The Snowflake Chronicles

August 2015 Newsletter from the editor

Title
Researching fantasy/science fiction

Title 2
Where do you look for information to make your story authentic?

Hook
Searching the net

About

The internet contains numerous websites containing information that can make your story background and sitting more authentic. The problem we, as writers face, is determining the truth or falsehood of the information contain on a website.

Letter from the editor

When I was growing up, we did not have the internet or websites. In order to research we had to go to libraries or bookstores to look for magazines or books containing the information we needed. The world wide web and the internet has made research both easier and more difficult. It is easier because we can enter one or more words in the search, press enter and it will give you multiple results. It is more difficult because we, as individuals, have to determine whether the information is true, false, or somewhere in between. Judging the validity of information on the web can sometimes be difficult.

If an author is writing a fantasy novel sit in the past then the dress, customs, and sittings have to have some validity. Authors must decide for themselves how much of the information found on a website is valid. Sometimes it is easy, as with a fantasy novel sit in the past. At other time it is difficult because there is so much information out there and not all of it is written by experts.

When doing research keep a list of websites where you find the information. With this list make a note of whether or not you find the information plausible. Do not delete a website from the list because you question the information because may have to do further research to determine the validity of the information. Also you want to keep a list of all the websites you have checked because if you encounter it in further research you can pass it by.

Keep a pad and pencil by your computer so that you can write down references to the information and any questions you have. Do not rely on your memory to keep track of this. Once you have all the information you think you need then transfer the notes to a spreadsheet or document of some kind. You may want to print this off later or check the document with the notes as your write. Remember that no matter how good ones memory is notes help refresh the memory.

Editors picks

STATIC

The Quaintness of Quentin  (ASR) Quenn was unique - just like the all the others! #2008778 by Just an Ordinary Boo!

Excerpt: Rich. Bored. Restless.

Hunger in Linthe  (E) She refuses to accept his help, believing favors always come with strings. #2049736 by garlic and chili

Excerpt: I have my eyes to the ground but I can sense him watching me pull out the weeds on his garden plot. I resolve to do this quickly and with extreme concentration as though my life depended on it. In a way, my life actually depends on it. On him. And even though I don’t look, I know that he’s enjoying this—seeing me work for him, proving once and for all that I am really under his control, no matter how much I deny it.

Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2048622 by Not Available.

Excerpt: Jane looked down at the body. She knelt and brushed Terran's hair from his face. The tender gesture made her emotions implode. She ran to the intercom.

STATIC

Mr. Pocketwatch Joins the Show  (E) When a pocket watch is left in an abandoned house, he finds a new calling in life. ~WC~ #2049935 by Julie

Excerpt: I had just taken a nice long nap and was stretching my chimneys when a soft whimpering tickled my eaves. We had just put on a show, and I wondered, to my horror, if one of the guests had gotten trapped in one of the closets beneath the stairway. But no, they were clear, and the rooms were empty. What could that noise be? A pigeon? That rooster weather vane squeaking again?

ALIENS.  (E) Are they already among us? #2051381 by Adamouadam

Excerpt: Into space, a rammed ship the passing Star spewed.
         Feverish, life into its bowels forever doomed.
         Survival hopes by a tumefying Sun aerified.
         The void, blindly the last ship hopefully roved.

Submissions to the Newsletter

Feedback for "Fantasy Newsletter (July 15, 2015)" 

Sarita writes: Dude. I know the show that you're talking about and I LOVE IT! My husband always gives me a bit of side-eye when I go on and on about AA and about how fascinating it is. I'm not fascinated because I believe the theories, although listening to them is like taking an inspiration pill. Rather, I'm fascinated because these scientists and pseudo-scientists take a look at archaeological data that has been studied for decades and, in some cases, centuries and they disregard the conclusions that the general population has come to accept in favor of asking, "But what if...?" Love it. Love it. Thanks for reminding me--I'm gonna have to pull up a show and get ready for some inspiration!

auji2029 writes: On Friday nights I like to watch cartoons with my sister. Just things like Acengera and Transformers and Pokémon. You wouldn't believe how much inspiration you can get from those! Seriously, a lot of my base ideas come from those. In fact, I started writing when I was little because I wanted to be like the Avengers, so I wrote short stories (or tried to) with the Avengers and I.

Elfin Dragon-finally published writes: The sci-fi shows always get my imagination going. Especially when there's all sorts of different things going on like in (and I'm dating myself) Babylon 5. Here you have mystery, intrigue, science, politics, aliens, religion, fantasy and just about anything else you could dream of. By the time the series ended I was almost mad at the creator for specifically creating it to run just 5 years. ah, but such is life. Perhaps that's why I also like old classics like Lost in Space, Twilight Zone, The Alfred Hitchock Hour. They all present something unique and different to the mind of imagination.

brom21 writes: I have never thought of using the Discovery Channel as a template for writing. It would really be useful to use for a good sci-fi story! Maybe you could use Shark Week as a good spin off of Jaws. You could really go into grisly details with what you see. One other TV type motivator might be the regular old news. That would present a plethora of ideas. Thanks or the newsletter!