Comments on: Research and the Writer http://magicalwords.net/david-b-coe/research-and-the-writer/ Writing tips and publishing advice for aspiring novelists. Sun, 14 Mar 2010 06:41:10 +0000 hourly 1 By: DavidBCoehttp://magicalwords.net/david-b-coe/research-and-the-writer/#comment-6177 DavidBCoe Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:20:52 +0000 http://magicalwords.net/?p=1243#comment-6177 Interesting, Chris. Sounds like a fun book. Your father-in-law is mistaken, however. Lutes were first played by the Mesopotamians more than 2,000 years before the birth of Christ, and were introduced to Europe, specifically Spain, by invaders from the Middle East beginning in the 8th century. Interesting, Chris. Sounds like a fun book. Your father-in-law is mistaken, however. Lutes were first played by the Mesopotamians more than 2,000 years before the birth of Christ, and were introduced to Europe, specifically Spain, by invaders from the Middle East beginning in the 8th century.

]]> By: Chris Warrenhttp://magicalwords.net/david-b-coe/research-and-the-writer/#comment-6172 Chris Warren Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:43:10 +0000 http://magicalwords.net/?p=1243#comment-6172 Interesting article, David. Research into fiction books, I beleive, needs to be enough to lend credibility to characters, their behaviour and the environment; but we can all get caught out. For example, my recently published book, Randolph's Challenge Book One - The Pendulum Swings, is the first book in a fantasy adventure trilogy. It contains characters who have command over magic so, to make that whole thing credible, I read several books on witchraft and 'the old crafts' and, while I was in Boston, visited Salem. I think, I got a good feel for making the main hero a credible 'magician' able to 'manipulate' natural forces. I was proud of myself as I received the first copy of the published book and received much positive feedback, reflecting this and other research I had completed to make the whole thing work well.The book is set in a medieval environment and the main character starts life as a humble wandering minstrel tavelling the road with his lute and piccolo. My father-in-law is a professional musician, particularly interested in historical music, and is arranging the songs in the book so we can issue a CD for readers who may wish to actually hear them sung. As he was starting work on this he told me that, while he had had enjoyed the book, their was one small point - the lute was not around in medieval times.I, like most people, thought that all medieval wandering minstrels played lutes. The inacurracy doesn't detract from the story in any way (as most people are not music historians), but it does put a perspective on the interesting question you raise of 'How much research is enough?'Chris Warren Author and Freelance Writer Randolph's Challenge Book One - The Pendulum Swings Interesting article, David. Research into fiction books, I beleive, needs to be enough to lend credibility to characters, their behaviour and the environment; but we can all get caught out. For example, my recently published book, Randolph’s Challenge Book One – The Pendulum Swings, is the first book in a fantasy adventure trilogy. It contains characters who have command over magic so, to make that whole thing credible, I read several books on witchraft and ‘the old crafts’ and, while I was in Boston, visited Salem. I think, I got a good feel for making the main hero a credible ‘magician’ able to ‘manipulate’ natural forces. I was proud of myself as I received the first copy of the published book and received much positive feedback, reflecting this and other research I had completed to make the whole thing work well.

The book is set in a medieval environment and the main character starts life as a humble wandering minstrel tavelling the road with his lute and piccolo. My father-in-law is a professional musician, particularly interested in historical music, and is arranging the songs in the book so we can issue a CD for readers who may wish to actually hear them sung. As he was starting work on this he told me that, while he had had enjoyed the book, their was one small point – the lute was not around in medieval times.

I, like most people, thought that all medieval wandering minstrels played lutes. The inacurracy doesn’t detract from the story in any way (as most people are not music historians), but it does put a perspective on the interesting question you raise of ‘How much research is enough?’

Chris Warren
Author and Freelance Writer
Randolph’s Challenge Book One – The Pendulum Swings

]]> By: DavidBCoehttp://magicalwords.net/david-b-coe/research-and-the-writer/#comment-6143 DavidBCoe Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:10:42 +0000 http://magicalwords.net/?p=1243#comment-6143 Right, Jen. That's the danger. The whole "this-is-so-much-fun-I-can't-stop" thing. Research is important, but writing pays the bills.... Right, Jen. That’s the danger. The whole “this-is-so-much-fun-I-can’t-stop” thing. Research is important, but writing pays the bills….

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