~ self-portrait project by PJ Schnyder
Authors go hunting for details in a wide range of places. Some research, a reader might think perfectly logical, and other research…
Well, that might earn an author a red flag from one government intelligence agency or another. 
But really, there are levels of detail I go after that might never make it into a book. Still, I needed to know in order to have the feel of the scene right. What does it feel like to hold a hand gun? How hard is it to find the safety on a gun I’m not familiar with and how hard is it to flip off the safety one handed? I asked these questions. Luckily, I had the opportunity to find out. In fact, I had several Air Force soldiers take me out and show me how to shoot hand guns, semi-automatics, rifles and shotguns. Now I know and it gives me a clearer idea of what my character will feel as she’s learning to shoot (she tends to prefer sharp edged weapons).
Another pet peeve of mine is setting. I write urban fantasy. Often I find my story set in a real city, layering supernatural elements over the reality and tucking mystical places in with real locations. I love to get the feel of a city if I can and am lucky enough to travel and do so (mostly in a few hours nabbed during a business trip for the day job). But sometimes authors can’t, so what do they do?
In this day and age, there’s plenty of online resources. Delving into maps, tourist sites and yes, even satellite pictures, help supplement the information I have.
Blogs are hit or miss but can give some insight. Believe it or not, shows on the Food Channel introduce me to hidden gems in a city or even better, outside the city and harder to find.
As a reader, I love to check out places in a particular book. I want to try it out, know if it’s real. For example, Patricia Briggs describes this incredibly comfortable hotel that puts a goldfish in the room so you’re not alone. I’d love that on my business trips. You’ve no idea. She also describes an awesome place to eat ribs and I’m thinking I could fall in love with a place like that.
But how to remember what I’ve seen? And how the heck do I capture the plot bunny I find in my travels? Well, aside from my self-portrait projects, I also take photos of places that inspire me. For example, the photos I took below are for another story. I found the plot bunny during a special weekend and since it IS the Year of the Dragon and I am a Dragon, how could I let those moments get away?
I admire writers with your level of integrity, it can only help your stories resonate with your readers with this much background working underpinning your prose.
If you want to capture a place though, and bring it home with you I’d go with a decent smartphone every time.
Written notes? Check. Dictaphone (app)? Check (also great for recording ambient noise for atmosphere reference to be used later). Camera? Check. Video camera? Check (great for scale and layout you don’t get with a static shot). Sketchpad? Check. Instant info via the net on current location? Check. Navigation aid? Check. Torch (no, not kidding)? Check.
The modern smartphone really is an incredible aid to any researcher… And you can even call a cab to get to where you want to go…
LOL. So true. I actually use Evernote on the run.
You’re doing it just right. I’m Patty Briggs’ husband, thanks for the shout out, and for a great blog! Particularly in urban fantasy the details make the world feel real. Mistakes in the details destroy the suspension of disbelief that the story depends on. Reading about guns is good, but there’s no substitute for shooting them yourself. Smell the gunpowder, feel the frame buck in your hand, see the smoke drift from a hot barrel.
If you have the luxury of traveling to scope out a setting, I have a suggestion. Get into the middle of your setting and take a twenty minute break. Put down your camera, notepad and whatever else, and just “feel” the place. How does the noise bounce around the buildings? Can you feel a sea breeze, smell salt in the air? Do you smell exhaust, or flowers, or food cooking? How noisy are the people, and what are they doing? What restaurants can you see, and what do they look like? How many city workers can you spot in twenty minutes? The best recorder is your brain, and if you let it do it’s job, it will pick up details you’ll miss with paper, pen, and camera.
And, once you have a setting firmly in mind, you can make stuff up that would fit in with the setting, even if it wasn’t really there. The rib joint Patty wrote about in Seattle isn’t really there (sadly) . . .but we’ve had several Seattle natives ask about it.
Awesome post!
Please forgive me as I have a fan girl moment…
*squee!*
Ahem. Thank you for dropping by and for the very good suggestion. I’ll try to take a bit to sit and soak in the setting next time.
I hope you never get a call from the feds asking questions about your research, LOL!
Emma, I think I might not get a cal so much as experience email lag and perhaps odd strangers following me until they’re sure I’m just an eccentric writer…who travels for the day job…sometimes out of country.
Oy.
Great post, PJ!
I would love to shoot a gun one day –a real gun. As it stands now, my experience is limited to (very realistic) pellet guns. I try to stick to locations that I know well, where I’ve been and spent some time. Otherwise I just the internet for my research quite a bit –I wonder what authors did in the “olden days” when the web didn’t exist…gasp…what a world that was
Great approach to research PJ. I love that you actually handled guns and I’ve handled rifles for deer hunting but never handguns. Just putting yourself out there is amazing and capturing the moments you want for your stories on your camera is a great idea.
I especially thought it was great that Mike Briggs commented on your post. What a kind gesture and he had some great ideas for capturing the scene, moments, sounds, etc. Awesome post!
Research can be the making or breaking of an author and I think to a certain degree, can show how committed they are to writing. There are somethings that do leave you wondering about what would happen if x or y occurred and to be honest theres been somethings that I wondered about but wouldn’t feel safe asking as it could look a little dodgy.
I think thats where some shows can really help, for example if I want to know a little about explosives, I watch shows that use them ie demolition shows or ones like Brainiac or Mythbusters. In addition to this, I have to admit to being a little addicted to the Food Channels especially shows like Man Vs Food or Diners, Drive-In’s and Dives. I love seeing the richness of food and the celebratory nature of it.
I just hope that I never get to go to the US as I don’t think I’d fit on the plane to get home.