As I come near the end of my second draft of HOW TO DATE AN ALIEN, I've realized how important extra research is and how much of a pain in the butt that research can be.
I did some research before I started the first draft, watching Roswell and other Sci-fi shows and talking to aviation people about flying planes. But as I went through my editing I realized that there were some things that needed be explained and that required research. (or REE-SEARCH)...especially the mother ship
I knew that my alien drones would have smaller stealth fighter planes and that mother ship would be a bigger, more advanced stealth fighter. But I was still stuck. After checking out Beth Revis's site, I knew that there was a lot more to my ship, but just didn't know how to go about it. So, of course, I asked her via Twitter and she gave me the advice to structure the ship based on the occupants needs. From there I found an early version of Horten 229 V3 Stealth fighter plane blue print (note: modern stealth fighters are hard to find blue prints for), and was able to get the basic layout for my ship.
But then what did it look like on the inside? Without even knowing it I used a lot parallels with good and evil, the dark side and the light side. But envisioning the ship in my head took a little help from a band I had almost forgotten about from the 90's
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NczLNctogZk
It's the video for Orgy's "Fiction (Dreams in Digital)." (note: I couldn't get the video to transfer over to my blogger). The sci-fi feel and crazy techno-glam lyrics helped fuel my visions of the mother ship and make them come to life.
Creepy isn't it?
So that's the research I've had so far. The second draft is almost done. I'm happy with it, but I want more. So that's what I have betas and an editor for...oh and of course my REE-SEARCH.
What are you doing for REE-SEARCH? Do you find anything that helps?
Wow! That is a lot of great REE-SEARCH you have done there! :D And I thought designing the tallships of Death's Island was difficult with laying the lower decks, hold, brig, galley, cabins, and exterior design.
ReplyDeleteI've used watercraft blueprints, paintings, books, and visits to historical tallships. Then drew out my own blueprints for the tallships of Death's Island.
The Need To Know is strong. If my protag flies to London, I'd better make darn sure the plane lands in the EASTERN part of Britain, not the middle. **smacks forehead** REE-Search helps avoid mistakes such as this.
ReplyDeleteBTW, go to my blog to pick up your Award.
Wikipedia! Always.
ReplyDeleteUm, and I claimed I was watching VERONICA MARS as research, but really I was just in love with Logan.