I’m getting repetitive but it’s that time again – although this is written in advance as I’ll explain.
OK – Created and hosted by the Ninja Captain himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh, theInsecure Writer’s Support Groupmonthly blog post is here again – and so am I, insecure, although a chunk less as I scheme ahead to NaNoWriMo.
Yes, NaNo is my reasonable excuse for writing this as All Hallows Eve creeps ‘candily’ closer.
My decisive plan to revise ‘Fevered Few’ as my 2019 NaNoWriMo project is still on track – even though One Drive has locked some files. Thank goodness I have multiple saves elsewhere. Shame I can’t read my scribbled notes. This renewed novel, now called ‘Fevered Fuel’ entails a restructured plotline, new scenes, rewrites – and some rabbit warren detours
Anyway, on to the IWSG monthly question.
November 6 question – What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever googled in researching a story?
I’m a research addict who attempts to get my facts right – sometimes mid writing sprint. But even while researching a topic at the correct moment, I end up getting distracted. I dive down rabbit holes at the slightest appearance of a tail.
However, these detours are fascinating not strange.
Is ‘strange’ researching corpse decay and poisons? Not for a crime writer. Nor I expect are medical conditions like amnesia – for my WIP – or wondering what it’s like living as an identical twin – another Sparkle Anwyl case.
I’ve even delved into how far crows – corvids – travel, but Sparkle is adopted by a jackdaw. All normal then.
But I’ll highlight three stranger examples.
In a previous project, I wanted the antagonist to feel predestined for greatness. And I found a rabbit hole called caul bearers. Interesting strange but not macabre strange. If you want to know more: “This is the place for caul bearers to dispel caul bearer myths, to learn, connect, and heal…a place for caul bearers to call “home.” https://caulbearersunited.webs.com/”
Back to Detective Sparkle Anwyl and more normal research – if you are into alcohol. She likes a good black drink, stronger than her daily coffee, like Guinness, or her local brew, Darkside of the Moose – https://purplemoose.co.uk/products/case-of-12-darkside. However, I needed something more unusual so went digging and found this: “An Irish Car Bomb, Irish Slammer, or Irish Bomb Shot is a cocktail, similar to a boilermaker, made by dropping a bomb shot of Irish cream and whiskey into a glass of stout.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Car_Bomb
Enough fiction. My health has taken me down some strange paths, some weird but others invaluable. Hence, I’ll leave you with this old article, although I’d travelled the rabbit run a few years earlier:
“After a review of scientific studies, researchers say extracts from marijuana plants can help treat pain and spasticity symptoms in people with multiple sclerosis.” https://www.healthline.com/health-news/researchers-say-cannabis-can-benefit-people-with-multiple-sclerosis#1
Shame it’s illegal in Idaho.
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The awesome co-hosts for the November 6 posting of the IWSG are Sadira Stone, Patricia Josephine, Lisa Buie-Collard, Erika Beebe, and C. Lee McKenzie!
(You must agree these guys all have commitments too – but they are the best. Ticker-tape applause for all of them – plus toasts too.)
Purpose of IWSG: 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!
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
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 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 – and return comments. This group is all about connecting!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer
in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a
personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG
post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to
say.
Writing Wings 
Lots of interesting research. And wishing fun and happy writing with your book.
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Tring to get my head in gear for writing, but thanks, Juneta for the good wishes.
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I have spent happy hours and hours down those rabbit holes.
The MS ‘myth’ which still has me flummoxed is that it is associated with breast implants. I can only say they snuck up on me there and did it while my back or front was turned.
Medical marijuana is available here but the hoops are tooooo high for me to clamber through. Something to reduce the pain/spasicity would be very welcome. As would an explanation about why pain and reduced sensation (other than pain) go hand in hand.
Good luck with your writing projects and happy researching.
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MS myths add to the MS frustration some days, EC. Other days, I laugh – wondering when I got a breast implant LOL. As for medical marijuana, a trip over the border might be an option, if the cops didn’t stop me. I’ve taken CBD which helped when we lived in Wales; the health service there turned me down for Sativex – the cannabis based mouth spray.
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I think I will pass on the Irish Slammer.
How far from the border do you live? Always an option!
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I’m passing too, Alex – although, I drink Guinness and drank Darkside of the Moose when in North Wales.
As for ‘the border’, my first thought was Wales to Ireland for the real Guinness made from Liffey water = 100 miles as the seagull flies from Harlech due west across the Irish Sea. But I realise you mean to get medical marijuana – so, that’s from Ontario, Oregon = only 59 miles; if we are low key. One day we’ll make the 550 mile trip into Canada as I miss the country.
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Hope you’ve checked your email recently…
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Every day and some make me smile.
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Roland, hope the NaNo revising is going great guns. Nice selection of “bizarre” searches you have there; although, as you say, nothing is bizarre in your genre. I’m meant to be writing, but somehow … I’m here. For some reason, reading blogs of fellow writers both gets me in the mood & inspires me. Hey ho – if it works ‘n all that! 🙂
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Having a bad revising day, Debs – nothing written. Also IWSG posts have put me way behind – I follow too many people LOL. But thanks for the positive thoughts, and as you say other blogs inspire us – and make me guilty that my writing is muddled.
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Again, we are so similar. I enjoy those ‘rabbit holes’. Research is one of the fun parts of writing.
Your One Drive locked your files! Good grief you’re sanguine about that. Good Google topic–“One Drive locked my files. How do I unlock!”
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I’ll do that search you suggest, Jacqui, when I’ve put NaoWriMo behind me. For now, I’m writing on my HDD and saving to a memory stick, Dropbox, and One Drive – in the anticipation of unlocking it.
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Roland, you are an absolutely amazing supporter of your fellow writers. I frequently marvel at how you find the time. But I’m sad to hear it’s at the cost of your own work. Time to selfish up you lovely human being.
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I feel by ignoring my fellow writers, I’m shutting out a key part of the world, Debs. You all enrich my life.
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Like I said – you’re lovely.
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Hm. That Irish Car Bomber sounds just up my street!
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It was a fascinating discovery, Jemima – tasty sounding. Just what Sparkle ordered.
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Thank you Roland for your interesting article. Good luck for NaNoWrite. Your picture and description of rabbit holes makes me think of Monty Python’ s holy grail and the ‘monster’ in the cave …. a fierce white rabbit. 🐰 Sometimes that’s what we unearth when we delve too deep into research.
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The skeletons in that white killer rabbit’s cave – great memories. The perils of research. Many thanks, Susan. Might have to use the Holy Handgrenade today on my NaNo project……..
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Move to Canada, Roland. Marijuana is legal here.
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I’d love to as I went to college in Quebec decades ago.
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I love the photo on your blog, Roland. The rabbit hole analogy definitely works when researching–especially online. All best to you, sir!
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Thanks, Victoria – photos can end up as rabbit holes too; when I struggled to find the right one. Or the ideas grow.
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I suppose the definition of strange is relative to who is doing the research. 🙂
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Interesting, Loni. Strange research for a mystery writer might not be strange for a horror writer – although there is an overlap. And a romance writer researching body decomposition makes them…gothic, perhaps.
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I, too, am a rabbit hole diver, and always have been. Having Google makes it much easier than when it was all print books.
My research is often for non fiction, and I learn a lot from writing on so many different subjects. Forensics and crooks have provided my oddest research themes.
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Exactly, Google – well, Yahoo – is open all the time I’m working, while my books are unopened on my desk. But I use the books for research sometimes – WWII Soviet airwomen presently.
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That’s a lot of research… I love the fact that you do a bit of, what people these days would call, old fashioned research as well.
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I like the old way, Damyanti but have to admit resorting to the internet when rushed.
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