When I first started writing I was told to "write what you know"…and with my first hero, it wasn’t hard. He was a writer, and a secondary character was a potter, both within my area of expertise. But that advice posed a problem when it came to my heroine. She had a Ph.D. in psychology focusing on victimology, and I didn’t have that Ph.D. So I winged it…after doing a LOT of research.
From my first book I went on to have heroes and heroines who were police officers, counselors, pilots, park rangers, a missionary, security specialist, rock climber, even a doctor. I am none of these things. So how do I write about them convincingly?
Most of the time I have friends who are in the field I need that I can talk to. But for the rock climber, I read articles and forums on rock climbing, and the forums were especially informative. I learned the slang climbers use. For the doctor, I have several women friends who are physicians, and they answered my questions and gave me little tidbits of personal information that added authenticity to the story.
In my Memphis Cold Case novels, I had a contact in the Cold Case Division at the Memphis Police Department. When I had a question, I’d shoot him a text. Same with a friend who was a pilot. I’ve never reached out for information and had someone turn me down. Most people are happy to talk about what they do.
Right now I’m working on a series about National Park Rangers set on the Natchez Trace down near Natchez. I’ve interviewed several rangers already and have a district supervisor on speed dial. :-)
In the future I want to write a story about a riverlorian on the Mississippi. About now you’re asking what in the world is a riverlorian. Right? The word is derived from three words: river, lore and historian. Riverlorians spin tales about the history of the rivers they travel.
I’m also planning to write a cozy mystery series about a docent who heads up a committee in charge of restoring an antebellum mansion near the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
What kind of jobs would you like to see in books? Leave your answer in the comments along with a way to contact you, and I’ll pick someone to win a $10 Amazon gift card!
From my first book I went on to have heroes and heroines who were police officers, counselors, pilots, park rangers, a missionary, security specialist, rock climber, even a doctor. I am none of these things. So how do I write about them convincingly?
Most of the time I have friends who are in the field I need that I can talk to. But for the rock climber, I read articles and forums on rock climbing, and the forums were especially informative. I learned the slang climbers use. For the doctor, I have several women friends who are physicians, and they answered my questions and gave me little tidbits of personal information that added authenticity to the story.
In my Memphis Cold Case novels, I had a contact in the Cold Case Division at the Memphis Police Department. When I had a question, I’d shoot him a text. Same with a friend who was a pilot. I’ve never reached out for information and had someone turn me down. Most people are happy to talk about what they do.
Right now I’m working on a series about National Park Rangers set on the Natchez Trace down near Natchez. I’ve interviewed several rangers already and have a district supervisor on speed dial. :-)
In the future I want to write a story about a riverlorian on the Mississippi. About now you’re asking what in the world is a riverlorian. Right? The word is derived from three words: river, lore and historian. Riverlorians spin tales about the history of the rivers they travel.
I’m also planning to write a cozy mystery series about a docent who heads up a committee in charge of restoring an antebellum mansion near the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
What kind of jobs would you like to see in books? Leave your answer in the comments along with a way to contact you, and I’ll pick someone to win a $10 Amazon gift card!
elevator mechanic
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
That's interesting! I'll have to think about how to work that into a story. :-)
DeleteI'd love to see jobs of the common man (or woman) featured. You know the hard, duty work that everyone takes for granted and that no one wants to do. Maybe a garbage collector who finds clues in the garbage he picks up or the grunt laborer on a construction site you finds clues in the walls of buildings he's tearing down for "new growth".
ReplyDeleteLive in and love the Ozarks so maybe something set in the back hills.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
Great suggestions, Kay. Something for me to think about.
Deleteartist , pet vet, Sheriff 1cow0993(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteCarol, I'm probably going with the sheriff for my next series. ;-) And I like your other suggestions.
DeleteI think some fun jobs would be things like a baker, a florist, a chef, or maybe a contractor.
ReplyDeletedmandres5 at gmail dot com
More good suggestions, Melissa! Thanks.
DeleteA secretary of a big company CEO, a B&B owner or a pastry chef? LOL! Thanks! RW620 AT aol DOT com
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine the secrets the secretary would know, Robin! Another good suggestion.
DeleteBecause I love stories with dogs and/or horses, I would say a good career could be a hippotherapist (providing physical and mental therapy using the movement of riding horses).
ReplyDeletedawn dot nicol at gmail dot com
Dawn, my daughter uses hippotherapy as a speech pathologist and she was the inspiration for The Gingerbread Pony, my novella.
DeleteI was a walker for her a few times and was amazed at how the horse helped the child speak more clearly.
A Christian bookstore girl, like me! ;) wenniejebb at hotmail
ReplyDeleteI like that, Jennie! Maybe in a cozy mystery. :-)
DeleteI’d like to read about factory workers, truck drivers, and librarians.
ReplyDeleteOnorman at wilkes dot net
Good suggestions!
DeleteMorticians would be interesting. I feel they are often overlooked when they are helping families in one of their worst moments. They are human just like us. It would be nice not to just see them at crime scenes but every day life.
ReplyDeleteThat's a really good suggestion Sonnetta! I'll have to think about how to use a mortician as a hero.
DeleteI think my interests are varied as long as the characters are strong ones. I would say ones that would perk my interest would be Ranchers, CEO's/business owners and I do enjoy military/special ops types. Thank you for your blog. chasepacek@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI think strong characters are key to a story, no matter the profession. Thanks for dropping by.
Deletecj Sez: All the astronomy, all the international intrigue (DARPA, et al.), all the CIA vocabulary, all the genome info in my novel Deadly Star comes from Google and elsewhere. Building strong, real characters is key, but I do find doing a deep dive into all kinds of lives, even into my family history, an extremely interesting rabbit hole.
ReplyDeleteI so agree, CJ. I love diving into different lives. I think that's what I like most about writing--I can live any kind of life I want through my characters. :-)
DeleteArchaeologist
ReplyDeleteArchitect
I want to set a book in Israel, Anne, and have the heroine be an archeologist. :-)
DeleteLibrarians. Teachers. Everyday jobs that don’t always get the fame and glory.
ReplyDeletemindyhoung AT msn DOT com
I agree that those are great ideas, Mindy. I remember a story a few years ago that featured a teacher as one of the heroines.
DeleteHow about a property manager... thinking apartment complex... what is going one with the tenant in 204???
ReplyDeletepattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com
I like that, Patty! It could go as a cozy mystery or even suspense...
DeleteHow about a elementary school secretary or nurse? small town one, not even sure big city's would have nurses....I'd say to try to do one as a small town funeral director/mortician if you wanted to go totally off the beaten path. I've been an assistant funeral director most of my working life. Dealing with families and situations of death. I'd also suggest using a stay at home mom or dad as your main character, one who homeschools their kids?
ReplyDeleteThere's a cozy mystery series that features a heroine as a beautician who works for a funeral home. I love the way she wants to show respect for the person who has died.
DeleteWOW! WELL DONE! Fascinating, too. I was always told, in college and high school, "Write what you know." You just blew that advice right out of the water. Thank you for the insight and advice.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mary! and the thing is, if I only wrote what I knew, I'd be very limited. Sometimes I think we should write about what we want to know!
DeleteI was studying to be a forensic psychologist. I got my 1st 2 degrees together, dual BAs... 1 in Psychology and the other in Criminal Justice. My plan was to take a some time off and breathe and be with my kids but unfortunately I foot sick and never got well enough to work again or return to school.
ReplyDeleteSo that's my dream job I would love to read about.
My first story, Shadows of the Past deals with a forensic psychologist who specializes in victims. I really enjoyed researching that story. I'm sorry that you became sick and didn't get to finish your education. Have you ever thought about writing a story featuring an forensic psychologist?
DeleteI enjoyed your post! I love your books! I'm looking forward to the cozy mystery your going to be writing. That one sounds so good! Teachers, someone in forensic science
ReplyDeleteThanks, Beverly! Maybe I'll get the cozy finished mid March. Life has interrupted the story and now I have a deadline for the 2nd Natchez book. :-)
DeleteA teacher in class for deaf &/or hard of hearing and or a book about a certified interpreter in American sign language
ReplyDeleteThat's a good one, Barb! I actually know American sign language...or I did. It's true if you don't use it, you'll lose it! :-)
DeleteI would suggest a pharmacist or, to go along with your riverlorian, a history re-enactor but I'm not sure that's what they are really called. They'd be the people who participate in historical re-enactments at forts and other historic sites.
ReplyDeletebcrugattwcdotcom
Oh! Oh! A pharmacist--that's a great one, Connie. She could recognized when a patient has been poisoned with something like digitalis.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see the common hardworking man.
ReplyDeleteleliamae54(at)aol(dot)com
Yes, I think it's time to feature a blue-collar worker! Need to start thinking on that one, Lucy.
DeleteSomeone who works at a restaurant, a server, hostess or even the manager.
ReplyDeleteTxjessy1@gmail.com
DeleteI always forget to add my email 🤷🏽♂️
I was a waitress when I was fifteen so it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to get into that mindset, Jessica. That job gave me a great appreciation of people who work in a restaurant.
DeleteI would love to see a woman as a missionary on a book! I’m a missionary and I have not seen many books about missionaries!
ReplyDeletefaithdcreech at gmail dot com
Faith, that's a great suggestion. My fourth Logan Point book, Silence in the Dark, features a missionary. :-)
DeleteHow about a sea captain??
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
My cozy has a riverboat captain in it, Mary. :-)
DeleteHow about a mechanic, or a housewife, I think that would be nice. I enjoyed reading this article about the different information you get for your characters, it is so interesting. Your books sound awesome, I was just thinking how about a man that is a mortician??? Have a Great evening. God Bless you. my email address is : aliciabhaney at sbcglobal dot net aliciabhaney@sbcglobal.net
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you enjoyed the post, Licha! Thanks for taking the time to comment.
DeleteForensic scientist.
ReplyDeletepsalm103and138atgmaildotcom
That's one I really want to explore, Caryl.
DeleteAlways eager to read about librarians!😍
ReplyDeleteConnie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Connie, I must find a way to work a librarian into my story. Yours is about the 3rd comment mentioning librarians.
DeleteHow about a farmer--crop, cattle, or dairy? Or a nurse midwife, or a homeschool mom!
ReplyDeleteeclitton(at)gmail(dot)com
Great suggestions, especially the midwife, Elizabeth.
DeleteCan't wait to read the book! Great cover. I love the mountains and reading about the mountains, looking forward to reading.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks, Dianne.
DeleteArtist.
ReplyDeletefaithful.acres.books@gmail dot com
I have a great resource if I decide to use an artist in a story...and I've actually taken a few lessons. In fact, if I had time I probably would love to paint and draw!
DeleteI have recently discovered "North Woods Law" on Animal Planet, and I'm impressed by the variety of the duties of the game wardens: hunting and fishing enforcement, search and rescue, animal control, snowmobile speed traps, community outreach. I'm sure there's much, much more! That's one job that covers so much!
ReplyDeleteDid you know that in Mississippi, the game warden has more power than the sheriff? It's an interesting career!
DeleteI'm working for the Census this year where you go door to door. I could see that type of job going in any directions. laizl8@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteLori, what a great job for a protagonist! Thanks for mentioning it!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteAnd the winner of the $10 Amazon gift card is Kay Garrett! Thank you all for the great careers!
ReplyDelete