Having The Secret Diary back from assessment, along with all its invaluable comments, it has become abundantly clear that it requires more research. I’m dealing with issues that happened decades ago so it comes with the territory that I need to find out certain aspects to make my story realistic. Something I took for granted but have otherwise found to not be a very good idea. I also need to do a lot more reading in the ways of today’s teenager.
I’m happy to leave out my indecision – the quirk – since it doesn’t appear to be required. That in itself is a good thing in that I don’t have to stress about putting in details after the fact. I do still need to do a complete rewrite as it’s not reading the way I intended. That’s ok too, because I had in fact been writing it – unknowingly, mind – the way I’m planning on changing it, so it won’t cause a great upheaval.
I’ve been researching a great deal for Devil’s Advocate and I’ve found that even the smallest detail – a single sentence – needs to be thoroughly investigated to maintain authenticity. This story is also dealing with past events and I don’t want the story to fall down simply because I failed to find out an actual fact. Thank heavens for the internet. Mind you, I will also be turning to books since not everything is available online, as I’ve frustratingly found out.
Tell me about it – I’m struggling to find good authentic information on Jousting. Research is a necessary evil, but it is evil none the less. I can’t think of a single way to write a novel without it.
“I can’t think of a single way to write a novel without it.”
This is the lesson on planning a novel that I have just learned. My new mantra is ‘take nothing for granted’.