Field Trip!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 2:29AM in Allison Brennan You’re probably here expecting David Corbett to challenge your mind with a smart and thoughtful essay, but we switched days because it’s his birthday and he’s out being happy. You can read his post from last Sunday here.
So you’re stuck with me today.
David is a recent addition to Murderati and after reading his first post, I emailed JT and said:
“Where'd you dig up the smart guy? Sheesh, I feel so inadequate. I think I'm going to have permanent blog-writer's block :/”
Seriously.
So I'm not David, no great insights from me today! But I want to talk about one of my favorite subjects: research.
I’m giddy about my next research trip. Tomorrow I’m participating in another FBI SWAT training session, this time as a hostage. I can’t tell you how exciting these things are for me. First, I lead a boring life. It’s all writing and kids. That’s it. So when I get to research in the field, I feel like I’ve been released from prison. But most important, there’s nothing like hands on research.
90% of my research comes from books and talking with experts—cops, feds, doctors, lawyers, private investigators, coroners, rape counselors, pilots, business owners, mechanics, you name it. For my upcoming book IF I SHOULD DIE (11.22.11) I contacted the press guy for Argus Thermal Imaging Products about air surveillance; my regular contact at the FBI for information about working with Canadian law enforcement; a trauma surgeon I met through one of the hands on training programs about triage in the field; and even my daughter’s boyfriend who rides dirt bikes to get his input about ATVs. I poured over brochures and online maps related to the Adirondacks, learned the make-up of St. Lawrence County, New York, and researched mining history in upstate New York. I even pulled out my criminal psychology books to make sure I understood the psychology behind not only my primary villain, but because there are a lot of people involved in keeping this criminal organization running, I wanted a better understanding of group psychology.
But in the end, research shouldn’t be visible in the story. I absorb what I read and hear, but I can’t put any of it on the page. Research works only in context to the story. My readers aren’t going to be impressed that I now know how to dress a wound in the field—they don’t need me describing it in detail. What they want to know is what my main character Lucy is thinking and feeling while she’s assessing how seriously Sean is hurt after falling down an abandoned mine shaft. Because she is trained in first aid, she’s not going to be thinking about step A, B, C … she’s just going to do it.
The other 10% of my research is field trips. Touring Quantico and Folsom State Prison. Being a victim in an active shooter situation. Playing hostage. Viewing an autopsy and asking questions. But my questions are different than others. I can look up the procedures of an autopsy, but I want to know what the pathologists are thinking. Do they talk about what they’re doing? Do they chit-chat? Are they formal? Do they joke? What do they do to unwind after a difficult case? Do they tease the newbies? What's their background? What are the strange cases? What do they like best about their job? Least? Pet peeves?
Or consider how different characters view the same scene. A pathologist is going to look at a corpse much differently than a jogger who stumbles across a body in a park, so I try to view every situation from a different perspective. What does the first responder think/feel? The untrained observer? The killer? The victim’s family? What do they notice that someone else might not?
This is where the field trips really help me. I’m lucky in that I can put myself in other people’s shoes, so-to-speak. I try to understand the world from different perspectives. When I play hostage tomorrow, it’ll be running the same scenario multiple times. I can “be” the hostage and imagine that it’s real (and they way they run these drills, it feels real—I’m hyper-alert.) I can also “be” the bad guy and watch and listen and imagine why is he doing thing? What made him snap? Is it emotional or calculating? Because he’s stressed or because he wants something? And one of the my favorite parts of these drills is when, after the fact, the trainer comes through with the team and analyzes the operation. I get to listen to why decisions were made, what they were thinking, all the information they have to process immediately. If I can understand a scene from all three viewpoints—cop, suspect, hostage—I can write it.
Don’t be surprised if a hostage situation shows up in one of my upcoming stories. :)
Too many beginning authors spend a lot of time researching, then dump their newfound knowledge in the middle of a scene. BORING! Okay, okay, there are some people who like all the technical detail, and there are some authors who have made a name for themselves with involved, elaborate, and accurate descriptions of technology or science or forensic investigation. And sometimes, a bit more detail is necessary for the story—but as Elmore Leonard advises, try to leave out the boring parts.
I confess, I’ve been guilty of research dumps, usually because I learned something really cool and I want to share. Fortunately, my editor usually stops me from going overboard. And I never forget the advice of a good friend of mine, Karin Tabke, who’s married to a retired cop. It’s the details that’ll hang you, especially when you’re not an expert, so only share what’s necessary for the immediate story and move on. (But then I remember two emails I received a week apart on my book THE HUNT—one cop wrote that I got everything wrong, another cop wrote that I must have worked in law enforcement because I got it all right. Go figure.)
In the end, research needs to serve the story, not the other way around. Raise the stakes, tighten the prose, maintain the proper pacing, and be true to each character. Incorporating research is just the window dressing.
Next week I’m off for a two week trip! Not a book tour or anything fancy like that (being a mass market original author, touring isn’t an option.) But I will be at RWA and Thrillerfest, both of which are in NYC back-to-back this year. Toni McGee Causey and I are rooming together and hopefully will have time to do tourist stuff between conferences. After six (seven?) trips to NY, I have yet to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, so that’s up this time. Any must-see Broadway shows? Go-to restaurants or shops? One of those “you have to do this before you die” experiences? Are you going to one of the conferences? Bouchercon? Maybe next year?
I printed up a promotional copy of my digital novella, Love is Murder, to give away at the conferences. Comment or say ‘hi’ and I’ll randomly send five people a copy (which also includes an excerpt of my upcoming book.)
Allison Brennan, FBI, character, hostage, research 
Reader Comments (26)
The Villages (West Village and Greenwich Village) and Soho. I think that was my very favorite part out of everything. Everything is sooo pretty. It's like a small town inside of NYC, and, really, it's like being inside a Mary Higgins Clark novel. Or another book, for that matter. For us, romantic suspense lovers, it truly feels like a book. I was kinda hoping to see someone's stalker at any time :)
The American Museum Of Natural History. Even if you're like me and you don't like museums, if you've never been, you just have to. Especially if you've watched Night at The Museum and you just KNOW all the pieces become alive during the night. Honestly, though, it's SO cool!!!
Making out like crazy with a random Mauritanian guy you meet there. Oh! Right. Umm, though memorable, you're married, you should probably scratch this one off your list. Moving on.
Toys'r'Us at Times Square. I know, you're away from home and away, you probably want distance from kids, but there's a roller coasters inside it and a T-Rex too. Also, in Times Square, they have Hershey's World (?) or something that is called, that has KitKats and Reese's and they have M&M's store!!!!
There are probably many more, but this is all I remember right now.
NYC - love it. One of my favourite cities in the world. We like hitting the streets and walking everywhere - getting a feel for the city's vibe. Last time we did also go to the American Museum of Natural History and like Barbie said, it's very cool! And I like just sitting in Central Park, people watching. But maybe you've done all of the above before.
Wish I was going to Bouchercon and/or Thrillerfest. Long way for me though!
Phillipa
This year, so far, I learned to drive a squad car and been rescued during a civil defense exercise (extracted, really, since I was dead, but they didn't know, so I learned a few new vocabulary words, too), taken a couple of gun courses, and visited a women's prison with the librarian there.
But most of my research is done by bugging my select group of longsuffering experts, most of whom I met by sidling up to them during my other job and saying, "Here's the information you wanted. Can I ask you a weird question?" Found myself a federal judge and a locksmith that way! Once you convince them it's for the *book* (no, really), it's amazing what people will share, and agree to let you use!
I have a friend who lives in Vegas, but I think i still need to visit (it's for the *book*, no really), but until then, I have a tour of the new local casino as the next best thing.
Writing really does open up new worlds.
I agree with you about the research. For my Odyssey Mysteries trilology, I worked for nine months at a local riverboat gambling casino to get the feel of the casino life, the atmosphere, etc.
After reading your blog, I realize I have a lot to learn.
BTW, New York is a favorite place of mine to visit. I'm sorry I can't make it to the RWA conffernece this year.
Thanks for a great blog.
As to New York, agree with visiting the Villages and SoHo. A couple of restaurant recommendations: Mary’s Fish Camp for lobster rolls – the best you’ll find outside of Maine. And, if you want a fancy, blow out, super treat of a dinner, try to get into the Gramercy Tavern – it’s fabulous in every way, including lovely, friendly, not-over-the-top service.
The only conference I’m attending this year is Bouchercon. I’m really looking forward to not being in charge. Plus, Jon Jordan and crew are putting on a great event.
I too am a research junkie. It's a blast to learn new things. And when you're writing, and doing it right, it really is the iceberg effect. Have fun with your crapons!
And Happy Birthday David, if you're lurking - and if you are, bad, boy, bad.
I have never been to New York, someday I'll make it.
But I love live shows. My daughter and I saw Billy Elliot In Toronto and absolutely loved it.
I see it's playing on Broadway as well.
Have fun on your trip!
And I'm with you 150%. Everything you say here I agree with. For Beat I had 100 typed pages of research I accumulated from spending time with the SFPD and I ended up using about 1% of it in the book. But it was all there, in the background, working for me.
Great post!
Like you say, the research needs to serve the story. Have a good time on your FBI field trip.
--Malcolm
Oh, and I've been all over Times Square because the PASIC conference hotel is there. And I took the subway last time, just to say I did, but I'm not a big subway person. I'd rather walk.
Hi PD! Yeah, it's a bit of a trip for you!! Maybe sometime you can swing it. :) I've been to Central Park, but never walked through it, that would be fun. If it's not too hot and humid. I'm a wimp when it comes to the heat.
Hi Sarah, you hit it--before I went to NYC for the first time in 2007, all I knew about was from the movies and books. A lot is accurate when the film on location, though, and I *felt* like I'd been there before even though I hadn't.
Sarah W ... Yes! Writing opens up worlds. I did very little hands on research for my first six or seven books, though that's when I beefed up my research shelf (over 40 books on crime, forensics, criminal psychology, memoirs, bios, and even two hugely expensive text books which are invaluable to me though they're dense.) But I realized that I didn't have the visuals right. I'm not a big detail person anyway and used to rely more on the common, rather than the little things that I would only notice if I were actually there (like at the morgue, only seeing the feet of the corpses, which kind of creeped me out. So I had a character who wasn't a cop go to the morgue and be creeped out; my cop character was like, "What's your problem?")
Alafair, that's what I've heard. I'm hoping Toni and I can dig some up ... maybe someone will just give them to us, LOL.
Hi Sandra! They paid you, right? Double duty research! And it's not wasted, because anytime you're someplace where you can watch people you're doing research. My 15 year old daughter and I have a very bad habit of people watching. She's worse than me, though. :)
LOL Rae -- I know about not being in charge!! I want to go to Bouchercon, but it's at a bad time of the year for me ... I have five kids, all in fall sports. I'm trying for next year.
Absolutely JT, take a head count. I'd love to do something!
Dudley, I take research opportunities as they come up, at least the field trips, not for any specific purpose. I just absorb as much information as I can and hope I'll remember it (or have good notes) by the time I need it. For book specific research, sometimes I need to know something before I start (like in the prison break trilogy, I did research by reading seismic reports for San Quentin prison and talking to a prison guard about where my prisoners needed to be during the earthquake to give them the best chance of escaping, as well as what the response would be. That's why I had the earthquake take down the guard tower, because they'd just shoot the escaping prisoners. With all the dust in the air after the collapse of that and the wall of the yard, visibility would be extremely poor.) But most of the time, I only call someone (or email) when I need to know something. This can halt my WIP for a day or two. I have two categories: plot critical and details. Plot critical are things that I have to know before I start; details are what I learn during the "investigation."
Hey Stephen! Yeah, we both love the research, though you go WAAAAY deeper than I do. Except for my trip to Quantico, my research is usually day trips. But I find the contacts I make as important as the trip itself.
Thanks Malcolm! And I completely agree that real-world details are crucial ... and sometimes, writing fantasy or science fiction maybe, readers have a greater expectation of more world building and scientific details. I used to read Tom Clancy, but I'll admit I skimmed the tech stuff. Others love it. I can buy into his "real" world even without knowing the specifics of how bombs are made or how troops move.
Have a great time as a hostage tomorrow and enjoy NYC!
Keep up the good writing and enjoy the research. It is a lot of work, but I believe it pays off in your books. Definitely keep writing for us!!
Karen
I, too, love doing the research. What other excuse would we have to go shoot stuff and do other cool things. Doing 180mph on the public road (in Germany) was all purely for research purposes ...
(And there, your honour, rests the case for the defence.)
Cool stuff in NYC? Ride the Staten Island ferry. It's free, takes about 30 mins each way, and gives you just the best view of Manhattan Island the the Statue of Liberty.
Have breakfast at Brasserie Les Halles on Park Ave South - a nice stroll from the Grand Hyatt - where Anthony Bourdain used to be head chef. Wonderful food, and not bank-breaking either.
Go up the Empire State Building at midnight. Great views.
Have a great trip!!!
Phillipa