Well, at the request of Sputnitsa, I’m going to write about how I’m writing the WIP.
Procrastination. Sort of. Since my library has a very tiny selection of books that even pertain to Britain in general during WWII, I’m doing what research I can. If I find something interesting, I write it down in my handy-dandy notebook (I’m so thankful I took a few notes during my reading of the Time Life book on The Resistance).
But I’m being semi-productive and reading WWII history books, like Band of Brothers. I did find a couple of things that may be useful.
I’ve thrown myself into my research (ha, really just dipped a toe in to see how the water is). I’m hoping that with more background information, the story will get fleshed out. This’ll be a lot easier when I return to school; I’ll have JSTOR and other sites available to me.
My plot, alas, is bare bones. I know what I want to happen. I wrote the basic skeleton down, it’s literally a paragraph. I’m hoping that once my research really turns up some gems, I’ll have a better idea.
Characters are, at the moment, few and far between. There’s Jim, the MC, who is rather…bland. I know a few details about him, but he really hasn’t been given a chance to show his true colors.
And through it all, I’m writing little scenes to get in the swing of things. I’ve determined a few details that might help me research along the way, for example, Jim pilots a Spitfire. Now, I just need to find various squadrons that flew Spitfires, what their missions were, etc. From there, I’ll be able to determine more of the specifics, such as where he gets gunned down.
So there you go. A brief explanation of where I am, WIP wise. I’ll probably be mired in research for a few more months; I’m hoping to have enough basic information to get a first draft banged out during National Novel Writing Month. Except this time, I might take my time.
Of course, I love research very very much, so I may just get carried away. Which is always a problem.
Ned Wolfe 
For help on the Spitfire, I suggest you get a copy of “Jane’s Fighting Aircraft of World War II.” (Amazon has it used from $4.95) It will give you specifics as to technical differences on the various types of Spitfires used during the war. It’s a copy of the ’46 book so it uses the language used at that time, which I always found helpful.
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Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll keep my eye out for it; that sounds like a really helpful resource.
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You wrote about your WIP! Yay! Thank you!
I’m also a bit of a research addict, but I’m clearly less organized than you. 🙂
It’s good you have a deadline in National Novel Writing Month, if you’re anything like me. You know my weakness for research…or throwing myself under Wiki Trucks. 🙂
GOOD LUCK!!!
Oh, what about interlibrary loan? Do you have a system you can use throughout the year, even when courses aren’t on?
🙂
Thanks for this update, Beth! 🙂
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Thanks and you’re welcome!
I use ILL a bit while at home, but I’m notoriously late with returning library books.
I love research; so much fun! I just learned that Winston Churchill refused to learn mathematics while in school. Will that factor into my story? Probably not.
Which era(s)/locations are you researching? I may have found some sources that could help.
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I’m the same way… I literally got a letter from a library once TWO YEARS after I’d moved… As in left the continent.
Anyway, I actually *had* returned that book, but the fact that the librarian could reasonably believe I was that late… *sigh* 🙂
Very interesting about Churchill!!! How precocious… It does underline just how independent he always was; how assured in his judgement. I wonder what he felt about those less individualistic and (dare I say it) demanding.
Well, I love the details 🙂
As for me, my fiction WIP has a couple of characters/pieces of history from the 1500s. Basically end of Middle Ages and beginning of Renaissance, especially in terms of magic, the occult, art (including literature) and any mysterious deaths I can dig up. So to speak. 🙂
So if you know anything…. let me know 🙂 🙂 🙂
And thanks for asking 🙂
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Churchill and Somerset Maugham became friends over time. I love Maugham. Have the greatest bio of him EVER…. Are you a Maugham fan at all?
Does Churchill himself feature? I mean, in your WIP?
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I actually don’t know that much about Maugham; I’ll have to learn more about him!
As for Churchill, I’m sure he’ll feature in some way. Not as a primary character, but he will be mentioned at the very least!
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