Television

I watch entirely too much television. But in the summer, when it's well over 100 degrees (Fahrenheit, 38 Celsius) in the shade every day, what else is there? Last week, the temperature dropped to 95, the whole town rushed outside and played, worked in the yard, whatever, just to get outside and breathe unrecycled air-conditioned air again. It felt so refreshing to have that cold front go through.

One thing television is good for is ideas. The best aliens in fiction have their basis in real creatures living on earth now or in the past. National Geographic Channel, Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, and several others are almost entirely documentaries. Writing believable battle scenes requires research into historical battles. The History Channel has shows on individual battles, as well as series on generals and wars.

I don't think it's enough to watch the show, then write, but it sure does work as a shortcut. I see an animal behavior that would be nifty and I have to go to the library to find out how that behavior affects the animal in the wild. What are the advantages to the animal (usually food or love) and what are the disadvantages? Every good trait has its flipside. Both sides get worked into the story.

If there's nothing good for ideas on the tube, there's always the Food Network. Ina Garten's menus are dee-lish.