Hi there, Indie!
“Write what you know.”
What more frustrating advice could anyone give young Jamie? After all, I was only a kid, and painfully aware that I didn’t really know much of anything!
Of course, with years and wisdom I was able to better process and utilize the sentiments of this communication and, in general, I feel the advice is wise. However, let’s say you want to write what you know, and you imagine an engaging tale about someone born in a region of the country (or world!) you have never visited? Or, imagine trying to write fanfic about Tina’s character, having never been to Alaska!
What better way to really get to know what life is like for your character than to take a research trip!
The idea excites us, too, Indies – we’ve often discussed the possibility of traveling somewhere out “on the range” as research for Jen’s upcoming, “Widows of the West,” series! Another friend I know desires to set her novel at Mt. Saint Micheal in France (I asked her to stuff me into her suitcase)! And that trip to Alaska sounds pretty good to a northern-born girl in the throws of a Florida heatwave!
As an added bonus, when you are an author, and you take a research trip, your accountant or other tax preparation professional can advise you as to whether you can write off some of the travel you do as an expense of doing business! So, why not add a research trip to your next year’s business plan? I’m sure we’ll have lots of tips and tricks on the podcast this week to help you do just that.
See you there,
Jamie
