background and research

I had no idea I'd be doing this much research. Its really fun and I'm learning a lot but it certainly slows down the writing process. For instance.
I'm making one character, a detective half Cuban and half Jewish. Well, in order to do that I have to research Cuban and Jewish cultures. He likes to read Sherlock Holmes beginning any investigation to see if he can find sleuthing techniques that will help him, so I'm reading lots of Sherlock Holmes. And that's only part of one character and not even a main character!
To carry on with just this one character, I've decided it would be fun if he had to mediate arguments between his two grandmothers, one Jewish one Cuban of course. So Charlie suggests they could argue baseball, Sandy Koufax vs Jose Canseco. More research.
Then there are the food and holidays and all types of situations that can be funny but require I research first. Then I still need to find a way to make that humorous and interesting. Nothing to do with the plot, of course, but just to paint interesting characters that my readers, (please God let there be readers) would enjoy knowing.
So, did you know that after the revolution in 1959 it was the first time Cuba had been independent since 1511? I'm not using that in the book but I thought it was interesting and wanted to put it somewhere.

Sticks and Stones

What is in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet. Quite true Mr Shakespeare but names come with preconceptions. In my book do I want the name to fit the type or is it more interesting to give names that go against type? Should I be less predictable or will that make the characters less believable? The names should be interesting yet not wierd. Character names are really critical to a story and I find myself agonizing over them as much as plot and dialogue. Place names are a big deal too. My choice of name for the complex where many of the retired set are living came to me easily. Its in S W Florida so I named it Shell Harbor but everyone just calls it the "Shell". I had to make sure there wasn't actually a place there named that and surprisingly, there was not. I wonder why? It's a great name eh? I've "painted" it a pastel coral color of course. I need a name for a gay bar too. Same story? Why yes as a matter of fact.
One name came easy. My heroine is named Maggie. I've decided all heroines in all my stories will be named Maggie. Its my homage to the one of the sweetest souls it has ever been my privilege to know. A kind, loving, caring heart that wanted nothing more than a pet on her head or a rub of her belly. And besides, Maggie is just the perfect name.

So, having named 4 children and countless pets, I'm back to coming up with names, but at least these guys can't complain if they don't like them.

Market

I went to one of my writer's groups tonight. This one was for fiction writers. There was a lot of talent at the table with lots of good honest critique and feedback. The best part of the night? They laughed at all my funny lines. I also heard that, "I'm appealing to a huge untapped market!" I feel like I'm on the right track and am quite encouraged. There's nothing to stop me now but me.
One good tip I got, "pent up sexual tension gets old after a while." I was briefly unnerved until I realized they were talking about my heroine and not me. Another good tip, "even though this is written in first person, not to use too many "I's" or "me's." That will be a challenge. Perhaps I can refer to myself as "we" from time to time, like the Queen of England.
I've got new found energy for my book. I like these meetings, they are symbiotic and healthy for people who spend too much time in front of their word processors. Of course, as Hemingway could attest to,so does the occasional trip to the pub.

Duality

I have been on twin tracks recently. My original novel, the comedy/mystery has taken a back seat to my other novel, one set in famine era Ireland. After this week, I am setting that one aside for a couple of weeks to come back to the comedy. I am down in Florida, where the story takes place, so I'm researching locations anyway. Also, with the bleakness of winter, the Ireland story is affecting my mood. I need to do some funny again. My Irish characters can wait a bit. After 150 years, what's another few weeks?
So, when we last left our heroine, she was just getting her first glimpse of the first corpse. What's depressing about that, right?