PLAYING PRETEND IN REAL LIFE

If any of you have read many of my blogs in the past, you’re familiar with how much I enjoy research. To me, it's a chance to experience a little bit about the lives other people live and the careers in which they work. Kind of like playing pretend in real life, if you will. ;) The specific detail and fresh way of looking at things that come from real life research provides grist for the imagination mill and enables a fiction writer to draw readers in to their characters’ world.

The photo to the left is from one of my experiences in my local fire department citizen's academy. I'm prying apart a car using a giant spreading tool. You know, the jaws of life. Let me tell you, that sucker was heavy!

Although most writers I know believe in researching the books they write, all writers don’t feel the same way. Here’s a humorous look at a writer who doesn’t believe in research in a fabulous old radio bit from comedians Bob and Ray.

Oops! The audio clip won't upload. Wouldn't you know. If you want to hear it, you'll have to go here. It's a political blog, but the audio clip itself isn't political. It is, however, pretty amusing.

After all my trouble with the audio clip, I almost forgot to ask my question. If you could choose one career to live for a day, what would it be?

***Just to let you know, eHarlequin is doing a big ebook giveaway today to celebrate their 60th anniversary. Free ebooks. Really. Click here to check it out. They're going to be having a lot of special events this year, so you might want to keep an eye on eHarlequin. And we'll try to pass the news along to you here, too. Happy reading!