January 3rd, 2009 | by Delilah Devlin |
Um, what we writers do for the love of our stories anyway. I was thinking about that today when I finished marking up my latest Amazon.com purchase with yellow highlighter and Post-It flags. Never take a book from me because it would make you nuts looking at my notes in the margins.
My latest phase is leaving my bank account a little light. Half a dozen books, tons of herbs, candles, incense and crystals. Guessed yet? Yeah, I’m researching witchcraft and that means I have to drown in it for a while…try it on for size. Being the anal person I am, I have the moon phases posted on my calendar and know exactly when I have to consecrate my space, cast my spell circle, draw down the moon, and only then can I try out a couple of spells I’ve chosen.
I don’t just try things out, I have to work with them, believe in them, and then see what happens to me. I’m a very “believing” kind of person. Daddy told me to look into the sky because Santa was pulling his sleigh right over our rooftop and I swear I saw him. I walked two miles along railroad tracks to find the “Gurdon Lights” and I know for a fact I saw them swaying in arcs just like a railroad foreman’s lantern might (his ghost carries that lantern). So, if I cast a spell, I know I’m going to discover something new.
Having excuses to do research is the most exciting part of the process of creating stories–for me, at least. I love cold-calling funeral directors and asking them what a body looks like after it’s been carved up for an autopsy and delivered for burial. I ask about the equipment, the smells, their emotions—and you know what? They tell me.
I called a firestation and asked for someone who knew something about cave rescues and found the expert. We spent an hour with him telling me about his experiences. And then I spent hours surfing on the webs for articles about spelunking, websites selling climbing equipment, etc.
And don’t get me started on what websites I’ve visited or the people in the lifestyle I’ve hunted down for some of my sexier research. Some of it I have to try out for myself, but I’m not telling you what in particular. Some things are better left to the imagination.
So, it all sounds very exciting and highly interesting. Do you sometimes find yourself getting so caught up in the research you have a hard time starting the story?? And as for the sexier research….aw, c’mon, spill a few beans??
by Valerie · January 3rd, 2009 at 10:32 amValerie!
by Delilah Devlin · January 3rd, 2009 at 10:50 amI find so much interesting information when I research that I want to put it all into the story. Knowing how much is too much is a trick I’m still trying to master. As to the sexier research…maybe over a drink. Several!!
Well, let’s break open a bottle…hehe!!
by Valerie · January 3rd, 2009 at 10:57 amYou make it sound like so much fun. I think I would rock at research, you do the writing though.
Hey have you checked out pyramidcollection.com
They have outfits and stuff like that which would make for good inspiration I think.
Have fun!!!
by Brandy W · January 3rd, 2009 at 4:34 pmBrandy!
by Delilah Devlin · January 3rd, 2009 at 6:43 pmI LOVE The Pyramid Collection and have bought a lot of clothing from there. As to research, I could always use an assistant!!
Tell me what you are looking for and I’m there. I can see a whole new obsession right there. I can probably do the stereotype witch thing and cackle.
by Brandy W · January 3rd, 2009 at 8:35 pmOoh, I imagine that it be very fun doing some of your research (well, and some of it less fun!) How neat for us readers the lengths you’ll go to get the details right, huh?
How about those cowboys?
by Fedora · January 3rd, 2009 at 10:17 pmFedora!
by Delilah Devlin · January 3rd, 2009 at 10:27 pmI love having the cred of being a writer to ask people the strangest questions. It definitely opens doors. But I didn’t have to look far for cowboy research since my house in Texas had a ranch right in my back yard. It wasn’t strange to find cows outside my kitchen window before I put up a fence.
Delilah, you are my kind of lady with your commitment to being involved with whatever “bag” you’re in at the time. I am the same way although I found out about Santa when I was eight :< (. I enjoy reading your creations. thanks for your efforts. Mo
by Mo · January 4th, 2009 at 1:21 pmMo!
by Delilah Devlin · January 4th, 2009 at 1:44 pmYou’re welcome! I told my kids that Santa wouldn’t come to them when they stopped believing. They’re in their twenties now and still ask whether Santa will have them on their naughty or nice list.
I always fimly believed in Santa until I was about 9 or so and when I found out that he wasn’t real and it was just my parents putting the pressies under the tree I was heartbroken. So much so, that I never told my children that there was a real Santa…sniff!!!
by Valerie · January 4th, 2009 at 1:47 pmValerie!
by Delilah Devlin · January 4th, 2009 at 1:54 pmNo, no, no! Santa does exist. I saw him. And my kids ran into him at the supermarket around Easter time in Germany. He told them he was helping out the Easter Bunny since he had a cold (bless that old man!). At least that’s what we all swear to!
AW!!! LOL!!
Valerie
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