6. Research
While Q’lanth is a definite fantasy world, I still obviously need to do research for realism and believability. Here are links to websites or even books that I have found to provide me information for helping to create my characters/world/etc. These links differ from my “hand for writing links” because these aren’t about writing, but about specific things.
List of Animal Names - Handy for creating those anthropomorphic characters’ species. My system is very rough, but for now I’ve been going by latin genius names tweaked just a bit.
The Art of Kissing & How To kiss a Woman - Is it sad and pathetic that I had to research kissing for ONE lousy ass kissing scene for ‘07? :-p These are very good pages, but I liked the latter quite a bit more.
Making bone needles - Not something I have used specifically yet, but it will be worth keeping around. Something Rayna would know.
Recycle/make your own paper - Something I have done myself because i’m a creative little loony, something that Rayna might do, or might have learned to do in her tribe.
Make up tutorials - I’m not sure why I’m throwing this in here, but I’ve learned to follow my instincts. There are some fantastic, wild make up jobs here.
Sewing Guidelines & Brief Intro to Hand Sewing & An idea of how long hand sewing takes. & Spinning Rayna would have learned survival-level sewing skills (if that makes sense) as she grew up in her tribe. Adrian actually picked up hand sewing clothes as a hobby to help divert her from drinking (as well as interior designing… O.o).
Blood alcohol level & Alcohol Withdraw. Adrian is an alcoholic. I needed lots of information on this. I have found MANY helpful websites, but these are just 2 for now.
Survival skills - which will prove to be handy.
Medical Musings & Rib Injury & Rib Injury: The annoying Pain & Sword wounds & Blunt and Penetrating Abdominal Injuries
Here are some books in no particular order that I have been keeping on hand. Some I own, some I found at the library, some I just grabbed because they might prove helpful:
Tom Brown’s Guide to Wilderness Survival
Tom Brown’s Guide to Edible and Medicinal Plants
Deerskins into Buckskins: How to Tan with Natural Materials by Matt Richards
Deadly Doses: A Writer’s Guide to poisons by Serita Deborah Stevens with Anne Klarner
Scene of the Crime: a writer’s guide to crime scene investigations by Ann Wingate
The Rodale Horb Book: How to Use, Grow, and Buy Nature’s Miracle Plants
Tao Teh Ching by Lao Tzu Translated by John C. H. Wu
The Witch Book: The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, Wicca, and Neo paganism by Raymond Buckland
Spiritual Traditions: Essential Teachings to Transform Your life by Timothy Freke