Snowflake Challenge #5: Some resources for writing very specific stuff

[aquietjune]

Looking at this challenge I felt very lost, because while I've been back in fandom for a while now, most of my fannish web surfing is done on social media/discord and, for writing, on fandom wikis (to check on canon stuff) and Pinterest and image search engines of various types (for inspiration, especially for period stuff).

I do research, but usually it's very specific to the story that I'm writing and that leads me to different websites each time.

Then I thought that all those good resources for one thing or another will go lost at some point if I don't save them properly.

Of course, this post of course is not the right place to dump all of my links, but I've decided to find again those that came up to my mind before it's too late and link them here, for now, at least to trace them. So, have three main resources for writing (dictionary, first names, fashion) and then... a few websites that help with cartography, surveying, and planning (fictional) journeys.

Challenge #5

In your own space, tell us about 3 creative/fannish resources, spaces, or communities you use or enjoy. (One or two is fine, especially if you're in a smaller fandom or like many people at the moment, fannishly adrift right now) Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

• Of course WordReference English not being my first language, this is still the most accessible/immediate resource for looking up specific terms. (Although not perfect at all.)
• Behind the Name Still my main resources for first names when I need to come up with new characters' names or analyse the ones that I have already to establish thematic meaning, background etc.
• Vintage Dancer Fashion plates per era and occasion, very useful both for costuming and for writing stories where you have not only parties but domesticity, daytime commitments, trips in the country and so on.
• Sea Distance Calculator How long does it take to go from one place to another traveling the sea, depending on the ship's speed?
• Sea-Distances.org like above.
• Azimuthal Map Generator Generate an azimuthal map (map representing proportionally correct distances from the center point), not to areas) starting from a set of coordinates denoting the center. (Also see wikipedia on the topic)
• FAO Training Guide to Topography lots of useful practical information on how to do topography and land surveying.
• History of mapping and surveying of land in Queensland another good, accessible resource on how cartography and surveying was done before GPS.

Very random stuff, isn't it? But in truth you'll never know when you are going to need it...

Thanks for reading!