tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post8827186329872449851..comments2024-03-17T03:17:43.229-04:00Comments on David Anthony Durham: Questions For Writers #1David Anthony Durhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885922955551669016noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post-53622463436901262412010-09-30T09:21:11.724-04:002010-09-30T09:21:11.724-04:00Shawn,
Sounds like you're doing the right thi...Shawn,<br /><br />Sounds like you're doing the right things. You're getting it done, finding the information where you can, using and revising as you do. That's how it happens.<br /><br />I'm not a copious note taker. I don't have big family trees. I tend to know as much as is in the books, and bit more, sure, but not tons more. When I need to reference a name or historical event, I most likely find the answer in one of the earlier books. And my Akaran family tree is limited to active characters and to historical figures that get mentioned. I certainly don't know every aunt and uncle. <br /><br />Somehow, I'm alright with that...David Anthony Durhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13885922955551669016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post-38541927790534038002010-09-29T13:42:18.357-04:002010-09-29T13:42:18.357-04:00Sounds like great advice to me, David.
When it c...Sounds like great advice to me, David. <br /><br />When it comes to research, I feel as if I'm working on it all the time--every novel I read, non fiction history book or website I peruse, every documentary or movie I watch--might very well contain some small element or idea I use later in my writing. <br /><br />For example--I was working on a section in my novel involving the rowing of a longship, and later realized that I really didn't understand the physical mechanics involved. Reading about how oarsmen actually work and getting a good visual picture of the act are two different things. Later, I came across a YouTube video of a Gokstad replica being rowed at sea and was able to rectify my previous misconceptions.<br /><br />That's not to say I only do research when I run into a problem--I actually spent years developing the setting of my current novel--researching everything from ancient Roman aqueducts to East African sailing ships and everything in between--with sources as disparate as Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel, and Osprey publishings Men-at-Arms series of illustrated history books.<br /><br />A question regarding your own research tendencies--do you keep copious notes, or is most of the setting information stored in your head? For example--do you have a written timeline of the history of Acacia? Or a family tree of the Akarans? <br /><br />Thanks,<br />ShawnShawn Crawfordnoreply@blogger.com