
That’s cool. Now I want to research those things! LOL (especially the gloves)
The glove thinggie is simply fabulous! When you read the story it will all come together. 🙂
I had fun reading everyone’s answer to your research question…while at the same time I learned who wrote about what in the anthology!
It’s a diverse collection consisting of twelve great stories!
Thanks, Nas! 🙂
Congratulations, Michelle– sorry I’ve been MIA– life hasn’t allowed much online time lately. Take care of you, and hope to support the anthology any way I can. It is on my TBR list 🙂
thanks, Damyanti!
I understand. We all go through those phases…it’s part of life. 🙂
Great idea to interview everyone in the anthology, Michelle! You got some really interesting answers.
Congratulations to all the winners!
Thanks, Holli! 🙂
I loved your twist on the question, Michelle, and I loved the answers! So much variety. Having read all the stories, I can really appreciate where all the authors mentally went with their research. I could particularly relate to Olga’s answer. I often look for an image that fits my characters too.
I must start looking at different images to enhance the characters. There’s just not enough time…
Congratulations to all the authors in the anthology. Sounds like everyone had fun researching!
Fun was definitely a feature during the process!
Congratulations to all these authors. I loved reading everyone’s research stories!
Thanks RBH!
Hi Michelle. Thanks for reading about me on Alex’s blog. I came by to say hello. Those were giant Rubbermaid and other storage bins and boxes. We brought them out on the the back deck and then donated them when we were done with the contents and the big bins.
Another name besides, Whisk? ….. I don’t know. Hubby gave me that name but grater made me laugh too. No one ever asked me what my other name would be. You got me stumped.
Lastly, four weeks because I love the number four so I wanted to have gone through all the items in my home in that time.
Thanks for reading and boogie boogie.