tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6540680640951847354.post5361407758870270740..comments2023-11-05T01:54:47.577-08:00Comments on Lisa Regan: What You KnowLisa Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12899014095250160853noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6540680640951847354.post-74375055080280962542011-06-29T14:22:51.846-07:002011-06-29T14:22:51.846-07:00I write thrillers, and my life is anything but thr...I write thrillers, and my life is anything but thrilling. That's why I write fiction and not non-fiction, so I can make stuff up! I think that "write what you know" adage is really only helpful in injecting *some* authenticity into characters and situations. For example, I used to work at a university and spent a lot of time in old buildings and walking around campus, and I used that same setting in my book. But I made up the serial killer parts :) I'm sure if I've had real-life experiences with serial killers, I wouldn't be alive now to write about it!<br /><br />Great post, Lisa!Jennifer Hillierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15783975547643539868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6540680640951847354.post-28621719268064924082011-06-29T10:35:19.866-07:002011-06-29T10:35:19.866-07:00Bryce:
Yes there is always the believability fa...Bryce: <br /><br />Yes there is always the believability factor but I find even that is relative. I live in Philadelphia and have never known an author to portray this area accurately in their writing--even writers who claim to live or be from here. Also, peoples' experiences of things are so subjective that someone out there is ALWAYS going to say "that's not how it really is". For example maybe my experience of Philadelphia, having lived here most of my life is not the same as someone who grew up in South Philadelphia. Another example: (speaking of Grisham and Turrow) a personal injury lawyer is not going to have the same experiences as a criminal trial attorney--it's two wildly different worlds. But both are technically lawyers. <br /><br />A few years back, I had some personal reasons to to have a lot of interaction with police detectives and later I did a lot of research for one of my books where I spoke with actual police detectives. I went to one of the district buildings and met with detectives, got a tour, etc--lots of information. When I used that stuff in my book and my early readers read it they all said the same thing: "That's not believeable." I said "Not believable? That's how it IS". <br /><br />If I wrote things the way they actually are, people really wouldn't believe it. So I have to use a little fact and a little fiction. I think writing a good commercial novel comes down to entertainment. While believability is a factor, I don't think it's nearly as important as people think it is. Just a small example: people are addicted to those CSI shows where they have lab results back instantly. In real life it takes months, sometimes years to get some types of lab results back. Write that in your book and people will say that's not how it really is--so what do you do? I say make things as believable as you can but take liberties for the sake of entertainment.Lisa Reganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12899014095250160853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6540680640951847354.post-23755475859244734672011-06-29T10:16:54.844-07:002011-06-29T10:16:54.844-07:00There are times I get frustrated, knowing that &qu...There are times I get frustrated, knowing that "my life" as it is will not provide useful fodder for my WIP. I know this is wrong, but I think of Grisham and Turow with their law backgrounds and Connelly with his police experience.<br />Always research, but just another hurdle to negotiate on the way to believability. Oh, well. <br />I do agree with your sentiments on imagination, though. If I can't use mine, I have no business calling myself a fiction writer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6540680640951847354.post-89897101348913868962011-06-28T13:18:01.448-07:002011-06-28T13:18:01.448-07:00Use what you know. I like that. After reading yo...Use what you know. I like that. After reading your second paragraph I now feel that I've become too organized. I guess it's time to do something crazy. Hmm, sounds like your daughter might make a promising fantasy writer :) <br /><br />Read what I know?..no way, no fun in that. I agree that fiction should be intriguing. It should keep you at the edge of your seat or hold you in the shivering grasp of fascination. <br /><br />A killer with blackouts?...that could be dangerous. <br /><br />Here's a vote for using your imagination. <br /><br />My characters are not of this world. They're all products of my imagination. There are flaws that make them real, and I've stolen their personalities from real people. I've often had a dream of what the world could be like, what I could be like. That's what I try to apply to my writing. Whether it works, that's left to me determined.Laila Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430076999393883312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6540680640951847354.post-6954549848859329462011-06-28T12:46:04.846-07:002011-06-28T12:46:04.846-07:00I don't necessarily write what I know, but I b...I don't necessarily write what I know, but I base a lot of what I write on the experiences I've been through and the people I've met. I don't think I could have a clear understanding of my character's motivations if I didn't know them in some way. <br /><br />I've never been kidnapped by Russian mobsters, but I did have a friend who was Russian and I inadvertently got mixed up with some of her questionable friends in San Francisco and saw something I wish I'd never seen. That's how I got the raw material for my villains in my book. It was almost organic for me, the fear I remembered generating these characters and scenes. <br /><br />But perhaps that's why I'm worried about my next project. Where am I going to get the next bit of material? Though I do think I have enough skill now to produce something out of thin air, I still need some inspiration.Nancy Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05735642863696266005noreply@blogger.com