Jill Williamson is a chocolate loving, daydreaming, creator of kingdoms. She writes weird books for teens in lots of weird genres like, fantasy (Blood of Kings trilogy), science fiction (Replication), and dystopian (The Safe Lands trilogy). Find Jill on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or on her author website.
So, what if you are compelled, for whatever very good reason, to write about a topic that you’ve not experienced? The answer is research interviews. Because internet and book research won’t be enough for a story like this. If you’ve decided to dig deep and write something hard and powerful, you want to do some hard and powerful research. Wikipedia isn’t going to cut it. Here are some things to consider:
1. Be prepared. Know your plot and your characters. Somewhat, anyway. This will help you know what information you’re looking for and what questions to ask. I like to write out a list of questions in advance. I also like to take a digital recorder. That way I don’t have to try and write down everything so fast. Always ask permission before recording a conversation.
2. Go there. If you’re writing about a place, go there. If it’s a place you can experience, buy a ticket and experience it. Take tons of notes and pictures. Get into your main character’s head, find experiences for him, then experience them yourself.
3. Talk to people who live there or work there or go to school there. As them what it’s like. Consider your character’s world and life situation, then find the right people to ask. If you’re writing about a businessman, talk to some businessmen. If you’re writing about the homeless, then find yourself some homeless people to speak with. Offer to buy them lunch and listen to their stories.
4. Practice patience. If you’ve asked someone to take time out of their day to talk to you, let them take the reins of the conversation. I mean, if you’re talking with a homeless person, they likely haven’t really talked to someone in a long time. They might have a lot to say. Be patient and listen. Be a blessing to their day, not a burden.
5. Don’t get greedy. If you say, “Could I have five minutes of your time to ask a few questions?” then watch your clock and only take five minutes. If the person is going on past that, remind them of the time. If he is happy to keep talking, that’s fine. You could also ask your source if you could call or email some follow-up questions. If you do this, try not to take advantage. Only ask questions you can’t get the answer to elsewhere. And don’t email daily for the rest of your life. 😉
Also, many professional authors pay professional sources. How much are you asking of your source? If you only have a few questions, a thank you and the offer of a free book is usually enough incentive. But if you want someone to read your manuscript for overall feedback, consider offering to pay them for their time.
6. When you’re done talking, say, “Thank you.” And write down their name so that you can thank them in the acknowledgements of the book. You might also offer to mail them a book if you know it will be published soon. You don’t have to put every person you speak with in your acknowledgements, but if you spent a lot of time with a source and he or she helped you in a significant way, it doesn’t hurt to thank them in the book. Such a gesture might thrill them, but it might also create a lifelong reader.
Any questions? Is there a location or topic that has always been on your heart to write about? If so, what?