The Streets of Philadelphia

At the end of my novel, there are two chapters set in Philadelphia, 1855. Some crucial action takes place there, so I really needed to develop a firm vision of the city and its atmosphere. I ordered two books from Amazon some time ago: a 300-year history of Philly and a book of photographs of buildings in Philly between the years of 1840 and 1920 or so.

The book of photographs was fantastic. I went online, found a street map of historic Philadelphia, and re-created the street grid. Then I filled in building names on that grid by consulting my books, coding the locations of each structure by the page numbers of the photograph book (e.g. Chestnut Street Theater, 130). Now, as my characters walk down the streets, they can "see" everything that was there in 1855. I also had to figure out where my character's ancestral home would be located, according to her social status. This research process was totally cool, and very different from my research on the small town where the rest of the novel takes place.

Philadelphia is a wonderful setting for historical fiction because the records are so complete. I told Brandon that I may have to do more urban novels--it's fun to have all this information at my disposal. If I'm doing an urban novel and I get bogged down on a plot point, I can always trigger the race riot that occurred that year to spice things up.

Finding Neverland. . .

. . . is an excellent movie.

I'm biased, I know, because it's a movie about a writer. What I like about this J.M. Barrie movie is the same thing that I liked in Becoming Jane. Both movies try to show what goes on in the brain of a writer. Becoming Jane depicted the way that words rush through your mind, as well as the weird, timeless dimension in which you can write for three hours and think only an hour has passed. Finding Neverland showed another aspect of writing, though, by bringing Barrie's imaginative creations into his ordinary life. (For example, when he sees some young boys bouncing on their beds before bedtime, he witnesses them taking off and flying through the window, as he would later write a scene in Peter Pan.)

This isn't exactly how it works--at least, not for me! I don't embellish my life with fiction as I live it, but instead use my remembered experiences when I sit down to write. Realistic or not, though, the magical moments in Finding Neverland shows how a writer's lived experience inspires his fiction.

When Times Change

This poem by William Cowper opened my talk at a different women's retreat way back in November. It's one of my favorites--comforting at all times, but especially times of transition.

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs,
And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.