IWSG: Stranger Things...

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group is a website media business with affiliates to enhance our service to visitors. We are a home for writers in all stages; from unpublished to bestsellers. Our goal is to offer assistance and guidance. We want to help writers overcome their insecurities, and by offering encouragement we are creating a community of support. Visit IWSG to learn more about this great writing community!

  

IWSG posts the first Wednesday of every month. It's a great writer's resource that I'm sure you'll find well worth your time. Be sure to stop by and visit with other IWSG Members.  And join me in thanking this month's awesome co-hosts:  Sadira Stone,  Patricia Josephine,  Lisa Buie-Collard,  Erika Beebe, and C. Lee McKenzie!

IWSG Question:  What's the strangest thing you've ever googled in researching a story?

 Oh, this should be good!  Can't wait to read some of your responses! My response should probably be all the ways a woman can kill a man since one of my characters is being stalked by a psycho.  But, I'm going with something I recently researched - just how intelligent are crows and/or ravens?  As it

A Murder of Crows

turns out, VERY! Do they have "reasoning" powers?  Yes! Research has shown them to be as smart as great apes and able to show imagination, anticipate future events, and solve problems requiring abstract reasoning.  Pretty amazing stuff!

I'm working on a dark suspense thriller with magical, mythical elements in which crows/ravens appear.  While doing some research on the habits and level of intelligence of both crows and ravens (there is a difference), I was blown away by what I learned and have become slightly obsessed with these amazing creatures!  For instance, did you know ravens have the ability to "recognize human faces"?  As in if someone harms one of their family members, they'll recall the face of the human perpetrator and associate it with danger.  They'll also spread the news to all their friends and either avoid the area/person . . . or retaliate!  Spooky, right?  On the other hand, they also remember people who help them.  I find it amazing that crows hold funerals for fellow crows and neighboring crows attend.  And they continue visiting their elderly parents years after leaving the nest. Incredible!

Let's just say I'm fascinated with crows/ravens and now keep a wary but respectful eye on those inhabiting our woods, cawing & calling to each other.  Oh yes!  That's another researched fact - if you ever get the feeling that you're the subject being discussed by a murder of crows . . . you're probably right!!  

What's the strangest thing you've ever researched?