How Far is Too Far??
One of my characters shoots a bow. I won’t go into details of why, but she does, and she’s darn good at it. When I started writing her, I’d never fired a bow but thought the idea of it fascinating. My husband, man that he is, bought me one for my birthday. I figure his decision making process in this gift was something along the lines of, “I’m buying one so I’ll get her one, too. Birthday gift solved, plus, it’ll be sexy to watch her fire a bow.”
He soon learned me firing a bow is the opposite of sexy. After my second or third time pulling the string back, he commented on being glad we lived in the middle of nowhere so no one could see me and my form. What he meant was he was glad no one could see him standing next to me.
It’s not as easy as it looks on TV. Not even close. I have a new respect for Robin Hood. This is why:
One of my characters shoots a bow. I won’t go into details of why, but she does, and she’s darn good at it. When I started writing her, I’d never fired a bow but thought the idea of it fascinating. My husband, man that he is, bought me one for my birthday. I figure his decision making process in this gift was something along the lines of, “I’m buying one so I’ll get her one, too. Birthday gift solved, plus, it’ll be sexy to watch her fire a bow.”
That would be my arm after the string popped me not once, but twice. And I’m here to tell you, it hurt like an SOB. After this happened, my husband gloated on why one should use proper form when firing a bow as he tried to teach me.
One of my characters shoots a bow. I won’t go into details of why, but she does, and she’s darn good at it. When I started writing her, I’d never fired a bow but thought the idea of it fascinating. My husband, man that he is, bought me one for my birthday. I figure his decision making process in this gift was something along the lines of, “I’m buying one so I’ll get her one, too. Birthday gift solved, plus, it’ll be sexy to watch her fire a bow.”
So was this too far in the name of research? It took a couple hours for all that redness and swelling to fully go down. A nasty bruise lasted several days longer. But it gave me a whole new perspective on just how talented my character is with her bow. I’ll attempt just about anything (especially if there’s somebody behind me telling me what a great idea it is). Food I’ll cook and try. Take a few hours ride in a carriage? Sure. Next time I see one go by, I’ll happily hop on. Go out and swing an axe because a Main Character does, why not?
But how far is too far? Hovering over a chamber pot in a dress? That one’s a touch too far for me to try. What about you? What have you done in the name of research? Ever wish to do something but can’t or don’t have the nerve to give it a try?
Um. Constance can shoot a musket. No. I won’t try that. Now, squatting over a chamber pot? I’ve squatted behind a tree, so no big. I was a kid, k.
I don’t think I’d try any fencing or such. (which isn’t in any of my books, yet..) I guess the distance one would go depends on the individual. I would love to visit each place I’m writing about. Tis possible, but not always feasible or practical.
LOL, I was a major tom boy, but I always refused to squat behind a tree! Don’t know that I’d shoot a musket either. They just don’t look real safe. But I’d do fencing in a heart beat if I had all that safety gear on.
Thanks for stopping in Leigh
umm, went on a ghost hunter!
I figured Matt bought the bow thinking, hey, cool tax write-off!
Lovely arm. getting any better with the bow?
I’d love to travel to the locations, wear the costumes and even attend mock social gatherings. And as Leigh can attest to, I’d probably even fire some of their weapons hehe. Well, provided the kick-back isn’t going to dislocate my shoulder.
Like Leigh, I’ve done the tree-bathroom scene before. My parents LOVED to go camping and it was either a bush or hold it…for over a week. Yeah, I decided my bladder wasn’t strong enough.
If I wrote contemps, I’m not sure I’d go bungy(sp) jumping but maybe (strong maybe) skydiving hehe.
I the think the line for me would be the food. With a touchy stomach (crohn’s disease), I’d be careful of what I ate more than the activities I did.
Geez, Cyndi, I just forgot about ya’ll ghost hunting! No way, no how. I’ll never be able to write about a character going ghost hunting. That’s enough in itself to freak me out.
Getting better with the bow. I hit the target more often than not.
Glad you stopped by!
OMG-sky diving?? no, no, no, not this girl! Not up for discussion any quicker than a ghost hunting trip.
Bungy jumping would be a big maybe for me. I think I would do it off a bridge, if the current in the water below wasn’t too strong. I figure I’ll have a chance if the cord breaks.
That shoulder dislocating thing hangs me up too. I know if my husband’s complaining about a sore shoulder over firing a gun a few times, it’ll put me in a sling.
Thanks for stopping in.
Well yesterday we went shooting and it was a blast! Except for the 100+ heat. Whew, it was hot.
My husband recently bought two new guns, a .22 hand gun and a 1940’s Russian riffle (from the war years or some such thing). It bruised his shoulder after firing it 5 times. The goofball had the nerve to ask if I wanted to test it out. As IF!
I fired the .22 hand-gun, it wasn’t bad but I prefer my .22 semi-automatic riffle. Plus, I can hit the target 8 out of 10 times. Not too bad for a learner hehe.
Rifles are easier for me to handle that handguns. But I have had some big time bruises from the rifle kick-backs.
Sky diving – I’d love to! Will I? probably not but still…
I told my elderly neighbor to the ER a couple of weeks ago and, I’m embarrassed to admit, took some notes on the ER trauma room for a story I’m working on!
I’ve never shot a rifle, but have loaded and unloaded the hubby’s enough that I could do it if desperate. I like handguns, except, good grief, loading the clips are not fun. Hubby’s got a .22 that I’m a fairly decent shot with and He got me a .38 (LOL, it was for my birthday for a different year). I’m not as good with it. Not near as smooth. Something I’ve wanted to get my hands on is a shotgun. Chi-chi!
Y’all are making me nervous.
Yup, that’s what she said yesterday on the phone hehe. She can vouch for the loudness of my husband’s new gun.