Research: Oklahoma City Police Homicide Detectives survey a crime scene - credit: Oklahoma City Police Department, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

HELP WITH RESEARCH

I believe good research is the backbone of a good novel. For previous and upcoming books, I’ve gone undercover in police stations, tabloid newsrooms, hospitals and arms manufacturers, among many other secretive places.

What I’ve seen has brought a detail and truthfulness that you couldn’t make up. And freshness. Of course, all fiction has elements that are invented, but the danger of making things up is that you can easily end up with clichés.

The real thing is always, in my view, more interesting and original. More about this in a future blog.

Divorce with kids

This time, I’d like your help. I’m researching a novel about two people who divorce but have young children. Luckily, I’ve not had to deal with such things and I’d very much like to talk to people who have had the experience or who have seen others do it.

I’m not looking to expose secrets. Anything I learn will be for deep background and help bring the fictional characters to life. I’ll keep every contact entirely anonymous.

I don’t know about you, but I hate books and movies which deal with parts of life I know but don’t bother to get the details right. Can you help me get the details right for my next one?

As well as my warmest gratitude, I’ll give a copy of the published book to anyone who gives significant help. Send me an email today.

Read more

How to weave research into a screenplay

Doing effective research on the Internet

Into The Mirror and beyond