You can learn a lot from reading fiction.
As a reader, I love when an author paints a rich story between the covers of her book, complete with settings so well described you can picture them in your mind, back stories of the characters meted out gradually so I understand why they act the way they do, rich details of the daily lifestyles of the characters. All these factors make the story immersive, difficult to put down.
As an author, it’s always my goal to create that kind of experience for my readers. One area that I pay attention to is what the characters do for a living. What they do every day is important to the story, and it helps shape their personalities and priorities. I like to include at least a few scenes showing the character at work. Thinking back through the many books I’ve written, I’ve included the following professions in my stories: teacher, handyman, wooden furniture builder, innkeeper, masseuse, clothing designer, soldier, lawyer, veterinarian, student, country music artist, daycare provider.
Many of these professions I’m close enough to in my everyday life that I can imagine what day-to-day work is like. But many of them I’ve had to do extensive research in order to get it right.
In my book, Capsized, I bit off a challenge. My hero, Jett Martin’s day job was a personal trainer. But his real passion was for competitive yacht racing. As a side hustle, he’d entered a contest 
offered by a sailing company soliciting inventions they could invest in that would enhance the sailing sport. Jett’s invention idea was a sunscreen lotion to apply to sails to prevent damage by the sun. In the story, Jett convinces our heroine Sadie to compete alongside him in a sailing race after only a few weeks of training. Winning the race could help tip the scales and earn him that lucrative contest win and start a whole new life for him, so the stakes are high.
The series Capsized falls into is my Murrells Inlet Miracles series, which is very beachy. Of all the books I’ve written that take place at the beach, I’d never tackled boating. I was happy with the opportunity for excitement and adventure that the plot offered.
For the sunscreen invention, I did some research on what were the most common problems faced by competitive yacht sailors. Over and over, it came up: keeping the big tall sails in good shape so they could capture the best wind and achieve the fastest speeds. In addition to twisting and tearing, sun damage was one of the top reasons sails failed. So I came up with … sunscreen for sails! Why not? It’s not a product currently offered on the market, so it made sense for Jett to enter it in a contest looking for sailing inventions.
But what about the day-to-day sailing knowledge and the actual race? I knew absolutely nothing about sailing! I don’t think I’ve ever been on a sailboat in my life! How could I make this sailing story exciting and suspenseful … and accurate? Chances are, people with sailing experience would read my book and I wouldn’t want them to be frustrated by mistakes.
The first place I hit was Google. I uncovered lots of internet resources on sailing — videos showing how to sail, what the different parts of a sailboat were called, all the unique jargon sailors use, some of the real-life races that Sadie and Jett might compete in. I really tried, from my desk chair, to learn to talk (write) like a sailor. But after writing a few scenes, I knew they were clunky. I did my best with the limited knowledge I had, but it definitely needed to be fact-checked.
A writer friend of mine suggested, since I live by the ocean, to go down to the nearby marina and take a few lessons. But I was writing the book in the fall and it was a little cold, not to mention, taking a few lessons wouldn’t put me at the skill level where Jett needed to be!
So I took to Facebook and in a post on my author page, I asked for help from any of my followers who were sailors. I asked for people who knew sailing, to be willing to read my scenes containing sailing content and act as editors for me. Catch my mistakes and tell me how to correct them so the sailing content was accurate. In return, I’d dedicate the book to them and give them an autographed copy of the paperback when it was published.
I got just the response I needed! One of my followers had a friend who actually was a sailing instructor in Lake Michigan! She’d not only taught a bunch of people to sail, but she’d competed in numerous races.
A woman who used to be my neighbor over twenty-five years ago offered up her husband, who was not only a sailor, but a budding novelist! Talk about a great combination of skills, knowledge and help.
And a high school classmate of mine volunteered her husband, who had his own sailboat and sailed whenever he could.
BINGO! Now I had a team of knowledgeable sailors to help me revise and polish and shine the sailing scenes that would be so important in this adventurous story. They were very helpful as I sent them scenes, incorporated all their feedback, sent them the revised scenes and even made further changes. Once the sailors gave their seal of approval, and the book was finished, my copy editor made further suggestions — not to change the sailing content, but to tone it down a little bit when I’d got a little too excited and included sailing knowledge that wasn’t important to the story!
I’m happy with the finished product and I’d like to offer an e-book copy of Capsized to one commenter who tells me: What sailing experiences have you had? Or, if you’re not a boater, tell me what your occupation is and if you’ve ever read a book featuring your occupation. If so, did the author get it right?
**Heartwarming, life-changing Christian fiction.** An award-winning author, Laurie is living her dream life at the beach, writing novels. Laurie writes beachy inspirational romance that takes place in the South Carolina Low Country. She retired from the big day job and now focuses on writing full time. Strolls on the sand, soaking up the sun and riding the waves can be considered the best kind of research.
I have only been on boats a few times…and each time I became so sick! I was maid of honor in a friend’s wedding on a riverboat…let’s just say at least I made it through the ceremony…🤢
Wow! What a unique place to get married! Glad you survived!
Laurie—First, your book sounds great. :) Second, as a writer, the jobs are one of the hardest things. I find myself writing people between jobs, or on vacation. I’m currently deciding jobs for people I’m writing now. Tough for me! Thanks for sharing your process.
Thanks Lindi! And good luck!
I have only been on a few boat tours and smaller fishing boats.
My hubby and I both love the idea of sailing but don’t have the funds to get into it ourselves or have the right friends to tag along with! We did take a three-hour-tour on a sailboat out of the harbor in Seattle about ten years ago and loved the experience.
The only other time we’ve been on a sailboat was a whale-watching tour off Vancouver Island, but there wasn’t enough wind for the sails so the trip was via engine. Still awesome. We’ve done several whale-watching trips on inflatable Zodiacs, too — a great experience. I love the water, the ocean in particular. Spotting whales is the cherry on top!
I’m not a big fan of boating and haven’t ever been sailing. We are in the insurance business and I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that featured someone that sells insurance. Most people don’t think its very interesting. Thanks for sharing about your book!
Yeah that’s about true for me!
I want to go whale watching! On my bucket list!
Megan, you and I have something in common: i worked for an insurance company for 34 years and you’re right … not a lot of excitement there!!
We’ve been half a dozen or more times and just LOVE it. Considering I didn’t see the ocean until I was 14 and still live a solid ten hours inland, I am SUCH an ocean girl. And the whales just top everything.
Sailing has always had this romantic appeal for me until I get on the actual boat and start feeling seasick which happens as often as not. Large cruise ships, no problem. Canoes, no problem. Anything big enough to go where the water bounces you around and small enough to let the water bounce you around is a dangerous vessel for me. My career was creating software for working with satellites. I have yet to read an author who got satellites right. I’ve enjoyed the Murrell’s Inlet series and am looking forward to some vicarious sailing!
One day I will do it. Closest I’ve gotten are multiple dolphin cruises. They are so fun, frolicking in the waves!
Wow, satellite software creator! Now that’s a fascinating occupation!
I agree with you on the seasickness. During the one and only time I went to Hawaii, I went on a dinner cruise. There was a line to the restroom, and many folks who couldn’t wait ended up leaning over the edge of the boat. Kinda puts a damper on a beautiful night out!!
I’ve been on a couple of boats, the most memorable one being the 4th of July we went out on my brother-in-laws boat and watched the fireworks between our two causeways over the Indian River. I used to work in the medical field, NOT a nurse or doctor, but doing insurance billing and coding, transcription. Yes, that’s been done in books, and done well!
Wow that fireworks display sounds great. Very memorable holiday!
I don’t think I’ve been on a sailboat or a yacht, just motorized boats and rowboats.
So nice you were able to crowdsource for information.
I am not a sailor because I don’t live near the water. I do love to go on cruises!!
I am not a sailor. I have never been on a sailboat or a yacht but I did get to go for boat rides on a beautiful lake in NH and once a friend took us out on a boat off the coast of Maine. That was a little too rough for my stomach. I also remember watching sailboat races during the summertime in NH.
I have had very little water experience but have enjoyed what I have been able to do. Sailing has not been on list, pontoon boats and ski boats are the 2 I have enjoyed.
I am now retired from working with a State agency that helps people with disabilities go to work or keep the job they have. Worked most of the years with students transitioning from high school to college or the work force. Also worked with mentally ill and TBI clients. I was an assistant to counselors.
Thanks Denise! Yes, so easy to reach out for help in this day and age of social media!
Laurie
Oh, so do I Linda! So much to do, every minute of the day. And so many food options! No wonder your clothes come back from a cruise quite a bit tighter! Ha ha.
Oh Lori, that sounds exciting. I’ve never visited that part of the country before, but it’s on my bucket list now that I live on the east coast.
What a rewarding career, Nancy. I know you made a great difference to many people over the years. Do you look back on your work as rewarding?
I did find the work I did rewarding, especially when they told you how much the agency, counselor and I had encouraged them. As a State agency there were challenges. The first 11 years were the best both as far as co-workers and the way the work. Then as with any State agency there started to be more and more paperwork and less time to really work with consumers. But yes it was a rewarding job and many people were employed because of the help we provided.
Your legacy. Awesome. :)
Not into boating. I have worked as a babysitter (most get it right) Cleaner both office and domestic you cant really get it wrong. A carer for my mother I have read other books with a carer in it. Virginia Smith had a series with a minor character who was a carer for her mother or the Hero’s grandmother. The author was really good. The grand-daughter could see how the grand-mother was manipulating the daughter and making her feel guilty if she wanted to go out and very controlling. I saw myself in Aunt Louisa but she gave me home cos she was able to find a boyfriend and with the Grand daughters help worked out how she was being manipulated. I saw so much of myself in her. (Yes I was being manipulated and controlled. Didn’t know how much til mum went into fulltime care and not fully til after she passed away)
Laurie –
Glad your online research turned out so well.
As a fellow writer, thanks for the valuable insight, and teaching of how to start going about
finding information you need for a piece, without knowing it your self.
Teamwork makes the dream work
Ciao For Now
Todd
I loved reading what you wrote about the process of getting the sailing details correct. Wow. As a scuba diver, I enjoy finding novels that include scuba diving yet cringe when information is presented grossly incorrectly, so I admire your effort for accuracy.
I would love a chance to receive a copy of this novel. My hubby & I have sailed very small 2/3 person sailboats in the past. We once owned such a small boat but borrowed its use out to several extended family members who lost (and refused to replace) important items – 1 sail and then the rudder!! Not good.
I love the free feeling of zipping across the water like a skipping stone. And no. I don’t know the technical terms, but my husband does. When we’ve sailed, I have been his crew & have done whatever needed doing. I would love eventually buying another small sailboat, but keep it a secret this time. ;D Perhaps some day.
I’ve been on boats several times, but they’ve always been of the ferry/sightseeing variety and I have absolutely no sailing experience. It’s always seemed like such a fun, but daunting thing to do!
Wow, it must’ve been a great experience with all these research..
We have a boat but I don’t know a thing about it lol
I love the leisurely rides along the river 😊
I’ve taken the till on a sailboat a few times in my teens and twenties and tacking is tricky for me. I prefer to enjoy the feeling of the breeze in my hair and basking in the sun while someone else takes over with more skill and finess.
My professional background is HR, and I’ve never come across a fiction character with my specialisation … although I suspect it would make a boring novel.
My father was a commercial fisherman whose fishing boat was a sailing boat, so I did spend a lot of time on the boat. But we never went racing – his boat was built for function, not speed :)
Oh wow!! I could definitely see how that manipulation would happen but I’m sorry it happened to you! :(
Thank you Todd! You’re absolutely right. Best of luck on your own writing!
Wow! You have quite the boating experience! I’ll let you know there’s also a shark encounter in this book! Best of luck with your new boat!
You’re right, so much harder than jumping in a speed boat and zooming off!
That sounds heavenly, bring along a boat and a floppy hat!
That sounds exactly like the role I’d rather play! I’m with you!
Wow, a commercial fisherman’s boat powered by wind! I’ve never heard of that before!
Looking forward to reading this one. Love the cover!
I live on the gulf coast of Mississippi and have experience with boats with motors. When growing up, a day on the river was our go-to entertainment. Skiing, tubing and swimming were always part of every summer. Not one of us even knew about sailing! We grew up without internet, computers and cell phones. Thank goodness we now have access to Google to retrieve information about anything.
This book sounds awesome! I love the cover! 😍