Please read Karen's blog. I love the idea of it. And remember to visit her wonderful website at http://www.karensandler.net
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I love talismans while I'm working on a book. Thats why I have a chunk of serpentine rock that I used as inspiration while writing my love underground suspense novel, NIGHT WHISPERS. And why I purchased a hand-loomed potholder while working on my uncompleted, unsold womens fiction novel, BACK HOME. And why I have, tucked into the file folder for my March Silhouette Special Edition, HIS MIRACLE BABY, a syringe for implanting embryos into a host uterus.
Yes, a syringe. Its about 12 inches end to end, from the plunger of the syringe to the flexible tip where the embryos are placed. A tiny, tiny tip you would never expect to be able to fit a baby-to-be.
I received said syringe during a tour of a local fertility clinic. The reproductive endocrinologist was kind enough to show me around on a Saturday, giving me access to exam rooms and the embryology lab. There were no patients in residence, so no one to disturb (although if the fertility readiness alarm sounded on a Saturday, the doctors were prepared to answer it). There was only the reproductive endocrinologist, the embryologist and me and my digital camera. I took pictures of everything I could think of to make it easier to describe the scene later when I was freaking out about deadlines.
Calendars are a sort of talisman for me as well. Not real world calendars, the ones that scream at me about hourglasses running out of time and can't I write a little bit faster. I'm talking about story calendars, the ones that keep straight the days of my fictional world.

So if anyone finds a time glitch in HIS MIRACLE BABY...dont tell me. I dont wanna know.
As a science geek, I really enjoyed the research into IVF that was necessary with HIS MIRACLE BABY. The embryology lab was like something out of a sci-fi movie. Do you know the canisters where the embryos are kept in cryopreserve look kinda like the kegs they use on soda machines? Yes, the canister they showed me was empty, but again, I was struck by the marvel of storing human life, being able to produce a baby even a year later as in my story.
As challenging as the book was to write, it was a satisfying experience and great fun to learn something new. And I still have that syringe, a talisman for my creativity.
Karen
www.karensandler.net
5 comments:
Interesting post, Karen! And what a great idea to print out a story calendar. (Smacks self on forehead for not thinking to do it.) I need to do that for my current WIP!
Karen,
I love the calendar idea, too. Trying to keep days/dates, etc. in my head while working on a manuscript is definitely not the best.
Also very neat is the thought of a talisman for each wip. I'm writing a Christmas story right now, so I should think of something to go along with that. Thanks for the tip!
As Maddie said, I have a framed SisterWriters photo of the Smokies on my mantel...next to memorabilia from my first RWA conference, and lots of books - some written by people I know, which is so cool! I guess all of those items are general writing talismans...or would that be talismen?
Again, thanks for sharing, Karen!
Ooh! Talismans are a unique way of connecting with your story while writing. I like that.
I don't have anything like that necessarily, but I do have a few things I call writing "totems" that I keep on my desk or on my person while I write. I have a stone carved cat my MIL got me at Indianpolis Zoo when we went that was handcrafted in Kenya. I rub it's smooth cool stone when I need inspiration. I also have a small fairy bear with pink wings and tutu and a red heart that hangs from my computer microphone. I received it from a fellow writer.
Sometimes I wear tiny metallic butterfly clips in my hair while I write or wear my NaNoWriMo t-shirts. I have both my NaNoWriMo certificates from the past two years framed on the wall not far from my desk and a poster of Snoopy on his doghouse with a typewriter that says "It's exciting when you've written something that you know is good!"
I look to that poster when I need inspiration as well. I've had it since I was teenager and first started dreaming of being a writer.
Thanks, Karen, for guest blogging with me, and to the others who commented. I love to hear about all the "inspirational techniques" and other stuff that authors use to move through their stories.
Hm. Perhaps that is what I need for my current WIP, which appears stalled for the moment....
Again, thanks Karen. I now need to go find HIS MIRACLE BABY! Off to eharlequin...
maddie
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