wanted: research

I've been trying to write a post for three weeks now. It's ridiculous. I'm ridiculous! I could go on like this all day and still not get a post written but I am determined this time.

The good news is, I have been managing some sporadic writing over the past several weeks which is a major improvement for me, especially with the new semester starting with my attempting to drown myself amidst [blogger keeps telling me that's not a word but I know it is so there] a sea of 15 credits, work at the library, ta-ing for a professor, and continuing my internship at ACAFS. I know most seniors like to coast to graduation, apparently I am not most seniors, go figure. Probably the development I have been most proud of is the naming of the group of people Mona belongs to. That may sound silly but it's actually been a big step for me and, interestingly, ties in rather well with the preceding comment about "amidst."

Everything I've ever written, and felt at all good about, has been realistic fiction [primarily geared toward YA]. With this new Mona WIP [I've realized that I name and refer to all my WIPs after the main character which makes me feel rather writer-y], I am making an attempt at fantasy and let me tell you, it's been a learning experience already and I've hardly gotten anywhere. The prospect of inventing a world, culture, potentially different races, grand problems and insurmountable odds as I have typically attributed as being key identifiers of fantasy seems an insurmountable task in and of itself. My throws of writer's block have been founded primarily around the fear that this is beyond me, that my imagination is not imagination-y enough to accomplish what I have set out to do. In this way, the naming of an important group of people is a rather large step for me and one that I am so excited about that I will not share it yet for the superstitious fear that whatever muse of imagination and ingenuity that granted this beam of sunshine to me may withdraw further offerings if I treat it commonly.

You know, I suppose I may have the prose-y sort of language down that one sometimes finds in fantasy novels. I've yet to decide if it sounds pretentious or not. Thoughts?

At any rate, I have recently faced the inevitable conclusion that I must do my research if I am to find any success in this endeavor with Mona. What sort of research do I mean? Well, reading, of course. I have dabbled a little in the fantasy genre but true immersion has never really been my thing and I'm thinking that it needs to be. So, now I am asking for your help. Having recently lost access to the one person I would have immediately turned to for referrals [you just had to leave on a mission right before I needed to ask you, didn't you Veronica?], I need suggestions of books. Where do you think I should start? What are your favorite fantasy books? I would really appreciate any recommendations you have. I can't promise that I will get to all of them considering the rest of my more "adult" schedule in the coming months but I will try and I will review those books I can get to. Then maybe we can have cool discussions about them! So please, leave comments and suggestions and any tips you may have if you write fantasy yourself [because that's cool!].

Thank you to anyone who sticks around to read these inconsistent and often nonsensical posts. I hope that it's worth your time at least part of the time!