Smoke and Mirrors
I recently had a discussion with another author about the level of research they include in their stories. How far do authors go to get that authentic feel to bring to our readers? She travels overseas, visits and immerses herself in the culture and landscape she writes about. She reads literature from the time period she writes, she diligently researches costumes and clothing of that day and age.
Me? I write contemporary. So far, my stories are based in California. The language, the clothes, the culture... I'm pretty familiar with them. So -- much less research, right?
Not really! My first book featured a cop working to bust an identity theft ring. For that, I interviewed both police and FBI contacts. I visited Sacramento and Auburn, I read up on lingerie design companies. I won't comment on the chocolate research *g*
My upcoming release, Risque Business, is a makeover story that deals with both academia and a television studio. Oh -and there is one hot scene that takes place at the infamous Exotic Erotic Ball. Heheehee. Even my husband blanched at going to that with me. He through out the "but its on Halloween and we have to take the kids trick-or-treating" excuse. I did regroup at that point and go the interview route instead... and was secretly just a little relieved.
This made me realize that a great deal of my research is passive, rather than active. I interview, I read, I ask a lot of questions... but I don't DO things that are way outside my personal comfort zone (still not commenting on that chocolate, though). I tend to bring a lot of my own personal experiences and knowlege into my stories, as well. I still giggle over one contest I'd entered. My heroine was a new agey tarot card reader, my hero was renovating her house. When I received my feedback, the judge had marked me down for research, stating that while my construction terminology was well done, I had no idea what I was talking about with the new age and tarot cards. Considering I was working at a new age store and still reading tarot professionaly at the time, I could only shake my head and wonder.
As writers, how far are you willing to go to do research? Would you bungie jump? Would you visit a sex club? How about job-related research (the non-kinky kind)- would you swing a hammer on a job site or sit in the cockpit and try your hand at flying a plane?
Readers, how vital is research to you? Do you like a lot of details in the story? Do you like just enough to spark your imagination? Which leads to another question - How forgiving are you in research? If you disagree with the author's portrayal, do you write off the entire book or just figure they might have a different take on things than you do?
Books and Research
Hi Tawny,
I think research is important, if an author is going to write about a specific job that they know little or nothing about. As a reader, I don't mind little mistakes but, if I'm reading a story and the author writes about a job that they know nothing about, and tries to make it believable,I have a difficult time finishing the book.
I don't know how much research you did for your books but, I loved them both. I'd be the first one to tell you if I didn't like anything about them. I'd love to hear about your chocolate research though. Come on, give it up. You know you want to.
Sorry I haven't been on the blog for awhile. Please forgive me. I'm doing a bit of research myself. Reading lots of books and, learning how to write a good book. I miss all of you, and I promise to visit the blog more often.
Hugs, Mads:)
Mads!!!
Missed you, lady :-) Glad to hear you're doing great with the research/writing gig!!!
Thanks so much for loving my books *g*
I do agree that if the research isn't detailed, the writer has to BS well enough to make it indetectable (is that a word? I should research that). And jobs are such detail oriented things to portray, since the chances are pretty good that at least one reader somewhere has a strong level of familiarity with that job.
Hmmm...
I'm kind of in both camps.
On one hand, I want a good story more than anything else, and I don't think you necessarily need a lot of research, in fact, I think too much research can get in the way of the story.
On the other hand, I do notice when details are wrong -- if it's a computer thing I happen to know about, or a place I've been, or whatever -- then it does derail the reading a little. I've read some suspense books that figured in technological stuff, and I knew it was wrong (much b/c of Mike, who writhes in agony sometimes during shows like Numb3rs when they get the computer stuff wrong for the sake of making the story stuff work).
I guess I figure if you are going to do research, then get it right. If you make stuff up, at least be craft-minded enough to make it believable, and don't use techno-speech or whatever to try to fool people, because those technical terms all mean something.
I'm thinking of a book where I made up a bus station in Norfolk VA -- I know people in that city probably said "that's all wrong" -- but I made a decision. I was talking about how characters would break into the security offices of a bus station, and frankly, I wanted it to be made up. I didn't want to use a real bus station, both for story purposes, and because I didn't think it was necessary or responsible to find out how to break into bus station security.
But the scene seemed to play well enough -- no one ever questioned it.
So... research yes, but craft and story are more important...
As far as what I'm willing to do, I wouldn't go too far out of my comfort zone either. I like to visit places, and don't write about places I haven't been. But sometimes going out of the comfort zone is good -- for me, that was driving down canyon roads into a desert valley several hundred (thousand, million?) feet deep and being terrified -- which translated into the beginning pages of Pick Me Up... So... again, a little of both.
Sam
Straddling the Fence
I hear you on the careful use of research, Sam. There's nothing worse than massive info dump -especially when it gets in the way of story and characters.
I lean on the side of vague when it comes to major details, for the exact reason you say. I might personally know enough about a subject (say, Tarot again) to depict The Moon as illusion and intuition, but a reader with Tarot experience --especially if it differs from mine -- might toss the book aside, arguing that it actually means trickery, lies and any form of negativity. A friend recently had a comment regarding Highway 101. Now she's lived in CA for most of her life, I have too - we call it Highway 101. Always, thats how we've heard it. Someone corrected her - "its THE 101" -- huh? Never had I heard it called that. But then she asked around and yup, quite a few people had heard the term.
btw... nice job on the terrified drive *g*
I think it's a Northern CA/Southern CA thing...
on the freeways, anyway. I think down south, they call them "the 101," "the 5," "the 405" but in Northern CA, we don't.
And Sam put it very nicely--I tend to mostly focus on the story, but if it's stuff I know about, I'll notice if details are wrong. And I'll happily accept it if it's something I don't know anything about... horrible double-standard, isn't it?
Aha
Now that makes sense!!! *g* thanks for clearing it up, I had seriously wondered if I needed to start hanging out in truck stops to get the lingo right.
So, I get what you're saying about the details (love the double-standard *g*) but tell me this... since you KNOW the regional difference in terminology, would the highway detail pull you out of a story or would it slide right by?
Uh...
where's the story supposed to be set and where's the character who's talking from? ;)
Seriously, I think it's one of those things that if I was having trouble in any way with the plot or characters or something else, it would be just another little thing that would irk me. If I was loving the rest, it would slide right on by...
Does that sound too psychotic?
Definitely not psychotic
That makes total sense, Fedora. If you're in the story, cruising along with the characters, then the little things only add to the experience or slide by. Its when you're already making faces and considering whether or not the bathroom is clean enough to wait till you're done reading that those details are a problem :-D
The character was from N. CA, btw :-)
Oh boy.
My most recent MS featured a cocktail waitress turned bar owner and an undercover cop. I did enough book research to feel comfortable writing the book, but in all honesty, I can count on one hand the number of times I've been in a bar. I've never had a Cosmo, and I'm not a cop. But, as I foresee more cops as heroes (and heroines!) in future books, I did sign up for my local citizen's police academy, and have interviewed defense attorneys for my current WIP. I'm reading more, too.
As a reader, I'm kind of like a big, happy chocolate lab, very willing to be lead down a path to the HEA regardless of accuracy. Things have to be horribly, horribly wrong before I notice. I remember a scene on "Dirty Sexy Money", which is set in NYC, where one of the Darlings (the one running for the Senate and sleeping with a transvestite hooker) called Nick, the lead, and says, "I'm at the corner of 86th and 2nd. Come get me." Now, I used to live at the corner of 86th and Madison, a mere 4 avenues away. My favorite bakery in the world, Two Little Red Hens, is at 86th and 2nd. I know that corner very well, and the guy wasn't anywhere near 86th and 2nd. That I noticed, and that's how bad it has to be before I slip out of the story (but really, who cares when there's Peter Krauss to watch?).
I'm more likely to get frustrated with a book when characters aren't well motivated or the writing doesn't keep my attention (which is about as focused as a chocolate lab's, too). That said, I did notice the wealth of research in Double Dare, Tawny, so I'll end by saying I may not notice inaccurate research, but done well, it really adds to the story!
The different details
First off- thank you for the sweet words about DD :-) and now I am picturing a cute chocolate lab LOL.
You have a fabulous point. I think there are definitely areas that research/writing can be generalized. A bar versus a street address, for instance. You KNEW the street addy was wrong and anyone knowing that area knew it too. But bars or clubs, there are SO many out there and they are all different enough that its much easier to 'make up' details unless you're using - as Sam said- terminology like whatever that hose thingy is called that dispenses the beer *G*
Happy researching! I hope your WIP is going well :-)
Research
Hi Tawny,
Super topic. I write Historicals so I do a lot of research. Like your friend, I try to visit the place and read all about the manners and culture of my time period/place. I want things to be authentic. At the same time, I don't want to read a textbook when I'm reading a Romance, so I try to keep things generalized to add to the feel of the story with only a few specifications where they're really needed.
Atmosphere
Carla, you write such fabulous atmosphere into your historicals! I think that can only come from the level of research and understanding of your time period/setting - but by using the information you do, you give just enough detailing to draw the reader IN to your world, rather than lecturing them ABOUT it.
I love that in a good historical :-D
Research
Great topic! I love research. I actually studied Gaelic for three years while working on my Scottish historical and it turned out to be time well-spent when I moved onto writing SF/F and had to come up with all sorts of words in another language. I played a whole lot of laser tag under the guise of research and am not ashamed to admit it. I also got into Yoga as a result of trying to answer some world-building questions that centered around a similar form of exercise.
My eyes are crossing
Ack, Lisa! I could NOT write SF/F. In my mind, its second only to historicals in the level of research necessary - and it only comes in second because SF/F has a little more leeway in worldbuilding, where historicals are based on actual, researchable, provable events *g*
I love how you explore your interests and find ways to bring them into your stories!
How far would I go?
Hmm...I wouldn't bungee jump, that's for sure. But I'd happily read up on bungee jumping, how it's done and the rush people get from doing something so exciting *g*
Like you, my research so far has been passive. I'd love to visit some of the areas I write about but unfortunately, that's not possible at this time. Although I am going to make a day trip to a local ski resort town for the story I'm working on :-)
But maybe
I wouldn't bungee jump - not really. But what about those mini-bungee jumping things they have at the fairs? You know, where you're put in gear and shoved off a high scaffolding, but there is a big pillow below? Would you do that? *g*
Great topic, Tawny. Hmmm, on
Great topic, Tawny. Hmmm, on research...My first book involved the Secret Service and Mafia. And yes, I interviewed 2 Mafia Dons over the phone (TG they didn't know who I was and I didn't know who they were. Whew!) and an Ex Secret Service Agent who served with 3 Presidents. Besides the interview, I tried to research SS lingo, as well as other things.
Another story I wrote involved a mechanical bull in a hot scene. My hubby read it and all he wanted to know was where and how I did my research. lol Oh course I told him I researched different mechanical bulls on the internet and closed my eyes a bunch. lol
Now I'm working on a story with a high classed society Asst. DA and a framed Vice Cop. So now I'm studying up on their occupations, lingo, as well as NYC, which I'm ashamed to admit, I've never been.
Like others, I don't want to read or write an encyclopedia, but I want as much accuracy in my details as possible and using and feeling the five senses.
Shivers
A-M, you interviewed Mafia Dons? OMG... I'd rather bungee jump!!!
Wow... I'm not only impressed with your research, I'm envious of your contacts :-)
Ooooh...you've whetted my
Ooooh...you've whetted my appetite, Tawny! I can't wait to read Risque Business! The Exotic Erotic Ball has me intrigued!
How far will I go to get my facts straight? Well, most of my research is done through books or on-line, unfortunately. The book I'm working on now involves the Irish mob in Boston, and Special Ops at Ft. Bragg in N.C. I've got the setting and characterization down for the Irish mob part (it's amazing how people open up when you're sitting in a corner of a cozy Irish pub!), but the Ft. Bragg part has me a little stumped. Thank goodness I have a nephew who recently reported there for a 3-year assignment, so I'm going to depend on him for a lot of my information. Hopefully I'll get it right!
LOL
Karen, you should have seen my brother's face when I told him I wanted to go to the Exotic Erotic for research. I thought he was going to have a heart attack!!! Lucky for me, he'd been there a few times (hence the heart attack) and filled in TONS of details. Way way more details than I ever wanted to know, to be honest *g*
WOW you, though! Another one with the mob connections!
Research
I wrote an entire book (ONCE UPON A PROJECT, coming April 29th from Dafina Books) about lifelong friends growing up in Chicago in the 1960s and 1970s, and I'd only lived in the area (the far suburbs, at that) for 6 months. A PBS documentary helped, and so did my husband, who grew up in the general vicinity. I had to make a few phone calls, notably to the school district to find out what cut-off date they were using in the early 60s for a child to enter kindergarten (it was November 30th, if anyone's interested) because two of my characters had birthdays the last 6 weeks of the year. In the narrative I explained why one of them was a grade behind her friends.
It wasn't backbreaking, but it was fairly well researched, and from my armchair. No bungie jumping for me! My books tend to be more emotional.
Details
Bettye, details can make or break a story, can't they? And I think it helps us writers a great deal to hit that comfort zone - where we feel that we know enough to be confident of what we're writing. It sounds like you nailed it :-)
Research
I agree that bungee jumping would be pushing me a bit too far past my own limits. Now I'd be interested in hearing about your chocolate research. Most of my research is done via the internet and from personal experience.
Lindsey
Nothing like experience!
Lindsey I think you hit the nail on the head, there. 'Write what you know' is an old saying for a very good reason. There is so much authenticity and depth to our personal experiences, especially when we use them in our stories.
As for chocolate... lets just say some melting temperatures feel better than others *beg*
Research
Hi Tawny. How far do I go with my research???? Hmmm, since I write HOT romance, I should probably plead the fifth on this one. I will say that when I wrote Her Last Fling I did go to Memphis, stay at a hotel, and visited Beale Street. I also went to a couple of clubs there. Any other similarities to Katy's experiences are better left untold. ;)
Oh, and I did check out online dating services, too. Some of the guys' ads really cracked me up. Things like "Tried all the rest? Not the best, but available and lonely." And that's mild to some of the ones I came across. So I guess Katy's dismay over some of the ads and with how some of the guys she 'met' online falsely advertised themselves really did have a bit of me.
How HOT will you go?
So rather than asking how far you'd go for research, the real question is how wild would you get??? Hmmm....
:-D Jana, Her Last Fling is such a fab book and the concept is definitely fun. The online dating research had to be a blast.
How Hot is Hot?
Tawny, my hubby wants to know what is wrong with your hubby to miss a chance to see you scantily clad, bouncing around San Francisco. LOL :) He said he would go in a heartbeat, even dress up wild and crazy. hahahahaha
Amanda Murphy w/a Jill James
http://www.jilljamesromance.com
Interesting point
Except my hubby can watch me bounce around, scantily clad anytime and he doesn't have to share the view *g*
But if your hubby goes, get pictures!!!
Tawny's hubby
Don't let her fool you, Jill. Tawny's man likes adventure. I hear he has a thing for buttons, in particular. ;)
Button, button, who's got the button?
Naughty, Jana. Very naughty.
Naughty?
Who me? Never. ;)
Altho a lot of you might
Altho a lot of you might disagree with me but as a reader ---- If I'm not familiar with the place where a story is set and not familiar with the job/jobs of the characters I don't think a mistake on the part of the writer is going to make a difference. And how would I know it was a mistake? I know nothing about NYC so how would I know if a scene that was was suppose to be 82nd and whatever was really there?? Yes some research is necessary for all those familiar with the area or the job/jobs but to put a book down and quit reading it because of a mistake?? Even if I do see a mistake if the story is otherwise good, I'll finish it. Of course some intensive research might be interesting for the writer.
The art of procrastination
Ellen, you're right, I think that a great deal of intensive research ends up being for the writers benefit :-) Partially, yes, to make sure the story is accurate and we are really connecting with the setting and characters, but hey, its a fab-o procrastination tool, too! I recently spent a nice hour cruising designer wedding dress websites in order to write a single sentence in a prologue *g*