Going on a research trip!

I have the incredible opportunity to travel to Bucks Pocket (and beyond) in Alabama to soak in some history and put the final developmental changes on my work in progress, a coming of age saga set in... well... you guessed it—Bucks Pocket.

I have the incredible opportunity to take a research trip to Bucks Pocket (and beyond) in Alabama to soak in some history and put the final developmental changes on my work in progress, a coming of age saga set in... well... you guessed it—Bucks Pocket. I don't want to squander the opportunity to document things, and I'm a little squeamish about video, so I'm going to do my best to write it all down.

Being new to this research trip notion, I reached out to more experienced authors and acquired their ideas on how to stay sane:

• Make a list of places you must go, and a list of places you'd like to go. The must takes priority.

• Be flexible. Things happen and it should be a fun trip, not a chore.

• Bring a notebook.

• Securely transfer all the photos from your phone/camera before the trip, or you'll run out of space fast.

• Bring comfortable shoes.

• Check travel regulations and business hours before the trip.

They had specific advice for introverts like me who get travel anxiety:

• Bring a book to read.

• Journal.

• Find a quiet, secluded place and just soak up the silence/view.

• Listen to relaxing music on the plane.

• Find your zen and get grounded. You better bet I'll fight for that zen! Who knows, maybe we will see some things related to nefarious Slick Law and I'll have to fight extra hard.

A beta reader of mine has generously offered to show us around Lookout Mountain and other areas. Mrs. Honea has some insight on what may or may not work for certain scenes. I'll also get to meet Mr. Greenwood, a history buff and the Bucks Pocket ranger. He loves the area and knows it so well, we'll see a lot of really cool things. I never thought I'd get to see this place in person, so I'm eternally grateful to everyone who has made this possible, including my travel buddy and hubby Ryan.

I'm excited to be around chill people in the South. A much needed change of pace.

After this trip I will hopefully get cultural accuracy feedback from Mr. Galisgewi in Oklahoma, and I can hole myself up to make that last developmental edit.

So what about you? Do you have any advice?