Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
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November 6 question - What's the strangest thing you've ever googled in researching a story?
We're a fun bunch and I'm looking forward to seeing the answers to this question!
For one of my stories, the setting was a ranch so I did a lot of research on that.
The weirdest part of that research was on the different ways to brand cattle.
I now know a lot more about using dry ice to brand cattle than I ever thought I would!
I also have a pretty good idea about how to steal and fly a small personal plane without getting tracked by radar.
How about you? What fun things have you researched - or read about?
Anyone else's searches make them appear to be living a life of crime?
Dry ice? Instead of a hot iron? Is that better for the cow? Bet it still hurts...
ReplyDeleteIt's actually far less painful for the cow - which is why it was created. Very cool!
DeleteThe dry ice makes me feel better for the cattle (although I bet, like Alex says, it still hurts!) I'm always Googling murder-related stuff. :)
ReplyDeleteApparently it barely makes them flinch - much better for them!
DeleteYour list would be so fun!
Dry ice - I wondered how they branded cattle now.
ReplyDeleteIt's less painful for the cows - much better!
DeleteLove your questions.
ReplyDeleteLOL - thanks :)
DeleteI had no idea dry ice was used in branding! I too, love hearing the answers to this question!
ReplyDeleteI know! It surprised me as well.
DeleteI'm loving the answers to the question!
As a vegetarian, I don't think I' would have enjoyed learning about branding cattle. Glad it helped you out.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right!
DeleteThe MC was all about making it less stressful for his animals
Dry ice...hmm...interesting.
ReplyDeleteIt really was!
DeleteI had no idea they used dry ice to brand cattle. That hurts just as much as fire. I just had the chance to deal with some of that ice with our recent power outages, and touching it feels like you've stuck your fingers into flames.
ReplyDeleteActually, they say it's much less painful for the animals. But I have no idea why!!!!
DeleteDry ice? Add me to the list of people who learned something new today. I suspect it doesn't smell as bad, but do wonder about the pain quotient.
ReplyDeleteLOL - according to what I learned, it's much less painful for the animals
DeleteI did some ranch research for the Gracie books. Also researched when our bluebonnets bloom in different parts of the state, since it spans several different planting zones. I don't know how to steal a plane (yet) but I do know how to lift latent fingerprints off of almost any surface.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI really don't know. I was wrapped up in getting my manuscript prepared and ready to send out that I don't think I researched anything that was funny.
Wishing you all the best and a great month of November.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Some stories require more research than others. Most of my searches are on climate, wildlife, natural vegetation ... such exciting searches :)
Delete...how to steal and fly a small personal plane without getting tracked by radar...
ReplyDeleteThat's so cool!
Happy IWSG Day, Jemi!
I would definitely have to refresh my memory - but it was fun to write!! :)
DeleteI love the places writing takes us. Flying would have been fun. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
It would! I wanted to be a pilot at one point but my weird & terrible eyesight eliminated that career trajectory!
DeleteI don't know about branding cattle, but that stealing a small airplane off the radar thing could come in handy someday. And I already have some air time, having been an unofficial co-pilot for hubs, when he used to fly small planes. What fun!
ReplyDeleteThat IS fun!! I always thought flying would be a great career or hobby. Weird eyesight eliminated that :)
DeleteWow! I had no idea dry ice could do that! I’ve done some research on how to make someone sick. My favorite thing to research is survival stuff. I actually chopped down a fairly good size tree with a hatchet and used a fire starter to make a fire.
ReplyDeleteI know - it surprised me too!
DeleteWow - good for you!!! You and Gary Paulsen could be best buddies! :)
Glad you know how to escape radar in case I need to get out of the country secretly.
ReplyDeleteLOL - let me know!! :P
DeleteIt surprised me when I discovered that too! :)
ReplyDeleteVery interesting answers to the question, Jemi. As for me, hmmm, probably researching Haitian voodoo, spells, ceremonies, etc. I spent weeks on that one.
ReplyDeleteYes! Definitely Haitian voodoo HAS to rank high on the entire list of strange and interesting things to research. You're braver than I am!
DeleteThat's some very useful information, esp. branding cattle. LOL
ReplyDeleteLOL - I know! :) We do get to know fun stuff!
DeleteI love reading about all the things we writers research. We ARE a fun bunch! For my novel West of Paradise, I researched everything about 1881, especially trains and the gun fight at the ok coral :) It was pretty fun, but then, I;m a bit of a history buff.
ReplyDeleteThat is fun!!!
DeleteYou did a great job on research for that book - I enjoyed it!
Alas, I still haven't quite determined how to poison someone -- or come up with a way someone is killed by some kind of poisonous powder on a letter. I keep putting this research on hold because I worry I might be put on someone's watch list, even though this is for a plot twist for my historical suspense story about a 15th Century tapestry. Your post made me smile, though I'm not sure I would actually try to fly a plane based on research alone. Have a great month ahead.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely want more than a few lessons before trying that plane as well!
DeleteI know a few writers who have been researching those poisons - I'm sure there's a list of "oh, don't worry - that one's a writer" somewhere! :)
What a fun question! I've looked up unusual things, too, thinking I must look like a criminal to anyone who saw my search history!
ReplyDeleteWho KNEW about dried ice? Not I. Still: ouch.
Have a great week, Jemi! :)
I do wonder about the people checking for weird and scary searches. They must really wonder about us some days! :)
DeleteApparently it doesn't hurt the cow like regular branding - who knew? :)
Steal a plane? That would be a fun research project! I went to a Supernatural Convention as research but I also had a lot of fun at it ! Sometimes I like to hang out at game stores too, and listen in on the conversations for character ideas and development.
ReplyDeleteA Supernatural convention sounds fun for sure!!
DeleteHearing snippets of covnersation is always fun - love who much we can pick up :)
Ranching research seems pretty straightforward, but there has to be a great story behind how you learned the ins and outs of stealing a plane.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping to revisit that draft again one day - fun times in that one!!
DeleteIt is amazing the things we writers research. I know a lot about stoves from 80 years ago and basements of homes built around that time in CT. I have also researched a lot of card and colors that were available. :) Learning the ins and outs of stealing a small plane sounds interesting!
ReplyDelete~Jess
It was!!
DeleteI love your research - I wouldn't have thought about the availability of colours as something to research - very cool!
Ah, research. Its always hard to get things correct and research is so integral.
ReplyDelete