Research: A Matter of Yes and No. But Mostly Yes

Jodie here. I've been thinking a lot lately about research. Tidbit Tuesday posts tend to be born out of research some of us have done for our novels. It got me thinking about how authors go about getting information, especially when it comes to setting... and especially when that setting is in a place that truly exists.

Believe me. The last thing we want to do is get something wrong. As human beings, we are passionate about our spaces and if a writer gets it wrong, we don't forget. Most authors work very hard to get the details right, even if it means traveling. I've known authors who visited exotic locales, test driven a car just to make sure they knew how it felt, and attended the FBI Citizens Academy all in an effort to make novels authentic.

It can be kind of fun.

But what of those experiences you can't get to on your own? Locations on military posts. Backstage at, well, anything. I've learned something valuable. All you have to do is ask. My motto? "The worst that can happen is that they'll say no. They won't shoot you just for asking."  You may hear no. A lot. But more often, you'll hear yes. And oh, the places you'll go.

I've been here:

That's the pit box for NASCAR driver Casey Mears, who was with Richard Childress Racing at the time. I asked a total stranger for help with some details for an as-yet-unpublished novel and, after nearly a year, wound up smack in the middle of the action in Atlanta, shadowing the very nice man in the white shirt who happened to have the same job as my protagonist. If you'd asked me if I ever in my wildest dreams thought that would happen, I'd have said no. But it did happen, because I asked. (And I prayed. A lot. Really cool story about that prayer, but that's another post.)

I've also been here:

 

The rigger shed for the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg. I was working on Freefall and needed details that couldn't be found anywhere. So I went on Facebook and asked for help. One person put me in touch with another person who put me in touch with two more people before I wound up face to face with the man who was currently doing Cassy's job as the Division Parachute Officer. He stayed late on a half day to give me a tour, answer a million "stupid" questions, and even sit down and brainstorm with me. I owe him. Big time. (And by the way, that photo is looking up at the top of the tower, where parachutes hang before being repacked. If you've read the book, there's a very important scene that takes place looking up at this exact angle.)

There are other places, but as usual, I've rambled long enough. The point is this... If you are passionate about something, be it writing, painting, visiting a historical sight, why not try asking? You never know where you'll end up if you do.

 

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Jodie Bailey is an avid reader and an author who often lets her research time take over her actual writing time. And it's true... she may be shy, but she's not afraid to ask anybody (almost) anything. Maybe it's because she's what we in the South refer to as a "busybody"?