tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post8418886093423786107..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: How to Make "Write What You Know" Work for You Janice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-91617358063011996932016-12-13T13:29:45.890-05:002016-12-13T13:29:45.890-05:00This is so spot on! As I started writing my first ...This is so spot on! As I started writing my first novel a year ago I was audacious enough to select 15th century Portugal and the associated journeys of discovery as a decor. I found Henry the navigator an intriguing man, little did i know that i would end up studying the war of the roses, the Bourgondian-French conflicts and the Portuguese internal struggles. I too started looking for all kinds of sites. As you say, next came the non fiction books that were written on that age. Many of them were from the 19th century, giving a very coloured interpretation of the era, which gave me much to think about, until I finally found one modern academic book that met my needs. I think I used only 10% from what i learned as I started to focus more on a sailor than the Prince. For that part I indeed have talked to countless friends with true experience of navigation at sea. And yes, I definitely did the abandon-what-is-not-worth it too (I really felt bad about that, glad I'm not alone) and you know what? Even if my novel never gets published, I learnt so much about the time period, about the structure of Europe, the alliances and so on (not to mention English, which is not my mother tongue) that already feels like a success to me! Plus there is that universal part on emotions and relationships which I guess you do know, even if some of the 'background' is unfamiliar...Inge VdWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14873478872316135110noreply@blogger.com