Thanks, Lorraine for inviting me onto your blog today. I'd
like to talk about research. I'm not sure if it's because I taught for so long
that I pick up on tiny mistakes automatically or if I am just a pernicketty
(fussy) person.
How much research is enough? I expect that depends on the
writer's genre. Obviously historical fiction is going to take much more time on
homework than a subject in which the author is already an expert. This could be
tricky.
“OK so I'm a world renowned authority on the Dewey library
system – now how do I make my novel interesting?”
So the answer is to create your own world and make up the
rules as you go along, is it? That may work for some readers but I rather like
there to be rules and not have “get out of jail free cards” introduced as soon
as the characters get into a sticky situation.
Suddenly Thegisha remembered the
dissolving walls spell her Granny had taught her as a child. Not
convincing!
I was highly flattered when a well-known writer asked for my
advice on the handling of certain magical or cursed items as, even though her
world was fantasy, she wanted it to ring true to readers who knew something
about the subject. Never, ever say “nobody will notice” because one of them will!
In these days of internet and Google etc. I find no excuse
for writers getting very simple things totally wrong. I read with interest when
two characters drove from Lyon to Caen in two hours. I live in France and I was
wondering what they were driving – a Harrier jump jet?
Also, please don't show off. There are details that are
necessary and those that are plain padding. A certain male adventure novelist
loves to display his in-depth knowledge of irrelevant detail such as the names
of hatch covers on different types of sea-going tankers. Very clever, dear, put
it away, nobody is interested.
It is a fine line to tread and I expect that many readers
are not as bothered as I am. Some, I suspect, are even more so. Even in these
days of electronic fact-finding, you can always ask a friend.
BIO – Ailsa
Abraham retired early from a string of jobs, ending up with teaching English to
adults. She has lived in France for over twenty years and is married with no
children but six grandchildren. Her passion is motorbikes which have taken the
place of horses in her life now that ill-health prevents her riding. She copes
with Bipolar Condition, a twisted spine and increasing deafness with her usual
wry humour – “well if I didn't have all those, I'd have to work for a living,
instead of writing, which is much more fun.”. Her ambition in life is to keep
breathing and maybe move back to the UK. She has no intention of stopping
writing.
As Ailsa Abraham :
Shaman's Drum published by Crooked Cat Crooked Cat
(nominated for the People's Choice Book Prize)
Four Go Mad in Catalonia – self-published, available from Smashwords
Twitter - @ailsaabraham
Facebook – Ailsa Abraham
Critique Service for Writers
Flash 500 Home Page: Flash Fiction, Humour Verse
and Novel Opening Chapter and Synopsis Competitions
A great post, and sound advice to all of us. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteGreat advice! Thank you for sharing with us, and take it steady on that motorbike! :-)
ReplyDeleteThis rings so true. There's nothing worse than a badly researched book...especially if you just know a quick visit to the internet could have coughed up the answer.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes -- the temptation to show off one's research has to be strenuously resisted! But that's why God invented blogs!!!
Thanks so much for commenting. I try to do it with humour otherwise I come over as rather pedantic.
ReplyDelete