Using Nick for research

Although Nick (a fellow student) advised me on Facebook to forget about detail and not bother with research, he has been a great source of ideas and information for me.  It was him that helped me sort out what incident would be big enough to drive Judith away from her business and her home town but would not prevent her from getting a job in a supermarket cash office.  The following is a direct extract from my journal on 1^st October 2010.

·         My word count has exceeded 10,000 – YAY.

·         I am writing about Judith meeting Joanna by chance in Bitts Park in Carlisle and once again realised that my local knowledge is lacking. I texted Nick to ask whether there was a duck pond there. This was his reply.

‘There is and it’s quite hidden. Near a children’s playground and well dodgy toilets. Hammonds Pond at Upperby is the proper duck pond with swans and a family park, etc.’

So much local colour for me to work with. Thank you Nick. I decided that the ‘lesser’ duck pond would work in my favour and I made Joanna’s five year old son insist that they fed the ducks at Bitts Park as nobody seems to like them. It also saved me a research trip to Upperby.  I have looked it up on the internet, though, and the swans there do look beautiful.

A pause for reflection

On 28^th September 2010 it was time to pause for reflection. In my journal I listed the decisions I had taken, which I have already blogged about, and also listed some learning points since I started the planning and writing on 26^th July 2010.

Learning point 1   I do not need to clear everything and settle down for a whole morning or afternoon. I can be just as productive setting the timer for one hour and writing until the time is up.

Learning point 2   At first I wrote about 800 words in the hour and the number increased with practice and confidence.

Learning point 3   Although I am trying to write a first draft without editing, I have to read back over what I have already written. This means I make small changes as I go along – there were continuity issues such as Chloe (antiques shop owner) not knowing who Judith was although she had invited her and had her number to call her back. Things like word repetition in a sentence or paragraph cry out to be corrected. I am going to keep notes of what I change as I go along.  (I stopped doing that as they were quite small and there were so many of them)

Learning point 4   I CAN DO THIS and I WILL DO THIS

Learning point 5   Research and having key facts to hand is important to me. I felt much better about the first Hexham chapter after I had been there and identified where Judith’s office would be (above one of the shops in the picture below) and where the new antique shop would be in relation to it. I also found (by chance) the route that Chloe will take on the evenings when she catches the train.

Learning point 6   Short form biogs are fab. In particular the extension exercise I did identifying Judith’s strengths has helped to shape her actions and behaviours. She is a good listener, is observant, patient, diligent and determined. Even though these would be considered strengths, the way Judith uses them are not for always for good and it helps to make her a creepy and scary person.

I did have some other thoughts about research but I can’t tell you as I don’t want to give too much away.