Music + fic research

[luzula]

I will try this list format that is so popular...

1. The other day my sister and I had a concert, of sorts, and sang Swedish folk music. It was a festival where anyone could sign up to perform, and it was a lot of fun. Here and here are two songs that we sang, if you want to hear what we sounded like. The first one might be kind of inaccessible to listen to at first--I mean, the harmonies start half a tone apart, but I like it a lot. The second is a quite old Christian folk song where one person sings a simple melody and the other person simultaneously sings a similar melody but with lots of embellishments.

2. One of my flatmates over the summer is a 19 year old Muslim boy from Somalia, and he's all shy and proper. I will check very carefully that he's not home before I record any podfic...

3. Do other people get so distracted and slowed down by fic research? I mean, in my Benton-goes-to-Depot story, he's right now hitchhiking along the newly opened Dempster highway. I just read a ten-page document on the geology and vegetation of the Richardson mountains. I am severely tempted to use the phrase "talus slope" in the story. I could not in conscience work in Dryas heath, though. God, I'm geeky. And I think my love of landscape description rivals nos4a2no9's.

I also trawled the university library for books on the Inuit and conflicts over land and such, because that comes into the story as well. I feel like I've maybe bit off more than I can swallow. The story is 8.000 words and he is nowhere near getting to Depot yet.

I do love how much we don't know about Fraser's background--there's so much room to make up your own story. And it really makes me want to go to northwestern Canada. *yearns*

Comments

[nos4a2no9.livejournal.com]

I am severely tempted to use the phrase "talus slope" in the story.

And well you should! Seriously! Go for it! I encourage this kind of thing, as you know.

I could not in conscience work in Dryas heath, though.

Booooo!

And I think my love of landscape description rivals nos4a2no9's.

Hah, possibly. I don't know the names for anything. If it's not a "rock" or "glacier" or a "tree" I'm lost :-)

And hey, keep in mind: landscape description is always interesting, as long as it's done well. Write what you're interested in writing, and your interest will shine through and, uh, interest the readers. There will be a whole interest-party thing going on. And you can always cut stuff later, right? Or get a gentle-yet-firm beta to do it?

I do love how much we don't know about Fraser's background--there's so much room to make up your own story.

YES! It just struck me during the "Back in the Day" challenge for ds_recsredux - we've got tonnes and tonnes of RayK backstories. But not much for Fraser. So I eagerly anticipate your story, L!

And it really makes me want to go to northwestern Canada. *yearns*

You should COME TO CANADA! You would have a wonderful time there, kiddo. It's beautiful.

[luzula]

Thanks for the encouragement! Seriously, you are so good at doing the encouraging thing. I will roll up my sleeves and get back to writing on the story (well, after work, I will).

You should COME TO CANADA! You would have a wonderful time there, kiddo. It's beautiful.

Yes, some time I will! I should probably get a driving license first, though.

[isiscolo.livejournal.com]

What is so geeky about talus slopes? I use that phrase in conversation all the time.

Of course, I live in the mountains; your mileage may vary. :-)

[luzula]

Oh, cool. In Sweden it's a more specialized term, I don't think people would know it if they haven't read books on geology.

Now I'm all envious of you for actually living in the mountains...

[china_shop]

Do other people get so distracted and slowed down by fic research?

Heh. I do as little research as is humanly possible. On the bright side, I've developed reasonable arm muscles from all the hand-waving. ;-)

[luzula]

See, but that's also a skill--making it seem like you have in depth knowledge of something. Or maybe another option is to distract the readers with turtles or making out or something. *g*

[china_shop]

Smoke and mirrors. And yes, turtles. *g*