I am pleased and proud to announce that my main character managed to escape from Venice! My character and I spent a lot of time there–far more time that I’d planned–due to my midcourse correction in plotting.
Now I have to say that I really enjoyed researching and writing about Venice. I planned the first and second chase scenes with some help from Google Maps. For the set design, I spent a lot of time poking through the corners of the Pensione Accademia and the Ristorante San Trovaso. I also did a lot of photo research on vaporettos and water taxis as I planned for an escape.
Does working from websites and photos help? Oh, yes. I’ve been getting a good response on my description from my normal critique groups and from my assigned group at one of Darcy Pattison’s revision retreats. This technique of studying photos ensured that I could insert plenty of detail in order to design my description. Now I can’t say that my readers saw the picture above, but they might have generated something similar.
Kristin Wolden Nitz 
Nice pic! I’d love to see the water taxi pics, too!
Darcy
Gorgeous image! And great tips on research. Your setting was one of the most immediate that I read for this weekend. Now I know why!
Now I know why your settings are so vivid! I do work some photos some, but not nearly enough – I’ll have to make that more of a priority.
Hey, thanks! I always have to slog through the descriptive sections, so it’s nice to know that the end result is working! I’ll try to get more Venice pics up, Darcy.