The second story in The Casebook Of Elisha Grey VII, "The Deaths at the Hanunnah Hot Springs" has been a slog through mud, and this most likely happens to all writers.
Needed to do more research to create the continent of Hanunnah (which is "Turtle Island", what we call North America) and the level of technology they did -- or didn't -- have in comparison to Atlantis.
I knew what the basic crime/mystery was. But it needed a "why". In the course of research, finally, today, I found it.
When an advanced culture goes to another country to exploit a natural resource, it may be counter to that culture's spiritual connection to the land. There will be a resolution to this problem, because Elisha Grey, a polymath, is well versed in among other subjects anthropology. Convincing reluctant newcomer characters, however, will be his challenge.
So, along with the theme, comes a new character to give it a voice, so I needed to find his name. Then, the rest of the story fell into place.
People think writing is easy. If it's blogging, maybe it's easy. If it's storytelling....it takes craftsmanship, attention to detail, and intuition. It also takes the tedium of research that leads the writer to that "aha" moment, which is what happened to me today.
Even if you think your fiction doesn't require research, think again. I do market The Casebook of Elisha Grey series of e-books as science fiction, but to me, they're historical fiction.
Memory is funny that way. If you've ever studied with a clairvoyant, you've likely had the same realization.
All the old Atlanteans are back, and they're up to their old tricks.
Needed to do more research to create the continent of Hanunnah (which is "Turtle Island", what we call North America) and the level of technology they did -- or didn't -- have in comparison to Atlantis.
I knew what the basic crime/mystery was. But it needed a "why". In the course of research, finally, today, I found it.
When an advanced culture goes to another country to exploit a natural resource, it may be counter to that culture's spiritual connection to the land. There will be a resolution to this problem, because Elisha Grey, a polymath, is well versed in among other subjects anthropology. Convincing reluctant newcomer characters, however, will be his challenge.
So, along with the theme, comes a new character to give it a voice, so I needed to find his name. Then, the rest of the story fell into place.
People think writing is easy. If it's blogging, maybe it's easy. If it's storytelling....it takes craftsmanship, attention to detail, and intuition. It also takes the tedium of research that leads the writer to that "aha" moment, which is what happened to me today.
Even if you think your fiction doesn't require research, think again. I do market The Casebook of Elisha Grey series of e-books as science fiction, but to me, they're historical fiction.
Memory is funny that way. If you've ever studied with a clairvoyant, you've likely had the same realization.
All the old Atlanteans are back, and they're up to their old tricks.