When you think about writing as an occupation, you might not automatically assume that means research. You should.

The research doesn’t start after you’ve dreamed up a plot. Every writer needs an arsenal of tried and true weapons with which to write. In fact, I was tempted to name this post: So you want to be a writer?

I started my career backward. I wrote my first book (never published) and then realized that I didn’t know half of what I needed to succeed. Enter one of the best weapons in the writer’s arsenal: The how to book. There are many books out there to help writers and what worked for me, might not work for you, but let me tell you which books I think no writer should be without.

EATS, SHOOTS & LEAVES by Lynne Truss is my favorite book on grammar out there. I read it for fun. Yes, grammar can be fun.

THE FIRST FIVE PAGES by Noah Lukeman. This is a book that will give you lots of tips on how to stay out of the rejection pile. But it all came together for me when I read Stephen King’s ON WRITING. Oh, I love that man. He speaks to you writer to writer and he holds no punches.

So now you’ve got some how to’s under your belt. What next?

When I started writing contemporary erotica, I didn’t think I’d have to do a lot of research. I was wrong.

There were many minor details I needed to clarify—for most them I used Google. For instance, in my first short, FIRST DATE, Bret drives a Mustang. I had no idea what the interior of a Mustang looked like. Google did.

The Novella I just finished, Creative License, takes place in San Francisco. As far as I’m concerned, the best kind of research is first-hand experience. So, for my birthday, I took a trip to San Francisco and mapped Caleb and Lily’s steps. I took notes regarding sounds and smells, anything I could think of that I might want to add to the book. And pictures, I took a lot of pictures. I even asked permission to take a few photographs inside the art museum where Caleb has an art showing so I could describe the architecture.

Obviously, you can’t go to every setting—or I’d write a book set in Barcelona post haste. That’s why I love Google Maps. You can pick an address or location, zoom in, click the satellite option and walk along that street. It’s almost as good as being there.

Research adds authenticity to a book setting, an essential characteristic if you want your world to come alive for the reader.



Contact Lynne

***Thanks, Lynn! I love the 2nd half of ON WRITING. If anyone hasn't read it and wants to jump to the dirt on creative writing aside from the 1st half of the book's autobiography of Stephen King, just read part 2. What was that rule... Never use more than 3 adjectives per noun in a sentence! And ditch the commas between them. (This isn't a formal paper we're writing... But you'll need to cross your t's and dot your i's for a literature paper!)

THE FIRST FIVE PAGES is another excellent book to help a writer understand what's expected of their manuscript. I heard Noah Lukeman speak in San Diego after reading his book. He's chuck full of practical information.

I'm with you on googling car info. Ugh. I'm so not into automobiles. And everyone should know they've done tons of surveys with GPS, even underground (sewer systems, etc.) that you can access online. Okay, my husband swears you can. I just like catacombs. But what can you expect from the archaeologically-inclined? I haven't needed to know about New York City's drainage... LOL Great post and best of luck with your stories. ~Skhye

***Please welcome, Amber Leigh Williams who has come to share her research on cowboys! I say we should all whoop and holler... But I'm Texan and most folks aren't into all that noisemaking. ~Skhye

Ah, the western frontier! All those wide, open spaces – and I’m just referring to the landscape. But the story possibilities are endless! I love western romance. It all started with Nora Roberts’ Lawless and the perfect cowboy hero – Jake Redman. He hooked me from the hook of the back cover blurb – “Half-Apache, all man…” My love for the genre bloomed from there, helped along by a few favorites. I was introduced to contemporary cowboy heroes with the must-read erotic romance work of Wendi Darlin. I wasn’t the only reader bowled over by steamy reads like Cowboy Games and Hired Hands…. 

While researching my first foray into the western romance world, I realized what an utter newbie I was when I attended my first rodeo. A whole new world I never knew existed opened up before my eyes, loud, semi-crazy, and oh-so-pungent. I learned that the rodeo world, much like the ranching world, is an entire culture unto itself. I knew already that I would be aiming for contemporary and that my hero would be a bull-rider. In a way, it felt like taking a step back in time – to the rough and tumble days of Dirty Harry or Wyatt Earp. Neither sat on the back of a mean, bucking bull for eight seconds, but there was something in that arena that harkened back to those wide open possibilities of the American West.

My western trilogy – Blackest Heart (available now), Bluest Heart (available now), and Bet It On My Heart (March 3, 2010) – is based in the small western town of Wayback, Texas. Wayback was formed by the Yellow Rose imprint of The Wild Rose Press. It was a job trying to bring the unfamiliar world of rodeo to life on the page. I liked the idea of a pre-determined setting for my unraveling saga. And I had the immense pleasure of “researching” Wayback with the first stories published in the series by Rita Thedford (Hot Night at the Blue Bug Saloon) and Judith Rochelle (Shadow of the Hawk). These talented authors not only launched the new series with a bang – they set the bar very high for every Wayback story to follow.

I learned much from my time in Wayback. For one, I love ranch life almost as much as the Ridge family. In fact, I’m planning two more western sagas – one paranormal and another contemporary. It’s only right that I research ranching the same way I researched rodeos – by visiting a dude ranch! And you can be sure I’ll be back to give readers the skinny on that experience J Until then, visit The Wild Rose Press to check out Wayback and the dysfunctional Ridge family saga. You can learn more at my website and my personal blog, The Cozy Page.

Thank you, Skhye, for letting me share! And…it’s only fittin’ that I add a Yeehaw! Happy reading J



***Amber, you can yeehaw at this Texan's blog anytime! I LOVE rodeos. Always did. If you haven't been, you must go!

Yes, the American West is all about fighting for the right to breathe as you would through individualism. Throw in the rebellious enterpreneur personality of those venturing into the West to carve out a new existence, and you've got yourself a "yeehaw" version of PARADISE LOST.  Like anyone can tie down a tumbleweed... It's amazing the number of Texan literature majors taking RENAISSANCE AND REFORMATION ENG LIT with me just didn't see that... LOL.

I love the cover of BLUEST HEART. Everybody run out and buy a copy of a Wayback story. They've got tons of rave reviews. I say start with Amber's titles. Thanks for sharing, Amber. ~Skhye