Sometime last year, I asked my husband to join me in developing my story and to take on the role as my technical adviser. A perfect partner for this task, Tim brings to the table over 30 years experience as a criminal investigator, solving crimes such as larceny, rape, and murder. He also spent three years assigned to NCIS working undercover narcotics. Having him on board isn't going to cost me anything, right? It should be good, and we can spend more time together, wrapped up in productive conversations about my WIP.
So, why does this warrant a blog post? Because, I've discovered that progress can be made, even when two people have complete different backgrounds and philosophies. You see, I've been a computer programmer and software developer for over 15 years. Nobody ever asked me why I designed something a certain way. I utilize the resources I have, the knowledge I've obtained, and my time. That’s it; and I have my product. Isn't that how it works in The Matrix? You need something? It's there.
Though my husband and I both perform analyses on a daily basis, our ideas and techniques which lead to success are completely different. His motivation and successes are based on the knowledge of people and how they operate. Mine are based on the knowledge of systems. Unlike Tim’s functional environment, mine has no feeling, no motivation, and no goal other than to perform as designed.
Thus comes the argument:
"That won't work."
"Why not?"
"Because, the police captain would have no reason to show up at her house."
"I'm the writer. I can make him show up at her house. And then she's going to drug him."
"Oh really? With what?"
"I don't know yet, but he has to pass out."
"Why does he have to pass out? He wouldn't be there in the first place and now he has to pass out?"
"Yes!"
"Okay, tell me why."
"Because, she has to get his swipe badge. She has to have a way into the secure area and his badge will get her in there."
"It's not plausible to expect a police captain to behave a certain way in order to make it easy for you to tell your story."
GRRRRRRAAAAAUUUGH!! Punch to the gut!
I wondered why on earth I felt I needed a technical adviser. They just get in the way. I pouted all day long. If I were in law enforcement, I could definitely figure out a way into the secure area. I felt stuck, and my expert had no other advice. Of course not. I'M supposed to be the storyteller! He's the one who gets to shoot everything down.
It hit me so hard all air escaped me. Of course, I can find a way, can’t I? I’m a computer programmer.
[system message from internal critic] Aha, Diane, but your protagonist is not a computer programmer; she’s a police officer.
Drat!
I finally performed some research and discovered a realistic way to get my protagonist in the secure area (I’ll spare you the details for now), but it will take a little extra writing on my part.
I now realize our protagonists must seek out viable solutions to their obstacles without the writer conveniently putting things in place which allow them to succeed, especially at the expense of another character's virtue. The character motivations of any secondary character are just as important, and I won’t soon forget this lesson. Had I insisted my technical adviser relinquish control and allow me to go my initial route, I'd have a pretty crappy scene, and I'd be considered a lazy writer. That is not my goal.
Do you have a technical adviser(s), or do you rely on your own research?
I rely on my research at first and then my CPs. If only we could have things the way we want them simply because that's how we want them. ;)
ReplyDeleteAmen, Kelly! It's good to have those in our lives who work hard to keep us from becoming laughing stocks. Well, I speak for myself only! =)
DeleteI could go really squirrely and not even have to try.
I do my own research which can sometimes be brutal especially when it's loaded with technical jargon. It would be so much easier to have a technical adviser.
ReplyDeleteThe best techie jargon Lexicon
DeleteTrue though, you have to have an element of realism or logical causality (?) to everything your characters do, even in fantasy novels. It's a pet hate of mine, wondering why charater X did Y when its stupid and clearly there just to make Z happen.
ReplyDeleteSo succinctly put, David!
DeleteAagh! Now I'm freaking out, wondering if my characters are properly motivated and acting according to who they are and what they do. Still an excellent post, though!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lara. Don't worry, a content editor will pick those things out for you. :)
Deletegood choice! I hate it when an author uses convenience to make something happen. They do it in movies all the time. I am usually whispering to my husband "why are they doing that? they have no reason to be doing that?"
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the ole cliche movie where someone can just "go back in time" to fix something. :D Yea, that's a fun and cool idea, but just a little too convenient! I can think of a whole lot of things to fix if that were possible.
DeleteJust watched MIB 3 the other day. Was there really a need for someone to fight their younger self? Really??
At least you didn't write it all and then find out it wouldn't work. There's nothing worse than a huge plot hole after you think you're done. Sounds like an awesome novel you've got brewing there!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lauren. I know he's getting tired of me asking things all the time, but like you say, it's better to hash it out now. I'm with you. I'd hate the thought of having to comb through 80,000 words to fix a plot hole rather than 10,000. :D
DeleteFeeling your pain. I have moments when I write something to make something else happen only to turn around and realize it doesn't really work. :(
ReplyDeleteHey, by the way, wanted to let you know I nominated you for the Liebster award. You can check out the details on my blog.
Thank you, Charity! On my way to check it out.
DeleteYou've had a great lesson! Sometimes it's hard to see how you try to fit your characters in your story and make them do something they wouldn't do if they were real people.
ReplyDeleteYea, sometimes it's like trying to fit a square peg into a circle. :)
DeleteOhhh, cliche!
This sounds very romantic. Everyone should have a 'technical advisor'. LOL
ReplyDeleteYes, Eve. Sometimes I feel like the cat who got the stripe of paint accidentally planted on her back. I'm a cat! I'm a cat! And all the while Pepe Le Pew chases me screaming, "Come back, my love! We can work this out, no?"
Delete:)
Did you ever notice in the movies, a killer that has been locked up in a very secure place because he is exceptionally dangerous somehow gets sick and is taken to the hospital, no restraints, kills the nurse and the doctor, escapes with half the hospital staff and security chasing him to suddenly end up outside in an alley where the chase stops and has a 5 minute conversation with an aquaintence before he has his throat slashed. What happen to the chase?
ReplyDeleteYea! lol
DeleteThe chases are the worst. It's like, why put it in there? Those are transition scenes, moving the characters from one location to the next.
I hate it when someone is running down a dark alley, chased by someone or something, then at the end of the chase, they turn to go home and BLAM, all of a sudden there's someone there that they know, like a boyfriend, etc. I'm always amazed by something like that, it's like okay, WHY?? :D
Sounds like you have one harsh critic, there, Diane! But sometimes those are the best ones. My (I guess you can call him a TA) rides my butt about woodworking because my MC is a woodworker. He also likes to tell me when my story has "jumped the shark" and needs to be taken in a more realistic direction. Love him, but, you know, hate him at the sime time, a ha ha!
ReplyDeleteIt sure is good to have someone not be afraid of hurting the ole feelings. I'm passed that stage. :D
DeleteIt's more work, but I think we get a better product. And good for you that he's involved!
I laughed all through this post. I don't have a technical adviser in the same way as you; I use Google and do lots of research. Maybe too much at times. I have gotten my character stuck and turned to Google to check things out. Of course, this means I end up spending HOURS trying to find the answer:~)
ReplyDeleteIt's a balancing act between suspended belief and keeping your reader from saying, "What? That not possible. What was the thinking?"
I remember reading one book by a popular mystery writer. She had a character lose her memory, but she never explained how the character's memory got lost in the first place. I know this because I read the whole book and other than that boo-boo, actually enjoyed it:~)
Thanks Sara! Glad you enjoyed it. Google is your friend! As a matter of fact I Googled some keywords to find my own fix. I had to show it to my husband to get him to cooperate with me. :D
DeleteIf it's historical crime, I do my own research and bounce stuff off my boss. But If I'm doing fiction I still research but I also pick other people's brains. Being asst. county historian, I shoot an email to a different dept or call them, sheriffs, coroner, forensics. I'm lucky.
ReplyDeleteOooh, historical crime! Interesting. I love to read up on the various serial killers from the past. Awesome job.
DeleteI've done a lot of research on my own, but chatted with specialists in the field. I know a nurse, for example, who was essential in talking about the final bodily traumas for my antagonists to endure at the end of the book.
ReplyDeleteA fun research project I had the other day was looking up the official names of tools used in an autopsy. Interesting! I love sprinkling in little details like the proper names of procedures and equipment. *shudder*
Delete