I know all about love and moments that make your heart skip a beat. I’m familiar with the sights, sounds, and smells of Western North Carolina in every season. I can describe a variety of weather, characteristics, and emotions. So, when I’m writing a romance set in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the summer, I can put things together nicely. What happens, though, when I want to give readers an accurate depiction of the many things I don’t know?
Enter: research and interviews.
Researching for a new book can take on many forms. When I wrote Gwen and the Three Dates, a novella about a romance movie-obsessed woman searching for her own Mr. Just Right (which I’m rereleasing soon!), I rewatched about a dozen classic romance movies to find the perfect references. For Someone Found, in which the heroine gets injured while hiking, I studied maps of the Appalachian Trail and read guides about how one might plan a trek. I turned to Google and my library to learn all about symptoms, treatments, and possible prognoses of acute kidney failure to get the details just right in Say It’s For Good, in which the heroine’s father suffers from the disease.
Recently, an idea struck for a new story that will need to be set primarily inside the emergency room department of a hospital. Lucky for me, I have a good friend who is an ER doc here in my town. I offered to treat him to lunch if he’d let me interview him. Last week, we spent over an hour talking about general and very specific details that I could weave into my story to make it believable. I noted who would be on an overnight shift, what would be allowed or prohibited in the department based on a scenario that will be central to the plot, and realistic emotions that a doctor goes through in various situations. My friend even dictated the correct medical jargon/dialogue a doctor and nurse would exchange while treating a patient with a particular ailment.
I never know who’s going to read my stories, but if a doctor reads this new book, I certainly don’t want her to pause and think to herself, “No way that would ever happen.” I’m sure to not get things right 100% of the time, but research and expert interviews give me a fighting chance to look like I know what I’m writing about.
The bonus? I learn a lot along the way, too!
Before claiming to be a writer, I’m a reader first. For me, my favorite posts from other InspyRomance authors are about their process. If you’re the same, check out these past posts:
On the Hunt for Easter Eggs by Meghann Whistler
Story Threads by Lindi Peterson
Reading and Writing in a Story Universe by Tara Grace Ericson
First Lines and Fresh Starts by me
(Re)writing the Story by Tabitha Bouldin
Do you find these behind-the-scenes glimpses into an author’s process interesting? Or do you prefer not to know how the sausage gets made? Anything you’ve learned about how books come to be that has surprised you? Comment below and I’ll file it under research. (Wink, wink.)
Teresa Tysinger is an author of Southern contemporary romance inspired by grace. She writes on the fringes of being a wife, mom, and full-time communications professional. Teresa is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, the Association for Women in Communications, and the Religion Communicators Council. She’s an introverted Enneagram 4 (if you know, you know) and loves coffee, traveling, and almost every genre of music. Born in Hawaii, raised in Florida, and educated in North Carolina, she now resides in Texas with her husband, daughter, and dog.
Hi Teresa! This retired teacher and reader enjoys behind the scenes info, especially on setting since reading is a way to travel the world from the comfort of home or books with holiday settings and local festivals. Living near Holland, Michigan this time of year is special. Next week is Tulip Festival. A bit of the Netherlands, its cuisine and culture – no passport required. Not sure if there are books with a Holland setting. Thanks. Enjoy the weekend and hopeful warm weather and sunshine.
I’m so excited about your idea! Must no more!!
I love hearing more about how writers work, it’s fascinating! Mostly because although I love to read, I don’t have a creative thought in me so I’m always in awe of people who can create whole characters and stories and love to hear how they do it
The work you put into your research is so important. I’ve worked in hospitals and health care settings for years, and although I’m not expecting a documentary, sometimes you can tell writers haven’t as much as visited a hospital lol. Your attention to detail as who would be on shift, what’s allowed in a department etc is really impressive.
Yes I do like to know how authors come up with their stories. I enjoy learning about their research and what they find.
I like to learn how each author works! I’ve read some books where the author really didn’t do their homework, and it wouldn’t have taken too much effort to get it right! I like that most authors do want to get things right and take that extra step to make sure their book is believable. I’m a native Floridian, still live on the Space Coast, and a writer wrote about a hurricane. Granted, in her book it was hitting Texas, but Texas says quite a few of the same thing Florida does, like you don’t cross on bridges and causeways during one, and you sure don’t send your first responders out during the height of the storm! All it would have taken was a google search (I know, I did it!) to find out! lol!! Yeah, it’s not good to talk about something you have no clue about when those of us who have lived through more than we care to count will want to rip to shreds all of the parts you get wrong! Research is a great thing!
Oh, the Tulip Festival sounds amazing!
Thanks! Once I have it fleshed out, we’ll talk!
I sure hope that will come across properly in this new story! Thanks so much!
I’m glad to hear that!
I’m sure most of us authors have learned this lesson the hard way. I know my ignorance and assuming I knew enough, has bit be before. Happy for those lessons so I can do better. Thanks!
I love it when you share glimpses into the writing process. It has really helped to make me aware of the time and effort that goes into writing a book.
I do like to know behind the scenes information. Its how we all learn. And if a book is from a place I have visited I want it to be accurate. I read a book in one of the places I visited over seas and they mentioned a park they spent time in cos it was free. I knew it wasn’t (cos I choose between this park and another to visit the other won due to having more transport options to get there by bus) I knew both cost about the same due to the pamphlets I got at the motel I stayed in. Where as another book set where I had visited It was clear the author had been, lived there or well researched as each time she mentioned a location I was like I remember that and that is just how it was.
Oh if you write a book with an American visiting Australia (do it from that point of view not the Aussie point of view) but don’t have kangaroos jumping down the main street unless its in a small country town or the outback. I have seen Kangaroos although most are wallabies here in my town even in my backyard but that was rare. They are near one of the schools I would go by for morning walks. And there has been one on my street which it a main road to the town centre. It isn’t often and often its lost but you won’t see it in a larger town or city. You may see them on a golf course or if there is scrub nearby.
fun to read
Thanks so much!
You make some excellent points!! (Sorry it took me so long to reply!)
Thank you!