tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post3737801699023947852..comments2023-10-30T08:00:54.059-04:00Comments on Laurel's Leaves: The limits of Google researchLaurel Garverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-33468146952030716272011-02-19T19:49:30.051-05:002011-02-19T19:49:30.051-05:00I agree. Several experts have helped me avoid rese...I agree. Several experts have helped me avoid research disasters.<br /><br />Personal experience is also valuable. I know more about leukemia and heart disease than I'd like because of family members' situations. <br /><br />I also know what it's like to break my elbow. In my first manuscript, the heroine hurts her arm. I had to decide whether it was a sprain or a break. She needed to drive home after that occurred. My experience left no doubt she would never have made it home if it was broken.Susan J. Reinhardthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07461276857852409546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-44286576259090911152011-02-18T17:48:53.468-05:002011-02-18T17:48:53.468-05:00Great and timely post. I use Google and Wiki beca...Great and timely post. I use Google and Wiki because my library has NOTHING in the way of research materials. So I follow blogs of other Regency writers who have many more mad skills than I. <br /><br />Love that question -- If I could follow someone around. Definitely the Prince Regent. He's so misunderstood, in my opinion.Anne Gallagherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05816355522284492131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-6363216265453202832011-02-18T15:32:31.996-05:002011-02-18T15:32:31.996-05:00This is really good advice. I do mostly Internet r...This is really good advice. I do mostly Internet research, but I rely a lot on books, too. I'm writing about high school acting right now and since I know nothing about that I took out some books on teens and acting to see what kinds of things a teacher or director would advise them to work on.<br /><br />Phone calls are a very good idea though! I'm going to have to be brave and make those calls in the future!Lisa Galekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02438927319122874125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-70343579326243222042011-02-18T09:52:54.876-05:002011-02-18T09:52:54.876-05:00I'm always doing actual hands-on research alon...I'm always doing actual hands-on research along with internet research. For me, that's half the fun of writing :)Sherrie Petersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11670339498152684137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-75121048556356315902011-02-18T09:17:39.042-05:002011-02-18T09:17:39.042-05:00Victoria: I think it's great to do some book r...Victoria: I think it's great to do some book research--what journalists call "doing you homework" but also approaching an expert with any lingering questions or simply to fact-check information to be sure it's accurate in the real world. I learned hugely helpful things about mental illness by talking to a friend who is a counselor and a counseling professor. He knew best how some DSM4 conditions usually present in the real world, and which symptoms were very rare.<br /><br />Simon: Exactly. Isn't someone with hands-on experience helpful? And think of all the boring textbooks you've been spared from reading. :-)Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-6980555323987817682011-02-18T09:11:42.107-05:002011-02-18T09:11:42.107-05:00GE: Indeed! And you'd be surprised how many pe...GE: Indeed! And you'd be surprised how many people in your immediate circle can provide helpful information--or lead you to their circle with the expert you need.<br /><br />Janet: It's cool to have a medical mind at hand. I've drawn on the expertise of an ICU nurse, a psychotherapist, a family counselor, a veterinarian, several pastors, teens who grew up in NYC and a family of American ex-pats living in England--all people I or my hubby knew. In two cases they referred me on to others to help me more.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-24574436493409001532011-02-18T09:03:32.772-05:002011-02-18T09:03:32.772-05:00Mary: Sounds like you are reaping the rewards of d...Mary: Sounds like you are reaping the rewards of doing real-life research. Good point about real people being helpful for getting into the heads and hearts of characters.<br /><br />Laura: I'd urge you to work up your nerve to e-mail that blogger to thank him/her and ask any lingering questions you have about the venue you're researching. It could yield helpful information you didn't know existed.<br /><br />Kindros: Someone with personal experience can reveal information that you'd never think to look for. I've found that again and again.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-56137429505562705482011-02-17T22:48:09.417-05:002011-02-17T22:48:09.417-05:00Like the times when I call my sister to find out w...Like the times when I call my sister to find out what kinds of abdominal stab wounds are fatal, and what organs need to be punctured to cause hemorrhaging. Or what the protocols are when a patient wakes from a coma. Things like that.<br /><br />*sigh*<br /><br />I love having a nurse in the family. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-66347681411492460542011-02-17T18:25:04.235-05:002011-02-17T18:25:04.235-05:00I have never used an expert to assist me with my n...I have never used an expert to assist me with my novel, but I have read many books for research!VICTORIA SAAVEDRAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10329745716789899212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-37283897274071960412011-02-17T15:56:38.908-05:002011-02-17T15:56:38.908-05:00ROTFL at "natural jerkiness in the general po...ROTFL at "natural jerkiness in the general population"! Love it. :D <br /><br />I have used people as resources, but only ones I know so far. It's been super nice to have a doctor as a husband because he will give me the dirty stuff (no fears I'll sue him, I guess).Janet Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12688012956157161889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-43105991365849479372011-02-17T13:56:04.186-05:002011-02-17T13:56:04.186-05:00I've never used an expert to help me with one ...I've never used an expert to help me with one of my stories, although I can definitely see how an actual person would be able to offer information in Internet Search would not; keywords can only bring up so much.Golden Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08721520451194318436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-3272700826105624932011-02-17T11:46:23.361-05:002011-02-17T11:46:23.361-05:00The amount of information available certainly is c...The amount of information available certainly is changing what defines experts. It seems like things change constantly now because of the ability to exchange information with other experts in your same field. <br /><br />There are still certain things that can't be explained or felt through the web though. Personal experience trumps research imho.Kindroshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08320478076212368779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-35824607827080008022011-02-17T10:37:31.990-05:002011-02-17T10:37:31.990-05:00I haven't called up an expert but I'll rea...I haven't called up an expert but I'll read their books. What I also found to be of great help are blogs. When I was researching South Boston, I found a blogger who had grown up there and still talked about. The best research I found!Laura Paulinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06503090226508079501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-25629246127337928562011-02-17T10:33:42.170-05:002011-02-17T10:33:42.170-05:00I'm writing a coffee shop drama, most of it wh...I'm writing a coffee shop drama, most of it while sitting in a coffee shop - real life research. I also talk with the owner. She's great. I've talked to people who suffer from depression or do what my characters do. It's the only way to be real about the characters.<br />(It would be fun to wander around cemetaries in a foreign land.)Mary Aalgaardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08051735579638637382noreply@blogger.com