In the Beginning, part two, “Solid Foundations”

Now that you have your idea it’s time to begin writing. Or is it? As excited as you may be to get your short story or novel started, there are a few things that will help you get a more solid foundation for your work

Setting up your work space

For many artists having a proper work area to let the creativity flow is crucial, and writers are no exception. Whether you like neatness or clutter around you, constant music or silence, the controlled seclusion of indoors or a laptop for an outside “office” experience you need to honor your own needs. Unless it is a conducive situation for creativity for you, don’t try to write in the family common area with the kids watching TV or your cats playing behind (or over) your chair. Trust me, I’ve tried writing in that situation and that’s a great recipe for aggravation, but little else.

Location, Location, location, yes that is the basis for a successful “writing studio”. I wish I could tell you all what that magic combination is, the fusing of place, and atmosphere, but each word artist has to be the one to discover what puts you in “that place” easiest. When I say “that place” I mean the moment your mind slips into the “between space”, that place between the reality that is your everyday and the dreaming when creativity flows like honey in the hot sun.

Something also to consider is the tool you will use in that creative space. Now knowing most of you will not be using a typewriter, the first tool is a computer. Of course if you have chosen your writer’s studio to be outdoors that computer with be a laptop instead of a desktop. Another thing I suggest wholeheartedly is a bookcase for all of the books that as an author you will find crucial to the writing process.

Don’t use the family bookshelves if you can afford the space for your own shelf. This is the place of honor not only will all of your most useful research books go (a topic I will discuss later), but your published novels as well, a reminder of what you have been able to accomplish and the work it took to get there.

To outline or not to outline

Now I know outlines don’t work for everyone. Some people find them too confining, too much pressure to stick to the limited guide of the outline rather than to let the creativity flow. I ask that we look at the outline another way. As part of our base foundation the outline can booster confidence, tell us where we need to focus our research before be begin writing, and point out any initial bugs in the story idea. Just because the guide is there doesn’t mean the story itself can’t burst free from the confines of the outline but it presents a safe space to start from.

Researching

Now that you have you workspace and outline it’s time to do research. Not I see that distasteful frown on some of your faces, but this is not like researching a paper for school. You can have great fun doing the research needed to make your great story idea a solid one. If you don’t find the topic you are writing about interesting, how will your readers? Everything from character names, to setting, to cultures, to historical periods, even to occupations can add greater depth to your work. Some of what you learn while researching a project may even spur more ideas to add to the story itself.

Most books you need for your research you’ll be able to find at you local library. Online information can be great but if you really want to delve into a topic and don’t have endless supplies of cash, the library is an amazing resource. In most places you can shop online for the book you need in the county library system and have them set to the library nearest you. I’m lucky to have an amazing resource in the libraries where I live, but I admit not all places have this level of selection in their library system, but I would still start there if you have access.

You may find on your library search some books that will be so useful you will want to buy them for you research library at home (remember that bookshelf we talked about earlier?). Now many of these books you can order from your area indy bookstore, though some will be out of print and you will need to go to a used bookstore to get them. I get most of my used books online at half.com which saves my budget and my time.

Tidbits from my Author's Bookshelf

These are an an example of some of the books I use and couldn’t do without. I guarantee there are many more I use, and more that I need, but here are a few I’d found the most useful.

Here are the two books I use when searching for names for my characters.

Beyond Jennifer & Jason, Madison & Montana: What to Name Your Baby Now, by Linda Rosenkrantz and Pamela Redmond Satran.

The Complete Book of Magical Names (Create a Meaningful and Powerful Name)
by Phoenix McFarland

Since magic has such a major place in my work I have a few books that help me keep the flow of ideas as I create a ritual scene or as my MC (main character) is being trained by a mentor that not only keeps the knowledge in my head straight, but reminds me of things I might have otherwise forgotten. If you are writing paranormal with ANY level of magical realism, I strong advise you to get the first one by Ruth Barrett.

Women's Rites, Women's Mysteries: Intuitive Ritual Creation by Ruth Barrett

Healing Wise (Wise Woman Herbal Series) by Susun S. Weed

Herbal Healing for Women by Rosemary Gladstar

Medicine of the Cherokee: The Way of Right Relationship (Folk Wisdom Series) by J. T. Garrett and Michael Tlanusta Garrett

Now my first book written (which funny enough is the second book to be published) required me to revisit my country gal days which unfortunately are a long time past. These books not only gave me the information I needed, but the first two gifted me with a wonderful new way at looking at country life than I’d had as a small child.

Country Women: A Handbook for the New Farmer by Jeanne Tetrault and Sherry Thomas

The Women's Carpentry Book: Building Your Home from the Ground Up by Jeanne Tetrault

The Foxfire Book: Hog Dressing, Log Cabin Building, Mountain Crafts and Foods, Planting by the Signs, Snake Lore, Hunting Tales, Faith Healing, Moonshining by Inc. Foxfire Fund and Eliot Wigginton

Not being a medical type myself I found the following book for helping be find ways to abuse my character without killing them, and still remain accurate as possible. This is part of the howdunit series, a must get for anyone that want to do any mystery or crime related fiction at the very least. I hope to own most of the series myself.

Body Trauma: A Writer's Guide to Wounds and Injuries by David W. Page

I am currently writing a western short story for an anthology call which will be using the following books in my research core. I’ve done some shape shifter westerns but this is my first piece without a paranormal bend to it. Just goes to show you writing what you know doesn’t always mean you are locked into the same old thing. Sometimes you can breach out and with the proper research tools you will be fine.

Western Words: A Dictionary of the Old West by Ramon F. Adams

Everyday Life Among the American Indians by Candy Moulton

This is more general then I normally like, but it has useful information that with the added research I do on the tribe I am writing about at the time is helpful to pull me into the time period easier. The author does talk about nations and deferent ways of doing things for far less general then a lot of books like this I’ve seen.

Now book are not the only way to research a topic. If you happen to have friend knowledgeable in a subject they can be a vital resource. Travel videos can be a fun way to get to know a setting if you can’t go there. Museums can really suck you into the history to of a piece you are trying to get a handle on. Be creative in your search for information. Your story will benefit from the work you put into your research.

Next time we will talk about characters, and some ways you can really connect with the people whose story you are tell, as well as those characters that support the core of your ensemble. Until next time, keep dreaming!