Writerly Ways

[cornerofmadness]

For this week's writerly ways I actually have a point to make!

Let's talk research. I've been saying for eons that an author should be able to write almost anything they're interested in IF they do the research but damn, I've seen some truly lazy research lately and from big name publishers who's editors should know better.

Historicals are the most common offender of this. Someone on my list was bitching about one set in 1820 where the characters were talking about 'flipping her switch' (which is an electrical metaphor which didn't exist then) and in a historical cambodian mystery that I DNF, which was over stuffed with Cambodia history but in spite of the character being born in 1903 and the story being set when she's 17, the character spoke like today's teens with a lot of 'geezes' and was talking about gene pools (a term not coined until the mid 40s) and in a script I just saw had the characters dialing 911 in 1969 (since the Manson murders were just happening). Yes 911 started in Alabama in 68 but wasn't established nation wide until 73 and in 76 less than 20% of states used it. Did I memorize this? No. I looked it up because I knew in high school there was NOT 911 in my area (an ambulance came to my grandmother's thinking we had called but it wasn't us and everyone was frantic trying to figure out where the call had come from and there was no 911 then). In fact by the time I was a junior in college still less than 50% of the states used 911.

It is easy of course to screw this stuff up. We take 911 for granted. We talk in colorful phrases and metaphors all the time without much thought as to where they've come from. I've made this mistake myself. But between the author, beta readers and editors this stuff should be caught.

I'm reading a book right now I honestly don't like but I bought it from the author (who was nice and gave me such a cute autograph that I hate hating on this book). In chapter one a character was talking about seeing the changes in the main character's brain on X-Ray. You can't SEE the brain (other than as a shadow) on X-ray (and I rather thought everyone knew that). And the detective is constantly in 600$ suits (any look into actual detectives will show that homicide doesn't strut around in Armani because it would get ruined. I keep thinking it's a clue (and that he's secretly with the Mob which is a main part of this book)

So basically a) don't base everything off what you see on TV b) if you aren't an expert in something you want to write, research it c) if using a metaphor or saying in a historical look it up.

And remember me talking about how SO many readers bitch about female characters in m/m books (i've seen any number of them mention they won't even read it if there's a female on page)? I'm not alone in a) noticing this and b) noticing it's not gay men saying it, only the women. I’m glad he’s calling them out on this (even if some of the commentors take shots at women).

Links from Betty

Villain’s redemption arc

what a writer can learn from Stephen King


out of print termination clauses This one seems very good to know if you're doing something other than self pubbing.

tips for successful writers

Other Links I've found: Finding the center of your book

Promoting your YA novel on social media

I can't remember if I shared this one or not but I need to do this once I get this posted. writing great blurbs