Sometimes I get asked…What’s the coolest thing about being a writer? You’d think the answer would be getting published, seeing your name on the cover of a book THAT YOU WROTE.
Not going to lie, that some pretty cool stuff.
But what really gets me going is RESEARCH. You learn the most fascinating things that you never knew you wanted to know. Writing is like that – the need to seek out those little bites of intel that give your stories authenticity.
Like today, for example. I’m currently writing book 4 in my Jewel Intrigue series. The hero in BLACK SAPPHIRE is a marine biologist. Naturally, he’s got to find a body in the waters off the Florida Keys. For the record – I’ve been a certified diver and I’m familiar with the underwater world. But what exactly does one do in this situation? I race off to the internet to find out and stumble across this.
Wow. I had no idea! The incredible things you learn in order to write a paragraph or two of realistic action. I seriously lost track of time and got swept up in the possibilities. There’s a ton of info out there and I spent a couple of hours exploring that fascinating world.
But the coolest thing of all? I learned things and now get to add another piece of intriguing trivia to my well of knowledge. One that I hope I never need to use! Except in writing, of course. =)
This is what I love about creating. The varied and fascinating research that writing often requires can lead you down rabbit holes and keep you there for hours, looking for that one interesting tidbit that grounds your story in the minds of our readers. And sometimes what you find opens up a whole field that you never knew existed. Maybe even an idea for another story!
