| By Beth Watson | August 6, 2009 |
Just how far will you go to achieve a goal?
We all have goals in life. Landing a dream job, competing in a triathalon, tracing your family roots and finding long lost relatives (which I’m currently doing). Every time I start writing a new book, my goal is to write the best book possible, which involves conducting extensive research. I’ve done some interesting things for the sake of research, like being blasted with pepper spray, test driving a Vespa scooter—when I’d never driven a motorbike in my life—interviewing a mortician and touring funeral homes and crematories, and lots more.
If you read my last post about my encounter with Johnny Depp, you know just how far I went to conduct “character research” for that book. :-) The book, about a Parisian puppeteer, is the book of my heart and I’ve gone to great lengths researching every aspect of it, including traveling to Paris. Although I didn’t make the trip abroad merely for the sake of research.
Two years ago my husband and I visited Prague and Budapest and I decided to layover a few days in Paris on the way home, since it was no additional airfare cost. I’d been to Paris several times so I didn’t need to do the touristy things. Nope, my sole purpose for visiting the city of love was to infiltrate hospital maternity wards, take in puppet performances, and polish some minor details—like hanging out in parks and chatting with Parisians about their furry friends and browsing the shops in Pigalle—the red light district.
I needed to know not only the layout, but the security level at hospital maternity wards in Paris. When I toured a maternity ward in Milwaukee I had to be buzzed in and out and signed in. Babies wore security anklets and if they got near an exit the entire floor shut down. Very high tech security.
When I went to the main children’s hospital in Paris, comprised of approximately ten buildings , a security guard gave me a map, circling the building which housed the maternity ward. Heart racing—afraid I’d get stopped and have to explain myself in broken French to Hospital Security—I bypassed the front entrance and went around to the back of the building. I waltzed inside like I knew exactly where I was going and found the reception desk unmanned. I hiked up the stairs to find a flimsy wooden gate across the entrance to the third floor. A man in scrubs approached, but rather than asking if I was there to visit a mom or swipe a baby, he opened the gate with a pleasant bonjour, allowing me access to the floor. I strolled down the hallway past nurses, rooms with mothers and newborn babies, and rooms with babies alone. Taking it all in, I slowly walked back down the hall and out of the building, virtually unnoticed. Mission accomplished. I’d learned what I’d come for. Security at maternity wards in Paris—at least this hospital—was non-existent!
I attended several puppet performances throughout Paris, finally encountering a traditional show with hand puppets just off of the Champs Elysees.
After the show I grabbed something to eat then returned for the second performance. The puppeteer was taking money and asked me if I hadn’t just been at his last show. I responded as best I could in French, explaining that I was researching puppet shows. With an intrigued glint in his eyes he told me that I needed to participate in a performance to get a good feel for it. I was giddy with enthusiasm as he led me around to the back of his shed and allowed me access while several envious children looked on. I sat inside on a bench during the performance, taking in the sound of the puppeteer’s animated voice, childrens’ laughter filtering into the shed, the handmade puppets lining the wall beneath the stage… I committed every sight, sound, and smell to memory.
As I mentioned in my last post Johnny Depp was the inspiration for my puppeteer. This puppeteer wasn’t exactly Johnny Depp, but still, what a guy!
My research in Paris was a huge success! I went home and spent several weeks polishing every little detail of the book, which I hope will one day sell!
So have you ever had a goal that you’ve gone to great lengths to achieve? Maybe even done something kind of crazy to achieve it and were later like Wow, can’t believe I did that? What was it and what did you do to obtain it? Fellow writers, what are some things you’ve done for the sake of research?
August 6th, 2009 at 9:17 am
Beth–what a great blog. I take it the story you were researching was about a baby being snatched. A trip to Paris . . . hmmm? Well I guess I’ve never gone that far. Maybe I should!
August 6th, 2009 at 9:21 am
I love the story about the puppeteer and I can just picture you crouched behind there with rapt attention.
I usually select settings I’ve been to before, but it’s always after the fact. I imagine there’s a whole new level to what details you notice when you have a story in mind.
August 6th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Laurie–Yes, the plot touches on the possibility of a baby being snatched and several scenes takes place in a maternity ward in Paris so I needed a good feel for it. And yes, I would hightly recommend going to Paris for research and writing it off.
L.A.–I was like a little kid in that puppet shed, wide eyed and giddy. It was incredible!
August 6th, 2009 at 10:00 am
My research wasn’t nearly as fun as yours! I once way over-researched breast cancer and hardly used any of the information. That taught me a big lesson. I think I was a little afraid to write the book and was using unnecessary research as procastination. Now I research as I go.
August 6th, 2009 at 10:02 am
Beth, really fun post!
Just the pictures alone swept me back to 2002 when my SIL and I each took one son to Paris.
It was the very best trip. Men don’t always want to do the things women do when traveling, so going with my SIL and our boys was fabulous.
One night we found a carnival in the open area of a park, so we went—we had so much fun we returned the next night. How many men would want to spend TWO evenings at a country carnival? Not too many I’d guess…and that was how our whole trip went.
I can’t think of what I’ve done for research….but, I’ll get back to you.
Have a great day!
August 6th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Edie–I hear ya, I always overresearch books. I just finished a book on the witness protection program. I read every book and watched every movie I could get my hands on when researching that book. Read many of the books twice. And I don’t miss an episode of In Plain Sight. I don’t know how I could ever write historical books. I would spend all my time researching and no time writing!
Caroline–Sounds like you guys had a great time in Paris! How can’t you? The one thing my hubby and I agree on when going to Paris is sitting at a sidewalk cafe all afternoon drinking wine and people watching. It’s our favorite thing to do in Paris! And really, that’s character research so I could write off the wine!
August 6th, 2009 at 11:20 am
Beth,
That sounds wonderful!!!
I MUST plan a research trip like that. Sooner than later.
Europe here I come!
August 6th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Beth, what a grand adventure! I can’t wait to see Paris through your puppeteer’s eyes. As for going to great lengths to achieve a goal…
In college I met a really nice guy at a holiday celebration at a mutual friend’s house and we chatted a bit, discovering we both drove little red sports cars and parked in the same university parking garage. The next Monday at school I hunted down his car in the massive three-story parking garage and left a note on his windshield. In Russian. I also included my phone number. Since he didn’t speak Russian, he had to call me for translation. We got married three years later. Goal achieved.
August 6th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Shelley–Oh WOW, great goal and way to go for it! Congratulations on obtaining it!
August 6th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Shelley, how clever!! Please tell me you’ve used that in one of your books!!!
Loveitsomuch!
August 6th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Okay, I seriously cannot believe that many of my fellow writers have not gone to great lengths to research a book! You guys have got to have some stories. Where is everyone today????
August 6th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Shelley–love the Russian-note story.
Beth, so cool about the puppet show! I’ve done a couple of things specifically for “research,” but also just because I thought they’d be interesting activities. While I was writing my first manuscript (which involved a Chicago-area theater), I volunteered on the set of a community theater to help build and design the stage for their summer play. After I started work on “Jane,” I got a job at the public library (since my heroine is a librarian) and ended up working there for 3 1/2 years. I have a hero in one wip who rides a motorcycle, but I’m not sure I’m ready to take on learning that just yet…
August 6th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Go test drive a Vespa scooter instead of a motorcycle Marilyn. Believe me, if I can do it anyone can.
Just beware they are heavier than they look!
Thanks for sharing your research!
August 6th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Beth what a great post. I love the puppeteer pictures. Reading all the posts makes me feel like a frump, since I have not gone to nearly the lengths you did in the name of researching a story.
I did extensive research on the Russian Mafia once and did strike up a lasting friendship with the woman who helped me with Russian translation. See? Told you it was boring.
I like Shelley’s story much better.
Laura
August 6th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Sorry so late, Beth. Long day in traffic, but I adored your post. I’ve done some very strange things for research, but nothing like this. Way cool.
August 7th, 2009 at 9:56 am
Hi Beth!!!!
I think I need to go on a research trip with you. Sounds like incredible fun.
As you know, I’m just starting out and so far my research has been limited to surfing the internet and reading books. Oh, and visiting tons of coffee shops since my heroine is opening up a coffee shop. Now that’s fun because I LOVE coffee.
However, I do have a new idea in my head which will require extensive research and hopefully a trip or two! But I must, must finish this one first.
Hope to see you soon!!!
Justen
August 7th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Laura–Anytime you make a new friend or contact for the sake of research that’s worthwhile. And yes, love Shelley’s story!
Gwynlyn–Thanks for popping by after a long day!
Justen–Just wait a few years and you’ll have a ton of research stories to share! And you can write off those tripes!!!
Thanks to everyone who popped by and posted. Not alot of traffic by the post. Had hoped to get alot of fun research stories. Everyone must be on vacation!
Beth
August 7th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Hi Beth~
Great post! As for research, I usually end up doing it backwards. I travel around and find fascinating fact and they end up in my books. The first that comes to mind is a story I found while up in an old mining town in Idaho. While I was there I discovered a miner’s journal from the 1860’s and I sat down and read it. In the diary/journal was the story of three whores who had died in a freak spring snowstorm while trying to cross a mountain pass on their way to work a neighboring mine. The bodies were recovered by this miner and a few of his friends. The men tied the bodies to a sled and were bringing them down the pass which followed the raging river. The river took a sharp turn, the sled didn’t, and the bodies of the whores were never found. When I needed a name for my fictional mining town, Three Whores Bend seemed to work.
August 7th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Robin–How cool was that? That would be an incredible discovery! I bet you were psyched after reading that. And I love that Three Whores Bend. Perfect name!
Thanks so much for sharing!!!
Beth