WRITERS’ RESEARCH – HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO?
Google Earth - armchair research for writers
One of the perks of being a writer is the research you often have to do for the authenticity of your story, characters, setting etc. While writing my novels I’ve learnt about roof tiling, computer hacking, being in jail, various mental illnesses and sex shops, to name a few. Information I’ll probably never need in my own life (most of it, anyway) but interesting, nonetheless.
But I’m a wimp compared to some writers, who go all out to experience themselves what their characters are going through. Australian-Canadian crime writer Tara Moss is known for her in-depth research, which includes shooting firearms, being set on fire, flying with the RAAF and earning a certificate as a private investigator. In a recent interview she discussed her experience of being choked unconscious by Ultimate Fighter ‘Big’ John McCarthy.
While I can’t see myself going to those extremes (a paper cut is enough to make me take to my bed) I agree that in these days of enhanced reader knowledge and sophistication it’s important to get your facts right. And with sites like Google Earth you can write a book set in a place you’ve never been to and make it sound pretty authentic.
Australian author Nick Earls, in his book of short stories Welcome to Normal, did extensive research on the town called Normal in the USA by means of Google Earth, literally trawling the streets from the comfort of his office. And he did the same for Andalucia in Spain, where another of the stories, The Heart of Robert The Bruce, takes place. He does such an expert job of description and creating ambience, that unless you knew otherwise, you’d assume he’d been there himself. He described his research process in this post.
But amazing as it is to be able to do this, it’s still armchair travel and nothing beats visiting a place yourself if you’re going to write about it. You can’t experience smells, sounds and atmosphere on Google Earth - the pungent aroma of the markets, the blare of the traffic, the sweltering heat, the tension of the crowds. You can imagine them, or ask other people who’ve been there, and maybe you’ll get it right. But you won’t have the edge, the element of surprise and discovery, of your own feel and impressions of a place that are unique to you and which give the setting flavour and originality.
A great reason, if you need one, to travel. I’m going to set my next book on a remote South Pacific island...
Can you top Tara Moss for 'out there' research? Any suggestions for my South Pacific island?
