On Creativity and Research

[tamaranth]

Interesting (though vaguely superior) piece by Lynne Truss on the BBC Magazine site:

"I love the idea of Penney constructing the landscape of her book from maps and records in the British Library. That was a true creative act. Any fool with a Visa card can buy a ticket and go to look at an expanse of snow."

Comments

[melusina]

Thanks for the link! In a writing workshop, the instructor once told me that "it really happened that way" is the worst thing that a writer can say. No one cares whether it really happened that way or if that character really is like that - they want to read a good story, so even if you start with reality, a good writer wastes no opportunity to improve upon it. . .