Is both a writer’s lifeline, and the bane of their existence…
Research takes time away from actual productivity, but it’s also necessary if you want readers to actually read your books. Nothing is worse that errors that cause a reader to wall your book(s).
We were discussing this yesterday on our livesteam and it generated a number of comments both among Cedar, Ian, and I, and in the chat.
First and foremost, AI is NOT your friend. It will not necessarily lead you astray, per se, but it may not give you the actual data you want or need. Wiki is another one… Cedar pointed out that she has, more than once, gone to the bottom to check on the references for the wiki only to find out the reference DOESN’T EXIST!!!
This example is for a Colt 1911 Government pistol.
Other times, you find rabbit holes that will eat HOURS of time, as you chase specific details, and still end up with very little, or so much info you are overwhelmed. To make it even worse, all that research may only end up as a sentence or two in the novel!
I spent 6 hours researching Remington pistols from the 1860s for what ended up as two sentences in the final draft…sigh
And now we’re finding out that ‘science’ is no better… The link HERE, from Phys.org points out the amount of false data now being ‘published’ in the science world. It’s not like we haven’t already seen that with the whole Globull Warming crap, but this is even worse…
Getting things right for period novels is another issue, clothing, etc. can knock a knowledgeable reader right out of the story. And horse people are just as bad. Make a mistake about horses and your novel will get walled…
You can always ‘handwave’ a lot of stuff away, or use generic descriptions if you’re not sure, but at least make a try and getting things right! Please!!!
Another thing writers can do is to take something from history (a battle for example), file off the serial numbers, put it somewhere else, change the characters, and write a great story! David Drake was known for this, as he was also a historian, and many of the Hammer’s Slammers battles were actual historic battles he put in space and made into excellent novels!
Since I write westerns among other things, I’ve done a lot of research on periodicals, catalogs, etc. from the 1860s for pricing for various things, recipes, like this link, HERE.
And monographs written by drovers, Texas Rangers, cattlemen, and others during that period.
One last thing… Always remember the ‘winners’ write history, not the losers…
“First and foremost, AI is NOT your friend.”
While coffee was brewing this morning:
“Alexa, what’s the current outside temperature?”
Right now, it’s 61 degrees Fahrenheit.
“Thank you”
Right now, in Echo Spain, it’s 83 degrees
Fahrenheit.
??? (it heard “thank you” as “echo”)
There are hilarious videos out there of people pairing AIs to feedback on each other – one of my fav’s is a YT vid of a Siri, an Alexa, and a Furby toy.
Cranston Snord:
I think I saw that video. Frickin’ funny.
Just messing around, I asked my AI to compute the area of a tweive inch diameter circle. It said 1,280 sq mi. Twice.
I admire the dedication of all you writers. It is a trait I don’t posses. Your Grey Man series was enjoyable.
I developed the ability to write concise reports in my early years. One time I wrote an instruction manual on how to install modular houses. When I showed it to a co-worker, his comment was a left handed compliment. Said it was the best thing he had read on the subject but we should give it to a professional writer to make it more readable!
So mass respect for you wordsmiths.
More and more posts popping up where AI was wrong or outright made stuff up (and admitted to it when called out on it). Might as well do research on CNN as use AI. Then there’s the qualitative difference between the entry level AI subscription vs the pro level. John Carter, Postcards from Barsoom Substack had an excellent write up on this.
It seems as many authors get lost in the minutia of detail as those who get it just plain wrong. Sometimes the trendy descriptions of firearms and accessories that the Secret Unit of Delta SEAL sniper snake eaters is unreal. What unit allows six different calibers, four different operating systems and no two optical systems being the same in squad? It’s like reading a press release from the SHOT Show. Screw logistics.
I always thought you idea allowing the reader to fill some detail with their own imagination was brilliant.
I remember interviewing you regarding your research activities.
If anyone is interested I will post a link to the interview in comments.
.
“Another thing writers can do is to take something from history (a battle for example), file off the serial numbers,..”
Sounds pretty close to plagiarism. At least laziness, which leads to plagiarism.
Is more research holding up Bells Chronicles?
🙂
My interest in a story waned when the author had his character rack the slide on a revolver. Dude, “revolve” is a clue.
I used to read vintage mysteries/PI stories. I suspect that more Webley-Fosbery automatic revolvers showed up in the stories than were ever sold in real life.
Robert/Cranston- Sigh… yes…
WSF- Thank you!
Steve- Thanks! And so true!
Gerry- Since they don’t have a clue as to what is actually used, they throw it at the fridge to see what ‘sticks’… I grew up with writers who did sparse descriptions. And yes, it allows the readers to get invested in the story!
Ed- LOL, we all do it to one extent or another… I got blocked on the Bell Chronicles and I’m running with the Rimworld right now.
Robert- Sigh…
RC- Of course!!!
I think the drudgery of research is one of the reasons that fantasy and comic book stories litter bookshelves and cinema screens. Authors can make it up as they go along.