When Research Rocks

I love research. It's an education, an entertainment, and a procrastination that I can justify. Even when I don't get my pages done for the day, I can lie in bed at night thinking but I did get a great insight into downtown Sioux Falls and now I can picture that scene where Max comes to the gallery etc, etc, and so I fall asleep knowing the day hasn't been a complete washout.

To be honest, my book's not been happening as fast as it should or could be this last week, but I have done some great research and now I do have a better insight into the settings I'm using, winter in the American midwest, my heroine's wardrobe AND I've given her a new/different job.

Something wasn't right with my opening chapters, you see. They lacked punch. Part of the reason, I decided, was my heroine. She came across as colorless, boring, directionless. I didn't like her much, so how could I expect my readers to? So. I've given her a passion for the photography classes she's taking, a part-time job at a studio/gallery and a boss on the make, all of which create further complications when our hero waltzes (literally, seeeing as it's on the dance floor at a wedding!) back into her life.

And research rocks because my brilliant research aide found a photographer who has provided EXACTLY the information I needed for a new opening scene!