I’m doing more research, which I need to do because of the historical setting. Besides, I love it. So I’m reading books that were popular during the same era of my book setting, looking at clothing designs of that time, researching what life was like for refugees and those caught behind the battle lines of the First World War. It all helps to make the story world come alive in my head.
And there is at least one aspect where my life and my characters lives are intertwining.
Did I mention I’m on a diet? Well, “diet” might not be the right word, since that signifies a short term of deprivation. What I’m hoping to do in my life is change my eating habits. I’ve never had a weight problem, for which I’m very grateful, but now that I’m getting older I can no longer eat whatever I want, whenever I want. Not when I sit at a computer most of the day! As my friend and colleague Allie Plieter said to me the other day when we were talking about this, we’ll mourn the passing of our younger days and miss our old eating habits, but constant sitting and eating whatever you like are really bad companions.
I do appreciate the timing of my realization (or should I say acceptance) of this change in attitude about food. Just when the Lord directs me to write about people who face starvation and deprivation in the occupied territory of Northern France, I get to be reminded of what hunger feels like. I won’t go through any measure of what I’m putting my characters through (praise the Lord for that) but to be perfectly honest I’m not sure I allowed myself to get really hungry before deciding to watch what I eat. Maybe I can use this for research…Hmm…a growling stomach as a tool for getting inside my characters…
Isn’t it nice when real life improves our craft? Remind me of that if you see me drooling over a doughnut or a cookie…or pie or cake or candy or… Ooops, my sweet tooth is showing, and that’s what inspired the need for this lifestyle change (i.e. diet).
Today I think I’ll write about one of my characters missing real food…
Join Me!