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Life of a Writer Mom Column
A Research Morning Every so often I find myself getting restless with my writingnot so much with my stories but rather sitting behind my desk, pounding away at the keyboard. When I find myself looking out the window more than typing, that's when I know it's time to schedule a research morning. I start by picking a specific day in my date book. When scheduling a research morning I aim for a day when my husband is home to meet the bus in case my research morning spreads into an afternoon. Next, I pull out my possible research list. This list can include anything from museums that look like they might have story ideas waiting for me, to neat old cemeteries I've passed by and vowed to return to, to libraries and historical societies, even an interesting restaurant or neighborhood. Everywhere is fair game. Once my spot is chosen, be it near or far, I pack my writing bag the night before. Complete with camera, notebook and pen, I'm ready for my research morning. The next morning I arrive at a new museum or even the history room at the local library, all brimming with story plots or settings. It doesn't take much to start my imagination whirring on these days. An old picture, a plaque on a monument, even an interesting building get written into my notebook. And if allowed, I may take a picture of the object. I also take note of my impressions: Does the lady in the old daguerreotype have a forlorn expression? Maybe it's time to do a little digging and find out why. There could be a story behind that look. Is that building I just walked by a potential place for one of my characters to reside? Why? Which brings me to the other essential skill to be used on these mornings. I talk to anybody and everybody. They all have a story they want to tell when they find out I'm a writer. Some of the stories are good, some not so good, but all fascinating. And at the end of it all, after the restlessness goes away and I can't wait to write, I stop for lunch on the way back home. Not only do I arrive back home recharged and ready to go but restaurants are a great place for people watching. Almost by osmosis, I see character traits which one way or another often end up in my character's makeup. A research morning has created more story ideas for me than I could have ever imagined. And getting away from my computer has provided me with just the break I need to want to get back to it and put out another tale I just discovered. Carla Charter is mom to Samantha, Halden, and Mathew. In addition to being a mom, Carla is a freelance writer specializing in newspaper and magazine journalism. Among her publication credits are Woman's World, American Indian Report and New England Business Journal. Online she has been published in Scubasource.com and Military.com. She teaches creative writing courses at Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner, Ma. Recently her novel Across Lots has been serialized at http://www.newenglandwow.com. She may be reached at cjfreelancewriter@earthlink.net. |
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