Research: When do we go out of our box?

[CharleyH]

A while ago I asked about library research as a lost art. Today I face a new dilemma: research that cannot be had or found from books and is outside your experience.

Where do you find the fodder? I am currently writing queries for interview requests from people, and I don't expect to get them, but well, I have my devious ways.

Do you or would you do an interview to make your story as accurate as possible if you could not find the research?

Edit to because it's a lame yes or no question: How do or would you go about getting that interview, particularly from a near inaccessible source?

 

[The_Fool]

Make it their idea?

Position so that want to tell their side of the story?

 

[clearlight30]

A while ago I asked about library research as a lost art. Today I face a new dilemma: research that cannot be had or found from books and is outside your experience.

Where do you find the fodder? I am currently writing queries for interview requests from people, and I don't expect to get them, but well, I have my devious ways.

Do you or would you do an interview to make your story as accurate as possible if you could not find the research?

Edit to because it's a lame yes or no question: How do or would you go about getting that interview, particularly from a near inaccessible source?

what you are talking about is known in the ancient world as gnosis. divine knowing, or inspired understanding. the hermetics formed their entire focus on this. you can't "experience" it or research it...you can only do practices to cut away the body/mind to allow "it" to happen, but "it" won't be an experience.
sorry best i can describe in words

 

[neonlyte]

Yes, I've interviewed people, in connection with a novel project, to obtain information not in the public domain. So happened that the person I interviewed e-mailed me today offering to proof read the specific chapters for historical accuracy. In return, I'm proof reading the English translation of the technical book he's writing. (Even the best translators can screw colloqualism).

How did I go about? Tangentially, fencing until we agreed we had common ground and could talk confidently and openly. Since the topic we were discussing was criminal, I guess my power of persuassion counted for something.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Do you or would you do an interview to make your story as accurate as possible if you could not find the research?

Edit to because it's a lame yes or no question: How do or would you go about getting that interview, particularly from a near inaccessible source?

Sometimes, when there is no written information available, it may be the only way. I would definitely try to talk to people in the know, if I needed that information to complete or develop an important project.

Now, how to get to a near-inaccessible source is the tricky part. I guess the best way is to try it! Go right to it, the worse it can happen is they don't reply.

 

[CharleyH]

NEONLYTE: I can't answer your first post - I may be guilty of using 'pop' culture references, but I wouldn't knowingly be aware of them.

On the second - yes, I've interviewed people, in connection with a novel project, to obtain information not in the public domain. So happened that the person I interviewed e-mailed me today offering to proof read the specific chapters for historical accuracy. In return, I'm proof reading the English translation of the technical book he's writing. (Even the best translators can screw colloqualism).

How did I go about? Tangentially, fencing until we agreed we had common ground and could talk confidently and openly. Since the topic we were discussing was criminal, I guess my power of persuassion counted for something.

Thank you and GREAT for you Neon (I am jealous!!) I have gone this process a lot in my non-fiction writing. I have learned that a lot of interviewing is negotiating, as you say, a common ground. I find people do not really take you that seriously when you say you are researching a novel, so I often play my professional card - lol. When you first interviewed someone? Were you nervous? Did you prepare?

 

[CharleyH]

what you are talking about is known in the ancient world as gnosis. divine knowing, or inspired understanding. the hermetics formed their entire focus on this. you can't "experience" it or research it...you can only do practices to cut away the body/mind to allow "it" to happen, but "it" won't be an experience.
sorry best i can describe in words

Hm, in my case I doubt going to a Manhatten party with supermodels is really all that worthy of philosophy. As much as I know of parties, and as much as I know of parties with "people" I have no idea what a party in NYC in 1998 was like amongst those in the 'IT' world. I am also certain that gnosism will never tell me who was always there at the party and what they were into, for example. lol

 

[CharleyH]

Sometimes, when there is no written information available, it may be the only way. I would definitely try to talk to people in the know, if I needed that information to complete or develop an important project.

Now, how to get to a near-inaccessible source is the tricky part. I guess the best way is to try it! Go right to it, the worse it can happen is they don't reply.

Indeed! LOL I don't expect many - but I will get ONE! However, and in keeping with my original post, I do think interviews are worth millions. I am not sure I have ever gotten (so to speak) from books, what I get in an interview.

 

[CharleyH]

Make it their idea?

Position so that want to tell their side of the story?

Hiya 'ol Fool. Thank you. Do you interview for poetry by any chance? I am willing.

 

[amicus]

I read your initial post twice and I may be slow on the uptake, but I came away uncertain as you what kind of 'interviews' you are wishing to cultivate.

So, for what it is worth, I offer a 'general' point of view from personal experience:

I have interviewed hundreds of various people from film stars to authors and singers, politicians, religious leaders and more hundreds of just 'man on the street' sound bites and spontaneous comments.

Nervous at the beginning? Yes of course, especially for my first on camera interviews for television.

I suggest the best preparation is as full a knowledge as you can acquire about the person you wish to interview and of course the specific subject you wish to explore or exploit.

Secondly, the true and rare ability to just, 'listen' and then the skill and compassion to know how to lead the interviewee to expand even more, tact and a little cleverness sometimes work well, unless they are insincere.

For a long time I came away from interviews thinking, "damn! I could have done better, I could have asked that...or that...or even that." Then finally you complete an interview and tell yourself, "hey, not bad!"

Best of luck in your pursuit...


amicus...

 

[neonlyte]

When you first interviewed someone? Were you nervous? Did you prepare?

Hell Yeh. The guy is the Director of the building where a criminal act took place. He knows his building (it's historical) I had to know it, in detail. I'd visited the building twice before but also went the day before my appointment with him just to refresh my memory of details. I was still nervous, and shocked to find him considerably younger than me!

It happened that some of my fictional detail relating to this actual crime, overlapped with crime events he was aware of and outside of the public domain. Once we established common ground, we had a lot to talk about. I made it clear from early on that my account was strictly fiction and not in any way detremental to his building or his position as Director.

I have a second person I use for research for this same project. She is an Artist who works with music and a Rock Musician. I stayed with her in June, we talked extensively about the Rock scene around the period I'm writing about, she will be proof reading those chapters for me for period authenticity.

 

[CharleyH]

I read your initial post twice and I may be slow on the uptake, but I came away uncertain as you what kind of 'interviews' you are wishing to cultivate.

So, for what it is worth, I offer a 'general' point of view from personal experience:

I have interviewed hundreds of various people from film stars to authors and singers, politicians, religious leaders and more hundreds of just 'man on the street' sound bites and spontaneous comments.

Nervous at the beginning? Yes of course, especially for my first on camera interviews for television.

I suggest the best preparation is as full a knowledge as you can acquire about the person you wish to interview and of course the specific subject you wish to explore or exploit.

Secondly, the true and rare ability to just, 'listen' and then the skill and compassion to know how to lead the interviewee to expand even more, tact and a little cleverness sometimes work well, unless they are insincere.

For a long time I came away from interviews thinking, "damn! I could have done better, I could have asked that...or that...or even that." Then finally you complete an interview and tell yourself, "hey, not bad!"

Best of luck in your pursuit...


amicus...

Thank you. My initial post was very general to elicit whatever anyone wanted to discuss, so you are hardly slow on the uptake . Non-opinion was my first purpose. My own dilemma is my own, but do authors research by interview? Erotic writers specifically. I do and am not hesitant, but you, Ami, like me, may have a lot of background. I mean only to open a forum or to debate or to discuss the value of the inteview process in research for erotic stories.

What does concern me is how little Lit authors actually research in any form - lol

 

[3113]

In my experience, people like to talk about their interests and are happy enough to give you info in exchange for an acknowledgement. In fact, I'm amazed that you think you won't get positive answers back from your queries. Just about everyone I've ever approached on a variety of subjects was wildly eager to discuss them--because they so rarely GET to discuss them with anyone outside their particular box.

Among the things I've interviewed and discussed with various experts: physics, biology, astronomy, chicken pox, history of London, New York City, Chicago, ancient Rome, sports...the list goes on. Among the most fascinating and friendly was an expert and aficionado on antique microscopes. Nice and wonderfully knowledgable fellow.

Almost everyone was incredibly open and generous. Yes, a few were too busy--but I only had one lady (*cough*bitch*cough*) to ever snootily inform me that her expertise was not for free and that I'd have to put her on salary if I wanted info.

I did not prepare for the interviews, per se. I had some initial question required by what I was writing--things I had to know. But for the most part, one question leads to another. And I think it helps that they know you're writing a story on the subject and want to get it right--rather than writing up some sort of critical, journalistic article--which they might be more wary about.

Most folk are simply delighted to have a writer interested in the subject. They WANT to give you as much information as you can possibly absorb. Unless you're talking with very touchy or busy people, I honestly don't think you're going to run into any difficulty getting some fascinating interviews.

Edited to add: what "near inaccessable" kind of source are we talking about?

 

[CharleyH]

Hell Yeh. The guy is the Director of the building where a criminal act took place. He knows his building (it's historical) I had to know it, in detail. I'd visited the building twice before but also went the day before my appointment with him just to refresh my memory of details. I was still nervous, and shocked to find him considerably younger than me!

It happened that some of my fictional detail relating to this actual crime, overlapped with crime events he was aware of and outside of the public domain. Once we established common ground, we had a lot to talk about. I made it clear from early on that my account was strictly fiction and not in any way detremental to his building or his position as Director.

I have a second person I use for research for this same project. She is an Artist who works with music and a Rock Musician. I stayed with her in June, we talked extensively about the Rock scene around the period I'm writing about, she will be proof reading those chapters for me for period authenticity.

Have I told you that you were my GOD recently? Did you use your "proffessional - Architect card - by any chance?" How did you get your initial interview?

 

[neonlyte]

Have I told you that you were my GOD recently? Did you use your "proffessional - Architect card - by any chance?" How did you get your initial interview?

No - writer works better!

I've found it works easier if you ask someone junior for information they cannot possibly have (this works better in a foreign country), invariably, they will try to help by calling their boss to talk with you. Don't talk on the phone - make an appointment, sit with them face to face, then it is just down to how they react to you. Sell yourself (but not too cheaply )

 

[CharleyH]

No - writer works better!

I've found it works easier if you ask someone junior for information they cannot possibly have (this works better in a foreign country), invariably, they will try to help by calling their boss to talk with you. Don't talk on the phone - make an appointment, sit with them face to face, then it is just down to how they react to you. Sell yourself (but not too cheaply )

MWAH! It's true. LOL I find playing blonde also does service - lol.

 

[rgraham666]

I have to stick to my imagination and what I can read on the subject.

Interviewing someone would make me go catatonic with stress.

 

[3113]

Interviewing someone would make me go catatonic with stress.

That's so cute!

 

[slyc_willie]

what you are talking about is known in the ancient world as gnosis. divine knowing, or inspired understanding. the hermetics formed their entire focus on this. you can't "experience" it or research it...you can only do practices to cut away the body/mind to allow "it" to happen, but "it" won't be an experience.
sorry best i can describe in words

Not quite accurate . . . .

Anything can be known and understood, it simply takes patience and understanding, and needs no 'divine inspiration.' As a student of psychology and anthropology, I was given the chance to interview a serial killer as part of my degree program. He was a very intelligent and focused individual, as many such monsters are.

You say you can't "experience" it? I certainly could. After only a few sessions with him, I felt like I was in his place, doing the things he described. Perhaps I have never gotten my hands bloody in such a way, but isn't the human imagination a powerful enough engine?

How much of a leap is it to translate cutting your hand on a knife in Mother's kitchen to imagine the warm rush of blood of another human being across those same fingers?

Or to place yourself in the situation of a member of the opposite sex, experiencing their first sexual act, after having heard their account of it?

Some would say that you cannot know the true effect of such an act without commiting it. I say, to Hell with that. Think of the death of a friend, a pet, a family member. Then imagine yourself as the architect of the act. Feel their pain. Cry for them if you wish; in doing so, you share some of the experience.

The imagination is the most powerful tool the human mind possesses. With it, we are able to delve into areas we are afraid or reluctant to explore in reality. And who is to say that the 'fiction' is not as powerful as the 'reality?'

Perhaps what we call 'imagination' is simply tapping into the collective experiences of millions of years of human evolution.