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I have just realized that I'm writing a novel, help. (Don't mind me. Sometimes I'm slow.) And that it's a historical. Set in a different country.
You can tell I'm feeling vertiginous; my italics are going crazy.
Hence, because the way to eat things bigger than your head is one bite at a time, a tentative list of tasks-to-be-completed while getting underway:
Figure out more or less where and exactly when this is set. I think putting it in London is probably not the greatest idea; not only is it showing my sources too much, I would kill myself researching topography and street names.
All the 20s and 30s social history I can find. ALL OF IT. (Start with the three giant books on WWI that I haven't read yet. It's deep background.)
While making myself stop at one Mitfords biography. The words we're going for in that department are "inspired by." Working too closely to the facts = both lazy characterization and a great way to tie myself in knots.
Start interesting-trivia clipfile.
All the 20s and 30s fiction I can find. ALL OF IT.
Everything I can find about the details of vintage photography processes.
Figure out what Laura's issue is. And if her name is actually Laura.
Figure out what her husband's name is. Basically just name everyone and everything.
Cast the servants' hall. Or at least figure out how many of them I'm going to need to cast; I don't want cast sprawl, but neither do I want to be a classist ass. (Some leeway allowable, as all my likely POV characters are classist asses, but I should know who all these people are that they're taking for granted.) (Also, I wonder if I can poke some sharp sticks at the Wicked Gay Footman thing from Downton Abbey while I'm at it?)
While I'm at that, figure out how not to kill my only gay main character. Basically, either don't kill him or make someone else gay as well. (Note to self: I cannot steal Aunt Blanche from Upstairs Downstairs. Not even if she is too good for them. It is too much stealing, and she is too sane for me.) ETA: Really, figure out whether he is gay, or what. Because I'm wondering whether that's not just what I think his thing should be.
Also ETA: pick a damned architectural era and commit to it.
... when I put it like that, really, it almost looks doable.
You can tell I'm feeling vertiginous; my italics are going crazy.
Hence, because the way to eat things bigger than your head is one bite at a time, a tentative list of tasks-to-be-completed while getting underway:
... when I put it like that, really, it almost looks doable.
