Moving outside my comfort zone
Okay, so chapter 13 is posted.
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6640484/13/Unadulterated_Something
I have to admit that writing this chapter made me really freaking nervous, because of the medical content...
When I decided that the plot was going to turn in the direction of Elphaba sustaining a serious injury, I knew I actually had to know what I was talking about from a medical perspective. And generally when it comes to things that go on inside the human body, I try to remain as ignorant as possible, because it scares me how fragile we really are. My mom, on the other hand, used to read medical books for fun, even though her career has NOTHING to do with medicine. Now, she's moved on to the Discovery Health Channel, where she regularly watches specials on face-eating tumors and the like. Which makes me really glad I don't live at home anymore...
But I can tell you, in the time I spent doing google searches on "blunt abdominal trauma," I was back in face-eating tumor land all over again. I read about (and, unfortunately, saw some pictures of) all the nasty things that can happen if you take a blow to the stomach and I had to decide on a "diagnosis" that wouldn't be instantly fatal, familiarize myself with the progression of the injury if left untreated, and what exactly would be required to treat it. (I do have a diagnosis -- and no, I am not sharing! Though a reviewer of mine has taken some guesses at it. And it makes me happy, because she's obviously medically savvy, and I'm like, "yes, someone will actually appreciate the research I put into this to make it realistic!")
Of course, I could have just asked my mom and saved myself a lot of time. But why do things the easy way?
I also feel really bad for abusing a fictional character that I am head-over-heels in love with. But that's what we fanfic authors do, isn't it?
Of course there is much more to the chapter than medical drama... There's also a lot of touching. And a whole damn lot of Glinda being adorable (at least in my opinion). I just hope that my readers stick with me as the medical drama plays out...
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6640484/13/Unadulterated_Something
I have to admit that writing this chapter made me really freaking nervous, because of the medical content...
When I decided that the plot was going to turn in the direction of Elphaba sustaining a serious injury, I knew I actually had to know what I was talking about from a medical perspective. And generally when it comes to things that go on inside the human body, I try to remain as ignorant as possible, because it scares me how fragile we really are. My mom, on the other hand, used to read medical books for fun, even though her career has NOTHING to do with medicine. Now, she's moved on to the Discovery Health Channel, where she regularly watches specials on face-eating tumors and the like. Which makes me really glad I don't live at home anymore...
But I can tell you, in the time I spent doing google searches on "blunt abdominal trauma," I was back in face-eating tumor land all over again. I read about (and, unfortunately, saw some pictures of) all the nasty things that can happen if you take a blow to the stomach and I had to decide on a "diagnosis" that wouldn't be instantly fatal, familiarize myself with the progression of the injury if left untreated, and what exactly would be required to treat it. (I do have a diagnosis -- and no, I am not sharing! Though a reviewer of mine has taken some guesses at it. And it makes me happy, because she's obviously medically savvy, and I'm like, "yes, someone will actually appreciate the research I put into this to make it realistic!")
Of course, I could have just asked my mom and saved myself a lot of time. But why do things the easy way?
I also feel really bad for abusing a fictional character that I am head-over-heels in love with. But that's what we fanfic authors do, isn't it?
Of course there is much more to the chapter than medical drama... There's also a lot of touching. And a whole damn lot of Glinda being adorable (at least in my opinion). I just hope that my readers stick with me as the medical drama plays out...