Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

nbcabaniss — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:57:22 +0000

So I came upon a pretty interesting factoid/story while researching an upcoming chapter. The idea for the chapter was one of my MC's infiltrates a secret meeting of the baddies. Originally it was going to take place in a harbor in Manhattan. Having never lived in New York, I decided to do a little research to see if I could find an abandoned harbor. But I found something oh so much better: http://gothamist.com/2008/10/14/bannerman_island.php#photo-1 It's an old abandoned island on the Hudson River called Bannerman's (or Pollepel) Island. Back in the early 1900's, an army surplus dealer decided to build a castle (a CASTLE!) on this small little island to hold his wares. It's been uninhabited since then - all sorts of moss and wildlife has taken root in the castle (which is still standing, albeit barely). Even better, much of the munitions were never removed, making it somewhat unstable - making it a perfect place to stage a set piece. Discovering this has re-energized me on my whole story in general. I can't wait to get to this chapter now. Has anyone else learned anything they otherwise would have never known about due to their novel? Any cool factoids/stories to share?

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

DJR_tlof — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:31:14 +0000

I discovered the following bits by watching National Geographic channel yesterday during a program called Hitler's Secret Weapons. http://natgeotv.com.au/tv/hitlers-secret-weapons/ Some of the interesting stuff were The Fritz-X which was a radio guided bomb. Two hit and sank the Italian battleship Roma and one hit the USS Cruiser Savanah. The bomb that his the Savanah smashed through the gun turret, bounced off the breach, smashed through the gun magazine and put a whole in the hull below. If it had detonated in the magazine like designed then it would have blown the Savanah to bits. The Mouse and the Rat were a pair of designs for super heavy tanks. The Mouse had a small factory for construction but construction of the Rat was called off. The Rat was the larger design and was scheduled to have two naval guns and mass at 1000 Tons with a length of 114 feet. The V-3 Vengance was a bunker with a series of artillery guns set to bombard London England. The barrels were so long they had charges at the base and in perpendicular tubes along the length to keep up the pressure as the round went down the barrel. Joseph Kennedy died in Operation Aphrodite that was a suicide Lancaster bomber that aimed at taking out the bunker. The Wasserfall was a rocket that was an outgrowth of the V-2 program as an anti-air defense missile equipped with a liquid explosive that would disperse and then detonate (sounds like a fuel air explosive) to destroy several bombers in one explosion. It also had two types of guidance (radio and a radar guidance). I just found these programs as neat options for a villain to use plans from or to discover a working test model hidden somewhere.

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

SandyGunfox — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:40:11 +0000

Oh, and they had designs (although they were cancelled before leaving the drawing board) for an even LARGER tank than the Maus and the Ratte - 50% larger than the Ratte, in fact. It was called hte Landkreuzer, or in English, the Land Cruiser. It fired shells the size of tanks. Here's a photo of the shell its main gun fired. It needed FOUR u-boat engines to power it!

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

MarcyT — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:58:10 +0000

I learned how to purchase a helicopter and how to get a helicopter license. It was a lot of fun looking at all the helicopter types. There were some pretty nice looking ones.

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

Sprakit — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:23:34 +0000

I don't have a fancy link to it, but when researching historical, non-faith based, goverment set ups in northern Europe, I found the Duchey of Courland! It's now Northern Latvia, but it's literally the setting I had in my head! AND not to mention that one of the Duke's (Fredrich something) spent more time shmoozing and boozing than he did developing and protecting his country and it was soon taken over...also known as...my plot! There it was, just sitting in history, already written for me :-)

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

SandyGunfox — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 22:20:00 +0000

I learned how to use the range estimation image in a Dragunov sniper rifle's scope to accurately estimate a range just from examining a target, and I learned how to make homemade explosives and where to get the ingredients for them.

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

redram355 — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 22:45:17 +0000

I've learned more about the East China Sea in the last two weeks than I ever knew before.

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

jswwrites — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 01:03:12 +0000

Portuguese Empire and the spice route via sea. And I've done a lot of translating into Portuguese and Swahili. Plus about the Sassanids... :o)

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

SandyGunfox — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 06:57:57 +0000

Hey, my MC speaks Swahili too - it comes up a few times in my book!

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

jstafford369 — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:54:11 +0000

Funny how you choose to use a name or a location or a time period, and then a month later, you're researching said location and a fact pops up that you could legitimately use to further your story. Said occurrence happened to me when looking for a career for a main character's father that kept him on the road, but that fell apart in a year or so. Just so happens that the character's last name is "Pearlman" because it draws some association with water magic. A rock band famous in the 70s and 80s (Blue Oyster Cult) had a manager named Sandy Pearlman who wrote lyrics and scheduled gigs. I thought, "BINGO!" Completely unbeknownst to me, a perfect situation arose that allowed me to create a fictional character who worked alongside said manager, and have the same name.

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

Bogapejane — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 21:14:15 +0000

How Vikings dressed, what a bearded axe is, where Hardstad, Norway is and what the climate is like above the arctic circle in Norway (pretty mild as it turns out), and the entire Futhark sequence. My novel idea started when I was reading a book about runes, so now my MC is on a quest to learn them too. xD

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

chessapphire — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 22:17:48 +0000

I named my island nation Kergeulia after the Kergeulen Plateau, an actual sunken continent that I resurfaced for my own purposes. I discovered it while I was browsing around articles of mythical places looking for ideas for what to name the country, and this just worked out perfectly.

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

Agatha — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 23:31:29 +0000

I'm writing about the gold rush in western australia in late 1800's and was surprised to learn that the township had electric lighting in the main street in 1897. i had imagined it to be like a tent city and quite dark.

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

Novel by Ms Playful — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 01:31:03 +0000

I've learned that I can write 1667 words per day or a few more. It has determined my writing goal for the rest of my life. I realize I will have to edit this stuff, but I've worked on two books off and on for years and could not come up with a way to motivate myself. This has been a great learning experience.

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

OnwardToVictory — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 04:18:06 +0000

I've don a ton of research on 19th century railroads, which are terribly unstable and lead to the death of an unimportant character.

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

karmine — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 20:02:02 +0000

I've learnt that there's only one entirely supermax prison in America called ADX Florence and it's located in Colorado. It mostly holds terrorists and mafia.

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

The Nork — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 20:45:24 +0000

I learned a lot about airships, such as different ways to build them, different types (rigid or non-rigid?), how fast they go, how high they can fly, what you can fill them with, and what happened to the Hindenburg. I also did not know that airships were used as actual vehicles of war in history, which was really quite awesome and fits my story very well.

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

Vyctori — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 02:27:41 +0000

Pretty much everything I've learned of African cultures and mythology, as well as customs, traditions, clothing, food, ectra I've began studying elements of the cultures and counties that will have no impact on my book at all, I'm just in love with the topic. I'd really love to visit one of the counties some time :D

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

jswwrites — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 20:21:33 +0000

My son is actually taking Swahili because we go to Africa twice a year, but he was never around when I needed translating. I found a good website though. Once I edit, I'll have his Kenyan Swahili teacher make sure it's right! I wouldn't want to be swearing unintentionally! haha

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

jswwrites — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 20:23:50 +0000

Definitely visit! I go to Uganda twice a year... AWESOME. I love Africa. I have a tattoo of Africa. I would live in Africa in a heartbeat except my husband wouldn't go with me! :o)

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

SandyGunfox — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 21:49:47 +0000

That sounds pretty handy!

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

caocao — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 05:04:08 +0000

Most of my new learning has been focused on a lot of small bit research items, but I did do a lot of studying of ancient mythological Indian weapons (and a bunch of Southeast Asian weaponry in general) all in the development of one supporting character.

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

ameskyrose — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 06:39:56 +0000

I passed that on Amtrak when I was going upstate! Very bewildering if you're not expecting it. It looks ancient because it's so decayed. Very cool find.

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

ameskyrose — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 06:40:38 +0000

It's possible to travel on cargo ships. http://www.yearofnoflying.com/2009/10/crossing-the-pacific-by-container-ship.html I also learned a lot about shipping things over the sea in general, particularly by container ship.

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

Etch Feather — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:28:29 +0000

Three things! 1: I've learned I use this too much: "He did that, BEFORE walking over to there." 2: I've learned around 15 different phrases that imply the exact same thing. 3: I studied up alot on the mythology of the cockatrice, so I know much more about it now than I did previously.

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

The Nork — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:34:54 +0000

I have also now looked up and learned about: -diagrams of the human eyeball -the definition of a cog -electrical burns (oh geez, THAT was awful...do not Google it if you don't have a strong stomach) -Machu Picchu -cities in India -Indian cuisine -the Taj Mahal -how to convert miles per hour to knots and vice versa -how far it is across the Pacific I have REALLY enjoyed this year's NaNo writing...lots more research than last year. :)

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

Steampunk avi8or — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 20:37:10 +0000

-James Watt invented the steam engine -Nikola Tesla was an actor before he was an inventor -Aether is usually described as a glowing blue liquid -Lincoln suffered from depression -The Zeppelin was invented by a guy named Count Zeppelin -The art of Ninjitsu in Japan had dissapeared by the 1800's. (Sad. I wanted to mention ninjas in my novel set in the American Civil War)

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

Vyctori — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 03:15:08 +0000

[quote=Steampunk avi8or] -Nikola Tesla was an actor before he was an inventor [/quote] Wow. That is cool.

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

xLisaAnnx — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 07:01:30 +0000

For my NaNo novel this year, I learned: - The basic layout of Las Vegas (I'd love to visit it! Right now I can only picture it post-apocalypse, haha) - The symptoms and time line of syphilis - That you can still smell things if your nose were to be cut off - How ranks are divided among a Greek-style military force - The long lasting effects of starvation - The proper way to cauterize a wound - Adobe buildings are really, really hard to burn down. (if not impossible!) - a particularly nasty form of execution called The Blood Eagle (google it!) I loved doing all the research! :)

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

Kittyhawk — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:34:13 +0000

Right then, here's a small smattering of the things I've learned about for my pirate novel: -Submerged pyramids in the Bahamas -Mermaid -Djinn legends -How to exorcise a djinni -Sindbad's voyages -Chinese, Persian, and European clockwork -A ship-swallowing place called the Goodwin Sands -Cenotes -The history of dentistry, including Egyptian gold-wire dentures -Tahitian black pearls -Pearl divers -The Royal Navy had no standardized uniforms prior to the 1740s -The symptoms of the Black Plague (headache, exaustion, nausea, vomiting, back pain, sore arms and legs, chills, fever, sensitivity to bright light, swelling lumps, blood puddling under the skin, black boils and spots, chest pain, sweating, coughing up blood, etc.) -Charms to ward off the Black Plague -The effects of scurvy -Cats climbing the ship's rigging are terrible bad luck -Lawers, bunnies, and cross-eyed people are also bad luck on ships. -In Arabian myth, kohl (the black eyeliner stuff Jack Sparrow wears around his eyes) was supposed to let the wearer see treasure wherever it was hidden -Many European swords were actually lighter than Oriental katanas, and made of superior metals. -Several different recipes for Greek Fire (my favorite is Leaonardo Da Vinci's) -The Irish slavery problem -Matches were once called 'fire inch sticks' -Ice cream only began to be made in Europe during the 17th century -Several nasty pirate methods of torture -Apprentice indentures (apprentices weren't allowed to get married without their master's permission, or visit alehouses) -The dangers of being a chimney sweep kid (sooty suffocation, lung cancer, burning to death, etc.) -Molten sugar is very dangerous, since it aderes to flesh and can burn straight to the bone -Hanged criminals in the 18th century were often dissected afterwards. -How to kill a person using only a scrap of their clothes and a butterfly -In Elizabethan England, people would kidnap kids with nice hair, so that they could cut it off to make wigs for the rich. -Medieval recipes, such as 'how to make a sallet of lemons'

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

emmatillyard — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:14:34 +0000

Wow! That is amazing!

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

emmatillyard — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:15:32 +0000

Wow! What's your novel about? Great collecton of facts!

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

emmatillyard — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:16:22 +0000

Such brilliant facts! I'd like to read your novel when finished! ; )

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

emmatillyard — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:52:54 +0000

That in the middle ages: - arrows were often 'fletched' with peacock feathers - Anglo- Saxon women could own property and land in their own right, until Christianity came - the legend of Robin Hood was probably based on a gang of thieving 'robber barons'

Re: Cool Stuff You've Learned Whilst Writing Your Novel

dancer_kirsten — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 17:07:33 +0100

I learnt a lot about running a self-sufficient farm. It's not nearly as exciting as some of the other lists in this thread, but for someone like me, who can't tell a tulip from a carrot, it was pretty nice stuff to know.