One of the things I love about writing is all the cool stuff I learn. Over the past five years I’ve learned how to fly a small engine aircraft, how to rope and ride a bull, how to work with a SAR K-9, how to fight a fire, how to dress a wound in the woods. I’ve been to cool places for research, like the Waldorf Astoria, and Trump Tower. I’ve interviewed ranchers, and green berets, and bush pilots.

I love my job.

But the best thing about research is that good research helps you plot. Say, for example you have a story about a fire chief who is afraid of losing one of her firemen. In my research I discovered that firefights carry an emergency locator that goes off when they’re in trouble What if, though, the locator Didn’t go off…and people got killed? The question would be…WHY? Was it an accident or did someone sabotage it? And if it was sabotage, then was the FIRE set purposely? And why? Is someone out to get my fire chief? Or someone on her crew?

See how doing research opens up new possibilities for plotting? Whenever I have an idea, I always hit pause just after I gather my first few spark of ideas, and start researching. I take notes. I follow rabbit trails. And eventually, a story emerges that is based on actual what-ifs.

Take the time to do your research, to understand the nuances of your stories setting, the dangers of the professions of your characters. You’ll have a story that rings true and that, when the reader finally closes the book, they wonder…wait…could that really happen?

*********************
Sign up now for our Book Therapy blog feed and get:

5 Secrets to a Best-Selling Novel

Frustrated? Confused? …Dreaming of the day when an editor calls and says, “I MUST publish your book?” Don’t laugh – it could happen! It does happen – all the time – and you could be next! What’s holding you back? Flat characters? A Saggy plot? Lackluster writing? Let the Book Therapists help. We believe that deep inside every troubled story lies a deep-seated problem. But it’s not beyond hope… Your book simply needs therapy. Stop by MY BOOK THERAPY and…get published!