Tag: research

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IWSG

#IWSG November 2019: Do Not Google That!

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Created and hosted by the Ninja himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writers Support Group posts the 1st Wednesday of every month. Click the image to learn more or sign up.

Optional Monthly Question: What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever googled in researching a story?

I have had to research a lot of things when outlining a story. I’ve delved deep into angelic lore, the origins and meanings of names, and even some exotic botany. I think the most unusual research I’ve done included DNA and blood disease research. But the one topic that actually started sending out odd things to my SPAM folders and social media feeds (because you know all that stuff is connected) was my dream research. For weeks I couldn’t get away from dream interpretation articles and programs and crystal recommendations for anything that might ail me. I was also contacted by three psychics and two dream studies. So, be careful when researching dreams.

*Updated 11/7/19- I started with a Google search, but it was the pursuit of those results that led to all the SPAM and psychic and sleep study contacts, not just the search.*

Since we’re on the subject, I thought I’d share a few crazy Google searches others have shared with me.

A family friend and youth pastor once told me that he had to destroy is office PC and get a new one after doing a search on “Teen Sex”. He was looking for statistics on pregnancy and STDs and got images and videos he says still haunt him to this day. Another family friend, an older woman, had to destroy her laptop and get a new one after trying to do research on Black Holes, only she couldn’t remember that’s what they were called and tried all sorts of searches that deeply disturbed her and crashed her computer. I still have no clue what she actually searched but I have some ideas and I know better than to test them out.

My suggestion for those not so computer savvy or unsure of what you’re searching for, try the library first. If it doesn’t crash their computer, you’re good to go. (PLEASE don’t tell the library I sent you.)

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The November IWSG Newsletter member spotlight was Pat Garcia. Be sure to stop by her blog and say hi.

IWSG Book Club News

Goodreads

Our October/November fiction book, voted on by our members, is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Discussion Fun Day will be November 20th.

WEP-IWSG

Click here to see all the winners!

I won the commenting award this month. I really enjoyed reading all the stories and look forward to the next challenge in December. You can read my entry here.

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Now, on to the personal updates.

I’ve been trying really hard to be more active on social media without overwhelming myself. I figured out that social media is there all the time whether I am there or not so there’s no way I can see and do everything. Now that I’ve accepted that, it’s been going a lot better for me. I think I might even go back on YouTube and stop caring about the fact that my videos don’t have the production value of the larger channels. I’m not trying to reach everyone, I’m simply trying to reach those I’m meant to reach.

With that in mind, I thought I’d share two posts, one from each of my Instagram profiles, just because. One is dedicated to Margie my Redbone rescue and the other is where I post my bookish stuff.
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View this post on Instagram

 

Just had my walk, got a treat, feeling WONDERFUL! #coonhoundsofinstagram #petcostumes

A post shared by Margie “Scaredy Dog” Thomas (@margiescaredydog) on


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View this post on Instagram

 

Meant to start this in October. Better late than never. #tbrpost #bookstagram #ebook

A post shared by Lit Carnivale (@carniethebookworm) on

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What Google search have you regretted in the name of research?
Anyone want to follow me on Instagram? I follow back. 😀
It may take some time, but I will stop by your blog too.

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After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
Sadira Stone,
Patricia Josephine,
Lisa Buie-Collard,
Erika Beebe, and
C. Lee McKenzie!

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Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #43).

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

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About Toi IWSG

#IWSG May 2017: Being Overwhelmed, Weird Research, & Another Con

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Created and hosted by the Ninja himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writers Support Group posts the 1st Wednesday of every month. Click the image to learn more or sign up.

Monthly Question: What is the weirdest/coolest thing you ever had to research for your story?

At this point in my writing, I haven’t really had to research anything too weird yet. I guess I could at least mention a few cool things I’ve researched, like: scientific terms and effects of two moons for a story I haven’t started yet or how to create a language for a story I’ve been developing for about three years.

For now, I’d say the most interesting thing I’ve researched is angel lore. After I completed the first draft of my first book, before I even knew it was a book, I decided to look into the different worldviews of angels to see if anything interesting could be added to my story. I bought a book online that had high ratings and was recommended by several different sites. Can’t for the life of me remember the title now. I still have the book, but it’s in storage somewhere.

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So, the month of April was a bit crazy for me. I did a virtual convention, went on Spring Break, took a trip with my sister, did a live convention, and battled and assortment of illnesses- some still in progress. I’ve had a lot of low points in the past month, but the high points made it all bearable.

I only finished one book in the month of April and I still need to write a thorough review for it. I’m struggling to finished up the first installment of “We Are Jardin”. Who knows when that will be ready to publish. My YouTube channel will suffer a bit this month. I’m working on a RavenCon wrap up video and have no real Reading Challenge update to offer. Plus, I have two more author events coming up that I’ll have to work around my ongoing medical issues.

All in all, I guess I can’t complain too much. I’m busy in a good way and my health is always an issue. If I waited around to be healthy all the time, I’d never get anything done.

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What have you had to research for a book?
Read any good books last month?
Hope this post finds you in good health.

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After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
Michelle Wallace,
Nancy Gideon,
Tamara Narayan, and
Liesbet!!

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Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #66).

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

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My Geekdom

My Geekdom 10: The Big Bang Theory

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Pins from Pinterest that inspire me and indulge my geekness. http://pinterest.com/toinette_thomas/thats-hot/

Please do not copy this image. Click this image to visit Pinterest and share, share, share 🙂

I love that geeks have come into their own. I can’t believe that it’s actually cool to be a geek now, at least on TV. It’s funny to me that there are millions of people who adore The Big Bang Theory TV show, but don’t actually follow the interests of its star characters. While there have been an increase in the number fanatic fanboys and girls, it seems to me that a lot of people just like the idea of being a geek…and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Again, there’s no rocket science (Hope Sheldon isn’t reading; Lol.) to the notion that comic books, video games, cartoons, and so much more have influenced my writing, but there’s so much more to my geekdom than fandom. If there’s no academic or intellectual processing involved to piggy back your fandom, well then, you’re just a dork and probably better off in the long run…

Now don’t get all wound up, remember “geek” and “dork” are positive terms now. Some of my best friends are dorks, even my husband; he doesn’t over think his fandom. I’m no super genius, but I have a love for science and an average to above average intellect that I use to over analyze things. My husband and I share our fandom and we love each other for it. I’m his geek and he’s my dork.

The whole point of this notion of geek vs dork is that while I’m influence by my world of fandom, I’ve also done my research. Facts make fiction more believable. Without a foundation in truth, as a writer, I wouldn’t be able to effectively bend the truth to expand my stories. With the Eternal Curse Series, I have researched fact, fiction, doctrine, mythology, opinion, and more. I am a geek and I do my homework.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords