tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8071578858787530823.post3872975279336877453..comments2024-03-04T17:11:47.153-06:00Comments on One Woman's Write: R is for Researchlinda_rettstatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17409729869837474776noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8071578858787530823.post-7640331854919297702011-03-29T09:07:02.726-05:002011-03-29T09:07:02.726-05:00Interesting post, Allison. And yes, Fiona, I'...Interesting post, Allison. And yes, Fiona, I'm with you-glad I write contemporary and not historical! I do my share of research, but I wouldn't want to dive into researching historical stuff! Love the story about the cow!Theresehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12730726123190273016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8071578858787530823.post-26822225805787844482011-03-27T20:27:14.410-05:002011-03-27T20:27:14.410-05:00This is just one of the many reasons that I prefer...This is just one of the many reasons that I prefer to write contemporary novels...I know what life is like these days! (g) You made some interesting observations about all of the exhaustive research needed to write historical novels. And you are right, there is always someone who is willing to knock you for any little error, even when not done on purpose.Fiona McGierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13495707848048468428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8071578858787530823.post-84816105898092146342011-03-27T14:43:47.433-05:002011-03-27T14:43:47.433-05:00Very helpful blog, Allison and a great reminder to...Very helpful blog, Allison and a great reminder to all of us to check our facts.<br /><br />Hi there, Linda. Hope you're having a great Sunday.Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8071578858787530823.post-35041074372396010142011-03-27T11:02:32.482-05:002011-03-27T11:02:32.482-05:00Allison, an excellent post.
Don't forget to ...Allison, an excellent post. <br /><br />Don't forget to check local estate or yard sales for old reference books. I stumbled onto a set of medical reference books published in 1909 that will help me with not only the childhood diseases prevalent at the time but what was then standard and accepted treatment by the medical profession. I skimmed through some already and it's appalling... Still, best five bucks for five books I've spent in a while.<br /><br />And I've had readers tell me they would love to have a list of references in the back of the book.<br /><br />Jude<br />http://jude-johnson.comJude Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13853306819660127498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8071578858787530823.post-26406145523075410242011-03-27T09:28:00.274-05:002011-03-27T09:28:00.274-05:00Allison--congratulations on your book.
Research is...Allison--congratulations on your book.<br />Research is made much easier with the help of the internet. I use the On-line Texas Handbook which may possible cover every historical topic ever known to a Texan. Really! And I can count on the facts being correct. I bought a Texas History college textbook some time ago, which, of course, gives me historical facts. Then I love small paper books that give me some quirky or unusual stories of Texas, such as "Tales from Out Yonder." Now, you know this is going to contain terrific stuff.<br />Then there are tons of links-Women of the West (everything from Belle Starr to Annie Oakley.)<br />Anything historical fact an author could possibly need can be found by Googling it. <br />Hint: Just don't reply completely on Wikipaedia, but I think everyone know that already.<br />Thanks--CeliaAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8071578858787530823.post-1881976943327660572011-03-27T09:00:08.179-05:002011-03-27T09:00:08.179-05:00Love this advice, Allison. Research is necessary a...Love this advice, Allison. Research is necessary and can be fun and interesting as well especially when it involves interviewing people with personal experiences that you can glean info from. AND your family must be a lot of fun, too. Great story about the cow!Jillianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08153037458860004412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8071578858787530823.post-1916689631062021982011-03-26T11:22:15.568-05:002011-03-26T11:22:15.568-05:00For one of my books, The Year I Lost My Mind, I kn...For one of my books, The Year I Lost My Mind, I knew I wanted a picture of an A-frame cabin on the front. It's integral to the story. There aren't many of those in Mississippi, so I found one in an ad for family cabin rental in Ohio. I wrote and got permission to use the picture for the cover and gave acknowledgement of the campgroung. <br /><br />Next Time I'm Gonna Dance deals with the issue of breast cancer. I researched it throgoughly from both perspectives--with an oncologist and with a couple of breast cancer survivors.I also have a diclaimer in the book cautioning women not to use the information there for self-diagnosis as it is a work of fiction and that diagnois and treatment methods can change in an instant. The publisher was happy to include that note from the author.<br /><br />Thanks so much, Allison, for this post and for joining in on The Writer's Alphabet.<br /><br />LindaLinda Rettstatthttp://www.lindarettstatt.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8071578858787530823.post-11785243336484443352011-03-26T10:32:28.073-05:002011-03-26T10:32:28.073-05:00I love research, especially when I can visit the l...I love research, especially when I can visit the location. Judi, I like to add acknowledgements to my time travel books that list all the references I used for my research. That doesn't mean I haven't made a mistake or two.<br /><br />Great post, Allison.Linda LaRoquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16672522522233696282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8071578858787530823.post-53759929328692801982011-03-26T10:17:08.248-05:002011-03-26T10:17:08.248-05:00Useful and interesting article, Alison. I also lov...Useful and interesting article, Alison. I also love looking at children's non-fiction books for research at the beginning of my research journey.Lindsay Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11513558547686982857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8071578858787530823.post-66845854520903391082011-03-26T09:13:53.993-05:002011-03-26T09:13:53.993-05:00Thanks everyone. I love research and often spend ...Thanks everyone. I love research and often spend too much time doing it. And Jude, the type of disclaimer I'm referring to is something to the effect the book is fiction and where real people are involved this author tried for the best information available. Something to that affect.<br /><br />And in referrence to your problem -<br />that's why I keep track of where I find the info and the date of the site. It helps to say, but I checked and here's the place I found the information.Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04464270178127179626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8071578858787530823.post-46074174571808691272011-03-26T05:45:43.961-05:002011-03-26T05:45:43.961-05:00Hi Allison - question - what type of disclaimer ar...Hi Allison - question - what type of disclaimer are you saying to add at start of your book? I had a heck of time with 3rd book. My editor refused to believe I'd done a thorough check of two facts - and with a master's in information (library degree), like you, I am a queen of research. Would disclaimer say "I have triple checked data and it is true!"? thanks for good article.Judihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06417122704515451754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8071578858787530823.post-146414377481476212011-03-26T04:35:00.694-05:002011-03-26T04:35:00.694-05:00Research can be fun and put you in contact with th...Research can be fun and put you in contact with those you normally wouldn't have met. I once needed to know the color-red or orange-of the Jayhawk helicopter used by the US Coast Guard so I called an admiral in Norfolk. CarolCarol McPheehttp://carolmcphee.webs.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8071578858787530823.post-21872815232918091522011-03-26T03:54:52.628-05:002011-03-26T03:54:52.628-05:00Excellent post, Allison. It's so easy to be la...Excellent post, Allison. It's so easy to be lazy about doing the research (as I've discovered!).Rosemary Gemmellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09311840205603508422noreply@blogger.com