The WIP Report: Write What You Know
Another missive from the edges of sanity—it's WIP Report time! I've always taken the advice to write what you know literally. In Dragons Walk Among Us, Allison Lee is a photographer. Lo and behold, so am I (hobbyist, not my day job). Fast forward a few years to when I wrote a ghost story set at the high school in fictional Pinedale; I drew on my fandom of the pugilistic arts and firsthand observations of obsessive youth athletes to create Zuri. Now, I draw on another subject I know a wee bit about to round out several characters in the Vampire Dragon WIP.
Previous entires:
The WIP Report: Write What You Know
If you have read a few of my blog posts, you might know my sons play competitive soccer. Both, especially the older boy, are quite good. I played myself back in the day, although I was never nearly as good as they are. All that is to say, I know a thing or two about youth soccer. I might not be an expert on the subject, but I reckon I know more than most people, and certainly more than I ever imagined knowing.
When I set out to write the Vampire Dragon WIP, I thought it might be fun to include a sporting angle in what was otherwise a creature feature. That would surely increase the yarn's appeal! That's the hypothesis, anyway. Maybe my timing is good? With the success of the last World Cup, interest in soccer is rising in the US of A. Maybe…? Hopefully, my little tale can ride that wave.
Soccer players form the core of the Vampire Dragon WIP's cast. Robbie, Lucas, Bridget, and Quinn are soccer players traveling from Seattle to San Diego to participate in the fictional SoCal Invitational Soccer Tournament. Having attended large youth soccer tournaments, I think I captured the essence of one on the page.
Since my older son attends these events, I have a sense of what the players do when they're not competing. There are strategy sessions, team meals, college tours, and chumming around. Robbie and Lucas do all of these things while learning from news reports on the radio and TV, and internet research that something strange and dangerous is happening—maybe an alien invasion, or perhaps it's just wild animals on the loose in the city.
The soccer angle also helps round out the characters, especially Robbie, one of the two main characters—his competitiveness, the pressure to succeed, and his dreams for the future. So, write what you know. It can be fertile soil for the imagination.
Comments