Making the Best of Chance Encounters
Terry Odell
Writing often means dealing with things you don’t know much about. Or anything about. Now, while I write fiction, which means I get to make stuff up, I strive to have everything in the realm of plausibility. The line between “that could never happen” and “that might happen.”
Searching the interwebs can help, but talking to real people can get you tidbits that make for a more interesting scene.
Where do you find these people? Just about anywhere, it turns out.
Online, perhaps. I was following a blog written by an army guy. I left the occasional comment, and I felt comfortable approaching him electronically with questions about terminology, and he was happy to answer, even calling me on the phone (with a very strange Caller ID number that had the Hubster wondering what was going on) to go into more detail.
Another writing acquaintance’s husband was also military, and has been willing to answer questions and make suggestion to add authenticity to my scenes.
I was participating in a Civilian Police Academy in Orlando, and after a talk by a homicide detective, I approached and asked if I could get in touch if I had questions. He said it would be fine, so I gave him a call and offered to buy him a cup of coffee. He asked if there was an Ale House near me, and if he could invite some friends. Best money I ever spent, and one of those friends (now retired) is still my go-to guy for cop stuff.
Likewise the SWAT commander who taught a workout class at the Y I belonged to. I made my “cup of coffee” suggestion, and we met at a local Starbucks (where he drank tea—not what you’d expect from a SWAT guy, but it adds character depth). Since I was writing a book set in Orlando at the time, I needed details, so I called and asked him what color the carpet and walls were in the Orlando Police Department Headquarters. Despite working there, he was clueless, but he invited me down for a tour. I was there in under half an hour. Got some great details.
I belong to an online group called Crimescenewriters, and it’s full of people in law enforcement-related fields. They’re always happy to share their expertise, and I’ve filled in many a gap with their answers. People you know, either in person or virtually. One TKZ contributor gave me plenty of information when I needed to blow something up. I’ve picked the brains of my medical professions when in their offices for appointments.
But sometimes, it’s a personal chance encounter that gives the information I need. Years ago, while visiting our son in Colorado Springs, well before we moved to Colorado, I was seated next to a couple of military guys. Given how many military facilities are in Colorado, it’s likely you’ll find several on most flights.
I am not a military person. Make Love, not War was the slogan circulating when I was in college. But, since I was writing one of my early Blackthorne, Inc. novels about a covert ops team, I needed some information about where my characters might be hiding out. The man sitting next to me went on to explain about a vast number of tunnels. Were they exactly where my scenario was taking place? Not quite, but close enough to feel comfortable writing a “that might happen” scene.
On another flight, I noticed the man next to me was reading a airplane pilot-related magazine. I asked if he was a pilot, and he said he was. I proceeded to give him a scenario and he filled in details. (Note: if you want “Bad Stuff” to happen on a flight, it’s best not to ask any of the crew.) On yet another flight, I was marking up my manuscript with my trusty red pen, and the man sitting next to me, in a pilot’s uniform, asked if I was an author. He started that conversation, but he gave me plenty of information for the book I was working on at the time. Turned out he wasn’t just flying commercial jets, but he also had helicopter experience. More fodder.
Just last week, I was wandering the aisles of Walmart, and there was a group of firefighters shopping throughout the store. One man’s shirt said Paramedic, so I stopped and asked him if he had a moment to answer some questions. He said, “of course” and I fleshed out a troublesome scene I’d been writing. He gave me his phone number and told me to get in touch if I had more questions. I did, so we had a few text exchanges, and I think I’ve fixed that scene. Even named a character after him, with his permission, of course.)
One caveat. With any research, you should verify the information. Often, sources, be they human or cyber bots, don’t agree. For example one of my medical people told me the paramedics would probably administer a specific drug. When I asked my paramedic, he said they used to, but it’s no longer approved, and their list of “dos and donts” is updated annually.
But, that’s where the “I get to make stuff up” comes into play.
And, I’ll add that for me the hardest part of research is knowing what you don’t know. I can look up what constellations will be visible at a certain date and time at a specific locations because I know I don’t know that. But I never thought to look up whether a make and model of car came with a manual transmission option, because I thought all cars gave buyers that choice. Fortunately, one of my early readers pointed it out before it was published.
OK, TKZers, Where do you get your information when you’re stepping into waters uncharted for you. Anything you thought you knew, but turned out you were wrong?
TKZ:
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When breaking family ties is the only option.
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Blackthorne, Inc. taps Security and Investigations staffer, Logan Bolt, to track down Madison Westfield. When he finds her in the Faroe Islands, her story doesn’t match the one her father told Blackthorne. The investigation assignment quickly switches to personal protection for Madison.
Soon, they’re involved with a drug ring and a kidnapping attempt. Will working together put them in more danger? Can a budding relationship survive the dangers they encounter?
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Terry Odell is an award-winning author of Mystery and Romantic Suspense, although she prefers to think of them all as “Mysteries with Relationships.”
You must be a friendly, engaging person to be able to gain the trust and get the help you need from so many. The concrete details in any narrative add pleasure for your readers and make your story memorable. I bet you’ve got some granular details about your research that would make interesting reading.
Thanks, Hedley.
There’s a scene in Hidden Fire with a lot of dialogue lifted verbatim from that Ale House encounter, although I switched it from a bar to a breakfast restaurant.
Great subject, Terry! And I’ll bet you’ve heard some amazing stories during these Q&A sessions over ale or coffee or tea.
Since my genre is alternate-history fantasy, I tend to glean fun facts and ideas from archaeological blogs or real-world sites like the Vindolanda Trust dig at Hadrian’s Wall, or Butser Ancient Farm.
And sometimes from friends participating in hands-on historical research: like growing flax to make cloth or following ancient food recipes, etc.
I can’t immediately think of anything I got wrong, unless it’s how a particular fight scene should have played out. Amusingly enough, everyone’s happy to weigh in on that subject, like armchair sportsball coaches! Ha!
I thought about how fantasy authors would deal with research when they’re making up their own worlds. Thanks for sharing.
I send my fight scene scenarios to my ju-jitsu trained daughter. She does the choreography; I convert it to prose.
Gun people will leap on any mistakes; I definitely do my research and ask for help. Unlike cars, at least I know I don’t know anything about guns.
Getting cars right.
1. One of my better IT saves was an author whose computer ate 180+ pages of a WIP a few weeks before the publisher’s deadline. With the help of a good friend, we recovered the WIP and it is on the shelf today. While I was working on the recovery, I also took a peek at one scene. While the author is a Jaguar fan, I checked that the Ferrari in the scene was identified correctly.
2. One of the James Bond reboots has a car chase. Shocking I know. The bad guys manage to squeeze four henchmen into a two seat BMW sports car. Oops.
I’m the author who Alan P. talks about. Alan and our friend Willian saved my manuscript, and I am grateful to both of them. They have endless patience with dumb writers and their even dumber questions.
Glad you were able to recover that file. Phew!
I had consulted a pilot (found him on Facebook!) about a private plane my Blackthorne people would use in a specific scenario, and he gave me one. The next day, he called me to say that the plane he’d first given me would require two pilots, so I should change it because I had only one guy up front flying. People you ask for help are usually glad to assist, and they want it to be right.
Terry, it never ceases to amaze me how helpful people are. If I ask for five minutes of an expert’s time, it normally winds up being an hour and a half b/c the person keeps adding, “Oh, yeah, just one more thing…”
A fire lookout with 30 years experience was gracious enough to beta read my thriller Flight to Forever and saved me from several embarrassing gaffes.
When the book is published, I always give my sources a signed copy to say thank you.
Chance meetings are gold.
It’s heartening to see how helpful people are willing to be. Depending on the help, I give either an ebook or a print copy to my sources, too.
I also list (with permission) their names in my acknowledgments.
YouTube and TicTock have all kinds of experts on everything from historical foods to archery through the ages as well as present day warfare and weapons. The comment sections are full of experts, too.
My elder brother was a river rat who could sail anything and often piloted empty yachts up and down the Intercostal Waterway. I once asked for his help to choreograph an attempted murder using a large boat against a tiny sailboat. He couldn’t get his head into it. I ended up doing the choreography, and he approved. I never really worried about him trying to murder me after that.
Glad to know you’re safe, Marilynn!
Thanks for sharing, and reminding me about other cyber sources (although I have yet to venture into TikTok other than posts that show up on Facebook)
You can find much of the same material on YouTube Shorts.
During my recent browsing session, I was looking into exhumations for my upcoming book (inspired by actual events!). I found a YouTube channel run by a mortician and watched a couple of her videos that were very informative, but as we are authors, we invent more bizarre scenarios, usually, including the event I am writing around. I shot her an email and she has been very helpful. As you’ve said, people are generally very willing to lend a hand if you’re brave enough to ask for one.
Thanks for stopping by, Karla. The first time you reach out to someone is the hardest. It’s a lot easier now for introverts who don’t have to pick up a phone or talk to someone in person to make that first contact. Typing can be so much ‘easier’ than talking.
People have been amazingly generous when I’ve asked for help with stories. A former federal prosecutor helped me make sense of the legalities. A retired Army veteran helped with the uniform details for an officer with a peculiar background. A test pilot talked to me about using NVGs in flight. A landscape architect explained the process of planning Corps of Engineers projects and not only explained why my plan to have the villain influence the outcome of the process couldn’t work the way I’d envisioned but suggested an alternative method. Most people like talking about what they do.
Sounds like you’ve hit the jackpot with research “assistants”, Bill. And I agree, most people are happy to talk about things they know. Saves us from embarrassment, bad reviews, and books thrown against the wall.
I heard a retired homicide detective talk at an MWA meeting, and he’s been my go-to expert ever since. He said he’d rather have the correct information out there for readers.
Exactly, Elaine. In fact, Lee Lofland founded the Writers Police Academy for just that reason. He got tired of people writing about the smell of cordite!
Good topic, Terry. I’ve been amazed at how generous people are with their expert knowledge. I’ve contacted policemen, firemen, and EMTs to help me with my books, and they’ve always been gracious with their time.
Thanks, Kay. Based on the comments, we’ve been very fortunate to have our questions answered.
I’ve never had anyone turn me down for information, not even the mechanic where I get my tires, when I showed up there at 7:30 on a Saturday morning and asked how to describe loosening the tie-rod end so it would cause a wreck. I knew how to do it, but I wasn’t sure I was describing it correctly. After he decided I wasn’t really out to kill anyone, he said I’d described it fine.
Thanks for sharing that, Patricia. And I’ll bet he told everyone how he had helped an author.