State of Affairs

[apple_pathways]

Note to self: you are not allowed to buy cowboy boots. You do not, in the strictest sense of the word, need cowboy boots. You have to buy books for school, and gas for the car so you can get to school and also to your job so that you can buy more books and gas. It doesn't matter that they're on sale and quite a good price and they actually have your size and OMG LOOK HOW GORGEOUS THEY ARE! None of that. Now put your debit card away, and move on.

Ahem.

So anyway, for the first time in a long time, I have an idea for an original (not fanfic) story. The more I think about it, the more I'm falling in love with the idea, but I'm a bit nervous about starting it for a couple of reasons:

1. To do it properly, I'd need to do some research; quite a bit of research, actually. Specifically, research on old Southern United States architecture, a certain type of insect, and a refresher course on literary symbolism. This is worrying, because I'm back in school this fall, and will be busy with legit schoolwork, and also because...well, it's not that I'm bad at researching; I have been selected to present my research in symposia before. It's just that I'm rather undisciplined, especially if it's just something for myself, and not for work or school.
   
2. As I mentioned, I think the story idea I have works best if set in the Southern United States. I do not live in the Southern U.S. I love the South, and I've travelled all over, but it's not quite the same. I'd hate to write something set in what's essentially another culture and get it wrong. (Although, on the other hand, there would only be a handful of characters in the story, and no real interaction with "Southern society".)
   

I really want to find a good writers' group to join. If I'm going to get back into writing, I'd like to do it properly with a real support system. Which begs the question: would it be taking on more than I can handle? History has shown I'm not the best at dealing with multiple pressures.

But the desire to write...SO...STRONG!!

Comments

[evilhippo.livejournal.com]

Isn't that just how it works? The desire to write properly only hits when other projects and deadlines are coming up. (Here I am, still awake even though I have to be at work extra-early tomorrow morning, because I have something I'm trying to write.)

For what it's worth, I think if the 'cultural' interaction is minimal and you're treating the subject with respect I don't think you need to worry about getting it horribly wrong. I'm still working out the extent to which I buy into "write what you know" myself, but from my own point of view (in terms of "what I know" vs. "what people write"), if someone wrote Chicago so it was laid out with the lake to the south I'd be a little irked, because that's a pretty simple thing to check. But I mean, movies twist the streets around and have people driving into Wisconsin to get to Indiana all the time just because it looks prettier, so... I'm not sure I can even really complain about that sort of thing, since it falls under artistic license so often... More to the point, though, if someone wanted to set something in a neighborhood they'd maybe passed through before and then done a bit of research on, even if it wasn't entirely correct I don't think Chicago (or most of the world, for that matter) is homogeneous enough that a bit of conscientious research and maybe a native eye to look it over won't get you in the clear as far as believability goes. Especially since you're writing fiction. If it was a historical/journalistic piece, sure, but as long as you're willing to do the research I don't think a vague fear of getting it wrong should stop you. (-: Anyway, research is the best part! I am horrible at it though, because I always get distracted and find myself so far afield I don't even remember what I was looking for in the first place. ^_^

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

The more I think about it, the less important the "southern culture" angle seems to me. The idea I have involves a couple of teen runaways stumbling across an old, crumbling estate and setting up residence for awhile to sort of play house. I want to compare the decaying state of the house and grounds to the dysfunction in the two kids' relationship, so it will be necessary to know a bit about the architecture/layout of whatever style of estate I choose.

Anyway, research is the best part! I am horrible at it though, because I always get distracted and find myself so far afield I don't even remember what I was looking for in the first place.

This is one of my main problems with researching! One subject leads to another, which segues into another, and another, until I'm reading about Medieval medical practices when I was meant to be looking up the name of a common shrub that might grow in the South.

That, and the difficulty of having to sift through so much information that's irrelevant to what you want to know in order to find something useful are my main downfalls in research.

Good luck with your writing, and with work tomorrow!

[ladylovelace.livejournal.com]

If it makes you feel any better, I spent half my life writing about a time I don't live in in a country I've visited once.

I would make the suggestion of doing NaNoWriMo to force yourself to get the words down - you can always edit later, right? It'll give you something of a support system for a little while that you can always back out of without consequences (I don't know how it'll be in your area, but here, the NaNo people are awesome and brilliant and it's like a month long party without feeling like you need another month to recover).

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

I've always wanted to do NaNoWriMo; I even signed up one year! Maybe I'll give it a try, I'm just worried about trying to get out 50,000 words while still getting my schoolwork done. Thanks for the tip, though! That's a support community I hadn't thought of.

[sabriel75.livejournal.com]

Writer's groups can be the death of you or the most wonderful thing in the world. Best advice... preview and see if you click with someone and then try forming a small critique group with them. :D

Good Luck. (And those boots are cute.)

[rachel2205.livejournal.com]

HELLO, cowboy boots are AWESOME. I want some! I actually admit to wanting some kinda pimp cowboy boots, because I love blingy shoes.

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

Oh hell yeah they are! You have no idea how much I want these...I was actually considering taking out extra loan money just so I could get these.

And yeah, I love really bling shoes as well--bright colors, rhinestones, faux snakeskin, buckles and straps like whoa! You name it. But, if I'm gonna spring for a pair of cowboy boots, I want to be able to wear them with as many outfits as I can.

I had to stop myself from buying a pair with a pink leg and brown base. They were GORGEOUS! (and on a huge sale), but...really, how often can one wear pink cowboy boots?

Glad you're back in Interwebland, babe!

[rachel2205.livejournal.com]

You're kidding, right? When CAN'T you wear pink cowboy boots? ;)

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

*slaps forehead* You know, you're right! What the hell was I thinking? Now where did I put that credit card...

And I definitely need to get a cute shoe-loving icon like the one you have. *is off to search*