Susan Lyons | I Hate Research – Except When I Don’t
Personally, I’m not a big fan of research, and after 10 years of university I’d hoped my research days were behind me. Not so! But at least when I’m writing fiction, I can choose topics that interest me.
Firefighters, for example. I decided that the hero of HOT IN HERE (the 2nd book in my Awesome Foursome series, which is a kind of "Sex And The City" series set in Vancouver, BC), would be a firefighter. Now there, let me tell you, was one tough research assignment! Drinking tea in a Vancouver fire hall kitchen with a group of hot firefighters; visiting a firefighter training centre in Reno; having a couple of Queensland firefighters dress me up in full turnout regalia, then catch me when I promptly toppled over!Not all research is that much fun, unfortunately. Sometimes it’s a matter of a quick or lengthy internet search or reading a stack of library books. That’s great for getting the factual info. I’ll usually start there. Then, if possible, I’ll set up an interview or two. Hearing people’s experiences and insights adds so much flesh to those factual bones. Personal experience is the best thing, of course – it gives us sensory details, ambience, emotion. (For those who’ve read HOT IN HERE, yes, I actually did take a pole-dancing lesson!)
This week, I was at the library reading a brief excerpt from my latest release, SHE'S ON TOP (the 4th book in the Awesome Foursome series). I realized my background research included the following: the Banff summer music school (where the heroine and hero first met), Armed Forces families (because the heroine’s dad was with the Air Force and they travelled all the time), Jewish customs (because her mother was Jewish and her faith was very important to her), and the life of a professional classical musician (which the heroine lives). Of course the scene isn’t an info dump, it’s all about Rina and Giancarlo catching up after nine years, and the reader getting to see some of their similarities and differences – and getting an idea of the conflicts that are going to make for trouble between them.The point of doing research isn’t to dump it all into the middle of a story, but to give the authentic details and “feel” that make the characters and story come alive and ring true. I know some readers (and writers) are obsessed about total accuracy, but in my opinion it’s fine to fudge a little with the facts; what really matters is emotional truth and resonance. If you’re a writer, how do you feel about the research aspects of your work? If you’re a reader, are you one of the people who notices if a tiny detail is wrong, or are you happy to opt into a “it’s all made up anyhow” approach and just go where the author (and characters) take you?
Thanks so much for inviting me to blog at Fresh Fiction.
Susan Lyons
For sexy romance that’s intense, passionate, heartwarming and fun
http://www.susanlyons.ca/: trailers, excerpts, contest, and all that other good stuff!
Labels: firefighter, pole dancing, research, Susan Lyons, writer
posted by Fresh Fiction @ 4:32 PM
15 Comments:
Hi Susan,
Great post! As a reader, I'll let the little things go as long as they aren't significant to me personally, meaning they don't push one of my hot buttons. And even then, I realize my hot buttons aren't the same as other people. I may be sensitive about certain issues that others don't necessarily understand or care about. Having said that, I won't necessarily throw the book down if I find some kind of error or vow to never read another book by that author again. I'm fairly forgiving.
As a writer, however, I am extremely sensitive about tackling certain topics and approach them with great care. The military. Firefighters and other public service workers (I have a book about a fire investigator--lots of research there). Medical workers--doctors, nurses, etc. And most definitely folks who practice BDSM or explore Master/slave, Dom/sub relationships.
The same goes for certain medical conditions. I once wrote a book about a man who had an autistic child. I spent months researching autism.
Because if my writing is going to stir up emotions in a reader, I want it to be because of the characters, the story, not because of something I got wrong.
Well put, Tawny.
It's interesting, too, when you're researching a topic like doctors, Chinese-Canadians or autistic people, because of course there's no one "truth". That would be stereotyping. But on the other hand, you do need to do the research so that your character is a believable doctor, Chinese-Canadian or person with autism (as well as being a believable everything else they are - e.g., a 30-year-old, a female, an only child who was raised by a single-parent dad, and so on, and so on). There's so much that goes into the make-up of each character.
When I'm researching, I like hearing or reading people's stories. Right now I'm researching the sister bond, and have been reading anecdotes that illustrate the different ways various sisters feel about each other. It shows me that there are no universals but there are some trends, and that of course each relationship is unique.
Susan
Susan, in my work I want my research to enhance the emotional connection between me and the reader.
Between the characters, too, if I can manage to do it.
A light touch with information is important to those goals.
As a reader, I'm with Tawny. We all have issues that can sting if not handled well.
But generally, I'm forgiving as a reader, especially if I'm emotionally engaged with the characters and care what happens next.
Great post and I love the trailer!
Bonnie
I actually love doing research. I find myself wandering way off track and coming up with angles I'd never considered before I started the research, too. I love the internet because you can research in depth so quickly.
My books always seem to need a lot of research into business (those billionaires....), and I've found that my CP's have been an incredible source of information into aspects of finance that are confusing/mind-boggling to me. Sometimes it's good just to talk to a human :-D
Jen
Thanks, Bonnie. I'm pretty forgiving as a reader, too. But it is funny what things will throw us out of a story. I'm fine with writers using artistic license to change the location of streets, restaurants etc. If someone points out that a particular restaurant doesn't exist in a particular location, I'll sweetly remind them that the characters don't actually exist either - I made them up! (If I can make up people, can't I make up a restaurant, or change its location???)
But if there's an error that's character related - e.g., the cop or PI goes off on their own, into a dangerous situation, and doesn't bother to let anyone know where they're going - unless the author gives me very good motivation for this, I'm going to say, "That's just not believable." And I'm going to stop buying into that character and the story.
Jen, that's so true, about the research often leading you in directions you didn't anticipate. And that's often when some of the most interesting stuff comes up.
I do love having critique partners too. And other humans to talk to.
Susan
I admit, I'm anal about research. Too many times, in historical fiction, at least, errors made by authors of the past have become accepted because those that followed didn't check the info and propagated the inaccuracy within their own work. That gets a book bounced off a wall into the trash double quick in my world. (I'd give a 'for instance' but we would be here a while.) This is particularly hard on those still in the contest loop. Judges, too, have accepted the inaccuracies and penalize the entrant when understanding and fact don't equate becoming a double-edged sword for aspiring novelists. That said, for me, fudge is for lips---and hips, unfortunately.
Great post, Susan!
LOL, I always do too much research, then find I don't need half of it! It's fun, though, discovering things I previously had no clues about. Though I frequently write dark paranormal fiction, most of it is grounded in the "real" world, and even though I am bending the rules of the world a little, I still need my details to be accurate! If I don't believe it or logically see how it could happen, how can I expect my reader to suspend disbelief? My latest involves shapeshifters, but Native American cougar shifters, and my research into the Cherokee, their legends and history, the Blue Ridge region, extinct cougars, etc... has been fascinating. I believe this enabled me to build a more realistic setting for the novel, even though there really is no "lost tribe" of shifters surviving in the mountains of North Carolina!
Pat's and Devyn's questions point out how different the "rules" are in different genres. I've heard that fans of historicals are more concerned about accuracy. With paranormal, of course there are no "facts" for much of what's in the book, but all the same there does need to be a foundation that resonates with the reader, a certain logic, and definitely consistency - the author can't go changing the rules she's created for how creatures behave and so on.
Pat, I know it's often easier and more fun for writers to do their research by reading fiction rather than dragging out the text books, but it's a pity when that leads to perpetuation of errors. (Not, of course, that every text book - or internet site - is 100% accurate!)
I always get lost in my research...and it's not for writing generally. It is just trying to track down an illusive bit of info and then finding a whole world of more information that traps me!
But it's fun!
Oh yes, I know that experience of getting trapped in the spiderweb of intriguing info. (Authors often use it as a procrastination device - I can't write, I'm busy doing research!)
Susan,
Good topic!
As a lover of historical romance/ fiction, I feel the way some others have said: if the characters, the the sensual tension & the plot are there, a few inaccuracies won't matter much. Esp. if they are of the "there were no 'dungeons' in the 1100's" variety.
Major errors, though, ones that indicate the author let her excitement for the story/ desperation about the deadline overtake the hard work of doing her homework, then I get irritated.
Worse, I get disengaged from the story. The next thing you know, I'm cleaning a bathroom.
And that's probably not a good thing. If I just as soon clean my bathroom as read your story . . . .
:-)
Now, that all being said, a little Author Note or afterward makes all the difference for me. Shows the author did her work, AND she used her eraser to blend some of the edges to make the plot/romance work.
Thanks for the ideas,
Kris
Kris, good point re the author note.
In "She's on Top" I said, "This is a work of fiction so on occasion I've played free and loose with the facts. All errors are either intentional or my own darned fault, so please don't blame my critiquers or research assistants!"
Count me in on those who love it! Doing research is one of my favorite parts of writing. It actually may be my favorite. I love to learn as I go and always feel like I've added to my education when I complete a book.
Oh, and I used a disclaimer on Body Moves, too. I did my homework, but I made it clear if there were any booboos, they were all mine and for the sake of the story, given it was fiction. :)
~ jodi
Yes, Jodi, it's true that we do get an education - on some very interesting things!
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