| My last book was set in L.A. and San Francisco. The one I'm working on now is set in Manhattan. Have I been to these places? Yes. Do I know them well enough to write without research? Heck no. Enter Google and Youtube. Praise be to the Internets--a writer's best friend (and worst enemy, but that's a post for another day). I was talking with a writer friend the other day and we both agreed we didn't know how we'd do our jobs without it. Whether it's looking up the exact location of a landmark to researching demonology to translating a spell into Sumerian, I could not write my books without easy access to Google. I'm not one of those writers who can insert a place holder when I don't know a detail. Until I find what I need, I'm stuck. Now, imagine we suddenly had to go back to living without the internet. How would your life (and your writing, if that applies) be different? |
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I'd probably be doing a lot more writing at a library. Though where the heck I'd find books on Asatru and the ancient norse-man's beliefs on death and the afterlife, I have NO idea. The book I've been using for research I had to download as a pdf.file because it is so far out of print copies of it cost a pint of blood!
Come to think of it, I wouldn't be writing the book I'm writing without an internet connection. It took a pair of emails from a graphic novel author and a very encouraging friend to get me really started on it. Hm.
There but for the grace of God...
Wait.. I don't understand.. there was life before Internets? But Papa Gore gave it to us at the dawn of time!
Oh, I don't need the internet or research. I only write about the vampires and werewolves I know personally. Doesn't everyone?
I'd probably be more productive.
Seriously.
Mark, probably we all would as far as getting words written. But for issues like research and promo, I'd be at a loss without it.
My children wouldn't be so starved... for food or attention. I'm joking. Honest. And the house might remain rather spotless due to the excess time I'd have... who am I kidding? I'd be reading books instead of the computer screen.
One of my friends would no longer be able to internet self-diagnose and go to the doctor KNOWING she has tumors/MRSA/cancer/crones etc. That might be a nice change.
We wouldn't be here! Now please, will someone let me out? I promise to be good.
Oh dear. I did start writing before the internet. Now I feel ancient.
I used to go to the public library - there is quite a good reference book section there. And I also remember talking to people and asking them questions. The internet makes things easier, but beware false information (too easy to get) and it's nice, sometimes, to actually talk to someone.
:-)
I'd still be filling spiral notebooks with my drivel, and spending a lot more money on research books instead of on the internet. I'd be spending a lot more time reading or outside, too.
I don't know if I could be where I am without my word processor, though. I can still live without my cell phone.