Robin K
02-07-2009, 08:54 PM
I'm posting this mostly in hopes of getting a bit of sympathy.
One of the things I have learned writing fan fiction is that to make a story 'real', the details need to be precise. That means no faking it when it comes to weapons, or physics, or quantum mechanics, or medical procedures...or even little things like ordering a cup of coffee at Starbucks.
This means I spend a LOT of time doing research. I've spent hours researching mythical gods, historical data, archaeological theories, weapons, poisons, the effects narcotics and the withdrawal symptoms...etc. Often for nothing more than a sentence or two.
So here I am, working on the latest story for my Destiny's Child series. Spent three hours last weekend learning the language of "coffee", because I'm not a Starbucks aficionado. I don't like coffee that's been sitting in a pot, so I drink instant. But Daniel and Casey do love Starbucks. And they go there. Daniel drinks Sumatra Mandheling (that's canon, btw). So I have to look it up, figure it out. All for one sentence.
I work all week, thinking that I might be getting close to "The End". Hooray for me, right?
Nope. Muse tosses a new curve ball today. I get to look up ancient battle rituals. Now, I just want SG-1, Daniel specifically in this instance, to kick butt and go home. Oh, no. Can't have that. Too simple. That would let Robin off the hook for HOURS of research. We need to find just the right ritual to be observed.
Why can't I just make one up? Because, the Muse informs me, it's important that this be something Daniel recognizes. I could just say he recognizes it. Nope, nothing doing.
*sigh* So here I go, into research purgatory.
You realize that with the things I've looked up, the FBI, CIA, Secret Service and probably even the IRS have my ISP account tagged. I'll bet every time I start researching, a dozen alarms go off world wide. I'll also bet that if the guys who have to monitor me have read my work, they see that the alarm is me, roll their eyes, and give a pained sigh. "What's she looking up now?" Yep, I can just hear that...see them in that dark, basement room, all of the computers around them, monitors offering the only light...
*sigh* Muse says I have to get busy now. I need tea and sympathy. Or at least the sympathy.
One of the things I have learned writing fan fiction is that to make a story 'real', the details need to be precise. That means no faking it when it comes to weapons, or physics, or quantum mechanics, or medical procedures...or even little things like ordering a cup of coffee at Starbucks.
This means I spend a LOT of time doing research. I've spent hours researching mythical gods, historical data, archaeological theories, weapons, poisons, the effects narcotics and the withdrawal symptoms...etc. Often for nothing more than a sentence or two.
So here I am, working on the latest story for my Destiny's Child series. Spent three hours last weekend learning the language of "coffee", because I'm not a Starbucks aficionado. I don't like coffee that's been sitting in a pot, so I drink instant. But Daniel and Casey do love Starbucks. And they go there. Daniel drinks Sumatra Mandheling (that's canon, btw). So I have to look it up, figure it out. All for one sentence.
I work all week, thinking that I might be getting close to "The End". Hooray for me, right?
Nope. Muse tosses a new curve ball today. I get to look up ancient battle rituals. Now, I just want SG-1, Daniel specifically in this instance, to kick butt and go home. Oh, no. Can't have that. Too simple. That would let Robin off the hook for HOURS of research. We need to find just the right ritual to be observed.
Why can't I just make one up? Because, the Muse informs me, it's important that this be something Daniel recognizes. I could just say he recognizes it. Nope, nothing doing.
*sigh* So here I go, into research purgatory.
You realize that with the things I've looked up, the FBI, CIA, Secret Service and probably even the IRS have my ISP account tagged. I'll bet every time I start researching, a dozen alarms go off world wide. I'll also bet that if the guys who have to monitor me have read my work, they see that the alarm is me, roll their eyes, and give a pained sigh. "What's she looking up now?" Yep, I can just hear that...see them in that dark, basement room, all of the computers around them, monitors offering the only light...
*sigh* Muse says I have to get busy now. I need tea and sympathy. Or at least the sympathy.