So You Think You're a Stripper
There is a debate about how much research is too much. Write what you love and write what you know—then just wing the rest of it. Fake, fake, fake. Sure. But that’s not always fun, and really I think writing should be as fun as possible. The more fun you’re having, the fresher your writing will be.
Now I don’t have a lot of skills (mainly, just drinking, napping, flirting), but the one talent I’ve had pretty much since birth is: I love to research. Sorta. I know a ton of better researchers, but among my friends, I’m generally the researcher. I love to flip through books, listen to stories, and watch the History channel (well, before it went to pot.) I’m a font of useless trivia that others could really give a crap about. That sounds like I’m screwing around but really it’s amazing where those little factoids show up.
I’m always collecting research books: My Lady Scandalous, about 1700s courtesans; and What the Butler Saw, an invaluable resource about what happened below stairs in those English manors. Our Tempestuous Day, a Regency primer, if you will; and I have some books on England and Scotland. I have books on the Puritans, Colonials, and the Wild West. Astrology books (Love Signs is recommended by Debra Dixon, and I do too), and of course, writing books. I even have a book on sexual positions. Granted sex scenes are about emotion rather than what went where, but what if I did want to write about something other than missionary or doggie? I need to know where the hands are…among other things. I don’t exactly have lab assistants I can ask, and frankly if I did, I’d definitely never get any writing done.
But sometimes…sometimes, if I really want to be in character, I’ll research something about the character unfamiliar to me. I mean, not all my heroines can be secretaries who go to Weight Watchers and sew costumes at Halloween and eat Ben & Jerry’s like hedonists. No one is going to buy that book more than once.
So.
I need to learn a new skill. One of my characters is a stripper. No, I’m not moonlighting as a stripper, but there is an exercise class called cardiostrip. A sort of research-lite. Get in touch with my inner vamp and understand a bit more about my character. Plus it'll really tone my abs they assure me...so really, it's a win-win all the way around.
And maybe one day I’ll reconstruct a house or go on a cattle drive like my other characters, or maybe I’ll just watch This Old House and City Slickers again. Whatever. There are different ways to immerse yourself in research. There is also a cruise vacation you can take on a sailboat where you learn how to sail it. You're part of the crew. That would be fun!
What are your favorite ways to research? What are you an expert on? What would you like to learn?
Books by the Crew
53 comments:
I love research. I have a ton of books laying around the house now, more than I ever thought to have for so may different topics. I have my lady scandalous, too. lol.
I'm pretty knowledgeable on the French Revolution, but in no regard an expert. I'm still learning and reading about it. It can't seem to gloom enough books on the subject, it's just so sad, and interesting.
What I am an expert in, is Classical music. I studied it for more than a decade, I still study it, and it's been almost two decades since I picked up my first instrument. I studied the theory, history, composition, played the music--so on and so forth. Music will always be my first love. One of these days I want to write a book around music. I just haven't decided or thought up that story yet! :)
I'm terrible. I never research anything. I'm too busy researching papers for school. Since my hero is a chef, I did read a book by Poppy Z. Brite (that Tiff sent me) about chefs and it contained great detail about how a restaurant kitchen really works. I also watch Top Chef which I would watch anyway but it's also good research.
There's just no time in my life to read a book because I find the topic interesting. Maybe someday. And besides, I have you. I can always tap into all your research. LOL!
You know all the houses in Hollywood have stripper poles now.
I'm more of an accidental researcher---I read a lot of non-fiction from the library and often come across stuff I wind up using. I'll never feel anything I write is properly researched tho---I think it has to do with lack of footnotes.:) But I've gotten quite a bit of things online for my current book.
I am an expert on nothing. My memory prevents me from holding on to facts for very long, but at least I know where to look up info.
Yeah, I'm with Maggie. I wouldn't say that I'm an expert on anything. The more I learn, the more I feel I don't know.
My research is more that I need to find something out, I read about it and then I end up following whatever interests me. I was reading about poisons, then I was reading about infamous poisonings, then I'm reading about how poison affects someone, etc. Though all of this was very interesting, I wouldn't say I mastered the info. I took what I needed and went my own way.
Though the stripping class sounds fun.
I'm not an expert on anything I can discuss on the blog. Top secret and all that jazz.
I don't research much either. I prefer to fake it. Gotta keep my actress skills honed in case of an emergency.
I wish I could take the cardiostrip class. I bet that's all kinds of fun.
I know a little bit about a lot of nothing:)
If I ever write a book about an interior decorator or nurse, I'll have it made. I am pretty good at both.
I did do some reasearch on funding for homeless shelters and some political research. My WIP has a teen runaway shelter and my heroine dates a senator, so there you have it.
I have a very nice atlas that I love to look at when planning locations in stories. My biggest source is the internet. Goggle is my friend.
chicken!! not chicked.
I am a research freak. I can find just about anything on anything--it's uncanny. As a result of my chicked minus head moments, I'm currently very, very well-versed in high society of England, France, America, Germany, Russia and Italy of the 1880-1914 period--and know tons about 19th century Persian society. But my real area of expertise is etiquette. I swear, I could go back in time and be a governess. lol
Evangeline - all my research on that time comes from reading Romances. LOL! I do find Napoleon fascinating and have read books about him. And that stemmed from reading about him in all the Regencies.
Do you use all that research in your books?
Evangeline--we should talk.
The book I'm working on is a Persian setting (1840's) :)
Tiff: I can totally see you as a French Revolutionary War expert. The aristrocrat side, obviously. Though I did always find it ironic that Ropespierre created the beast--and then it swallowed him as well. I remember watching A Tale of Two Cities as a mini-series as a kid and had nightmares of being guillotined. I still have nightmares of being guillotined! Eek.
Ooh, definitely do a story based around music. Maybe you can work in an affair with Beethoven or Mozart. :) I would love to read a story as lovely and heartbreaking as Immortal Beloved was. Okay, I would like a happier ending...but still...it was a beautiful story!
Terr: I never researched anything when I was still in school. Not even the papers I turned in. I always checked out the books though. *grins* First thing. Never read them. *LOL* Though I did have to do a bit more research for my History paper/writing class. (We had to write 80-100 page papers, like a thesis level paper. I researched about Scotland, during the Great Rebellions, 1280-1314. Robert the Bruce, William Wallace. That was fun research.)
Maggie: Do they really? I love California! *jots down note to buy dream house in CA* I bet more of what you know and what you've learned shows up more than you think. And an expert on nothing is a Jack of All Trades...that's quite handy!
Marnee Jo: I have a book on poisoning! *crew spits out their rum* It's an old Writer's Digest book about poisons and poisoning people...it's very informative! Never used it, of course, being I don't write about people who show up dead in my books. Okay, other than the suicidal broad.
I think the stripping class sounds fun too. But I thought the bellydancing class was rather fun too. Frustrating as hell, but fun! It's hard to move either the top of your body or the bottom, but not both. A lot more work to that than you might think!
Sin: I would love to know your skills as a super spy...I'm sure they would only be too cool. For now, I have to keep rewatching The Saint with Val Kilmer, back when he was young and pretty. Ah, the trials I must put up with...
I used to have a sign thumbtacked above my headboard that said, "ACTRESS". All through college. Boy did that draw comments.
Lisa: hey, there was a Missouri author who made a career about doctors and nurses! A very prolific authoress. And I see everyone likes to Google!
Terr: aha! SO you have researched! It just didn't look like it because you were having a good time! Napoleon is pretty interesting. For a short guy. And we know what Tiff thinks about short guys...
Evangeline: Etiquette is essential to know if you're going to write any historicals! What is the best guide you've found that tells you about Victorian/Edwardian era etiquette? (That was roughly the period you wrote down, yes?) 19th century Persian society also sounds very interesting--are you setting a book there too?
I don't think you use everything (or even most!) of what you research. I think it's important to know it all though, because it would be what your characters would know...and the history and events would influence how they'd behave or talk...or even joke about. But they wouldn't necessarily focus or talk about it, because it's common knowledge for the period. I think research is important not to overwhelm your readers with details about history or an occupation, but to make the setting and characters seem more real.
That's where my cooking research is going to come into play. Bryan (my hero) is not only going to be running a restaurant kitchen (he's the owner/executive chef) but he's going to cook for Celi (my heroine) so I have to make him comfortable and knowledgable about cooking. Two things I am NOT. LOL!
I need to find a chef I can follow around.
And I just remembered I'm taking a class this summer called Research & Writing for college. Yeah, that should be interesting. Have I mentioned I HATE research?
Research! Ah.. wenches we be at what I love most. Me shelves are filled with Pirate research, the Wild West, Native Americans, Victorians, Civil War and Civil War soldiers, Pioneers, maps, weapons, Vikings, Scotland, England... yes... I'm a research whore.
If I go into a book store the first thing I do is go over to the history isle. I watch the History channel and love going to historic cities and battlegrounds. Geez, I'm hopeless.
Kathy, I knew we were blood pirate sisters. (I even have a sword. Two actually. A broadword and a military sword.) I used to love the History Channel, but they're showing amazingly little history lately. Last weekend they kept showing Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns! It was so annoying! There is an alternative history channel (Hint), a part of the History Channel network, but you have to pay more for it--but we don't get that one. *sighs* And it actually has the historical programming! (And not the Ice Truckers, or Ax Men...or MonsterQuest...UGH.)
Terri: I love to cook; and I could probably get you through whatever you're going to make for her. And it sounds like you're completely screwed this summer (much like last summer)--so good luck with that!
terrio: :blush: the only reason why I know so much about so many different countries is because I could never settle on a plot. I'd get an idea, begin researching and then find myself getting ideas while I researched. Then I'd drop the current idea and move on to another, which required additional research...etc. I'm working on fixing that bad habit.
Tiffany: Lol. What do you want to know?
Hellion I use Google books a lot, but the best book I've ever used on late Victorian/Edwardian (UK) society is The Social Calendar by Anna Sproule. This book is a must-have if you're writing books set between 1880 and 1914. Regarding Persia, I have a plot I came up with two years ago and have just recently figured out where it fits in my tbw Edwardian spy romance series.
Evangeline: Awesome! I knew all that research would twine all together! Awesome, awesome...and I have to go google Anna Sproule now...*LOL*
Evangeline - I'm certain whatever story you get around to will be well-researched and all the more fascinating for it!
Hellion - I took this class because I needed an easy one to go with the hard one I'm taking. Statistics. I might not live to see the fall....
And your cooking knowledge will be well tapped. LOL!
Is that poetic justice or what? Robespierre had it coming...
Evangeline... first, are you writing in that setting? And I want the names of good research books. Good resources for religion in harems and converting to Muslim, culture, food, everything I can get my hands on. Especially good language sources where it's written out phonetically, every time I look up Arabic or Persian I get scripture writing.
My story isn't set in Persian territory, but on a secluded island with a Turkish Prince, very far down in the line of ascension so he's been given free rein to run his own life and harem away from the empire--no he's not the hero--my heroine is purchased for his harem though.
Damn, I knew I spelled that name wrong!
I didn't even notice Hellion... lol!
Fun blog, Hellion!
I HATE research. Like Terri, it reminds me too much of school work. I do, however, love history shows and such so maybe it's just thumbing through the written word that drives me nuts. I can Google with the best of them. I am basically lazy when it comes to research though, probably why I wouldn't do real well with historicals.
On the flipside - I really love when someone does a good job researching. I think it makes the whole story that much more believable and fascinating. So, I suppose if I want to give the reader what I love I better buck up and do my homework!
Irish: You hate traditional research. That is understandable! Who likes pouring over those card catalogs and flipping through moldy books. You have to take on the role of research like you would the role of archeologist. Remember Indy's famous words: If you want to be a great archeologist, you're going to have to get out of the library!
So you wanna take that cardiostriptease class with me? They do offer them in the Chicago area.
I belly dance. Well, I used to before knee surgery last year. LOL. (Not caused by the belly dancing, btw)
Hellion, I have a pirate costume (c/o Halloween supplies sadly enough), a ship in a bottle, a ship from the Perisian Gulf, a wooden shark with real teeth from Kuwait, a pirate skull candy dish, and a miniature Capt. Jack Sparrow in my office. I want to hoist the pirate flag but I'm getting flak from the DH about it. And every year I pose for a pirate picture at Disney World. Ah! Tis the pirate's life for me.
I have a Jack Sparrow bobblehead, a Jack Sparrow doll that talks; 2 posters; 4 shirts; 3 costumes (at least, and that's just pirate costumes...I have other costumes as well); 2 swords (one real, one plastic with sound effects); 2 pistols; and numerous books.
I love costuming! I think it would be neat to work at a place where you had to dress up in historical era wear (Colonial Williamsburg, et al).
It's like the battle of the Jack Sparrow stalkers. LOL!
Uhm...I have some POTC Christmas ornaments. And I did have a sticker on my truck with the skull that said PIRATE GIRL, but it came off from that dang heat wave. Stupid global warming. Now I'll have to go back to Ocracoke Island to get another one.
Kathy - will you be able to do the belly dancing again or is it out because of the knee?
Oh, I forgot, and THREE Jack Sparrow tree ornaments.
Terrio, I haven't tried yet. I hope to do some more of it this summer. :-) I'll let you know how it goes. Sure hope I don't blow my knee out. LOL.
Oh! Oh! I've got pictures of Capt. Jack. I've got all the movies and some stickers, plus a Capt. Jack notebook. Heehee!!
Plus, I've got about 8 POTC shirts, 2 pairs of pirate earings.... about 3 pirates necklaces... Hmmm. Oh! I've got a Capt. Jack beach towel and my daughter has a Capt. Jack pillow case which I covet mightily. Argh!!!
Damn, and the three movies; and about a dozen notebooks (hey, they were on sale for a $1 a piece); an ungodly amount of folders; a POTC beach towel (unfortunately not with Jack on it), and the pillow case (last birthday present)...OH, and a POTC Scene It game and a LIFE game. And a pirate medallion necklace, a pair of POTC certified earrings...and a pair of flip-flops.
On my laptop, I have sticky decals of Jack Sparrow, which whenever anyone sees my laptop they ask, "OMG, did you buy the laptop like that?"
Hellion said: "Who likes pouring over those card catalogs and flipping through moldy books?"
I do! Except the card catalogs are all online now, as are many of the mouldy books. But I do love research. WorldCat thrills me. :) I would have been happy staying in grad school for the rest of my life.
I can spend hour upon hour following a thread from one source to another to another. My problem is that I can get so caught up in the research that it leaves too little writing time. For example, I spent six hours taking tons of notes on NC songbirds because I needed one sentence to be accurate.
Terri, if you need help with your course this summer, let me know. I'm pretty sure that it will be similar to a course I have taught a few dozen times.
Oh, and pens and pencils...and some stickers.
I seriously need to be restricted what I'm allowed to buy.
OMG! I forgot to mention I have POTC Life, Monopoly, Battleship and just acquired Pirates Dice. And I have POTC playing cards.
Hellion, you're a girl after my own heart. Suffice it to say, we're a pair, aren't we?
Oops! I also have a POTC bucket my popcorn came in when I saw the first movie, plus all 3 soundtracks. :-)
Whenever we end up having that pirate get-together, Kathy and Hellion will supply all our party needs. LOL!
I didn't even know some of that stuff exists. We had the Jack notebook in the house but it was my 8 year olds for school. We're more likely to pick up stuff with Will Turner on it in my household. LOL!
Janga - thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou. Though since I don't think you can actually DO the research for me, I'm not sure how you can help. But believe me, if there's anything, you'll be the first to know.
Kathy - I'm doing my best to avoid knee surgery though it keeps getting worse. I've always wondered if belly dancing might not bother it. I can't do any kind of aerobics, step or jazzercise. One wrong move and the poor things are toast.
Ooh, I've wanted the playing cards...I do have Pirates Uno. And I do have the 3rd soundtrack, my favorite. *swoons*
We are definitely a pair.
*LOL* 6 hours of research for one sentence...well, Janga, knowing your writing as I do, I'm sure it was a brilliant sentence! Bird lovers in NC will recommend you to everyone they know...
That's so true, Hellion. We could throw a great pirate shindig!
Pirates Uno? Who knew? Must get some Uno cards...
Terrio, my knee decided to mess up when I started running on the treadmill. I don't think the belly dancing did it because I was doing that for a year before I hurt my knee. If anything, belly dancing strengthens the ligaments and muscles around the knee as long as you take it easy when starting out. I even have the jingly scarf to wear while I dance. :-) It adds so much more to the exercise, don't you think?
Oh, Hellion... the 3rd CD is my ultimate fav!!! If I didn't already know from your taste in pirates, I'd have to say you have excellent taste. Arrrr!
Were I a Royal Navy fan, I'd have to swoon over Norington...
Hey, I'm an equal opportunity pirate loving lass: Jack, Will or James...I'm good. (Though I prefer the bitter and bitchy James to the nice one who keeps getting screwed over in the first one.)
Jack, then James, then Will...or all together...whatever!
I think we're going to have a lot of fun when we meet. *LOL*
Cardiostriptease, huh? Just picturing it in my mind sends me into fits of laughter. I would probably be so busy laughing the instructor would kindly ask that I remove myself from the class. I'm like an immature 10 year old when it comes to that stuff. Anything sensual or sexy turns me beet red and gives me the case of the giggles.
Kathy - My DH messed up his knee last January on the treadmill - tore his miniscus (whatever that is). It happened about a week after he joined the health club. He's just getting back to working out.
Janga - that's my fear. I'm so anal about getting things "right" that I'd spend weeks researching facts for one sentence. I think I've heard authors (Jo Bev, in particular) say they've done that, so you're in good company!
Yo ho, Irish! That's exactly what I did to my knee. However, the tear was small and the doctor's in their infinite wisdom decided not to fix it because fixing it would do more damage and then proceeded to fix two other things that were wrong. It took me 6 months to get back to normal. And I still want to take it easy on it as a precaution. :-)
Naughty, bitchy, rum swilling James... yes! Yes! And, yes! Although he did look daper when he set Elizabeth free in POTC 3, right before Davy Jones ran him through. *sigh* What a waste!
Oh, hooray! I love learning useless new facts--sometimes to the detriment of my writing, but then, what isn't?
Inquiring minds want to know, are in you the exercise class?? Are you installing a pole in your living room? Woo-hoo!
Kathy: Definitely what a waste! I was so mad when that happened! *LOL* Okay, not as mad as I was later.
Dee: *LOL* No, not yet, but there is one offered at our gym (at the downtown gym, 7:30 on Wednesdays...oh, that's today, hmmm), so I should give it a try, I suppose. No, I would install it in my living room. Consider the people I live with: my Amish family would not approve. Actually they'd probably ask if I was trying out for the volunteer firefighters...and if I bought the pole for practice sliding down. *eye roll*
BUT eventually I plan to buy a travel pole and I could bring it when I come visit you!
Well, Hellion, you WOULD be using it to slide down--and you could set the house afire and then wait for the hunky firemen to come put you...uh, I mean it out.
Bring it on, woman. You know we have the room and Jack is not Amish. ;)
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