Spontaneous 3: Field Research

On October 3, 2019March 29, 2020 By GriffithsKLIn fiction, on writing

I can do face-to-face with my students because…well, I don’t know exactly. I’m used to it. It’s comfortable. I have the nicest students in the universe. (Seriously. They thank me after class—for lecturing them and giving them homework.)

So I am not down for this thing I have to do. This thing, I admit comes hardest for me. The part where I actually have to engage with people, face to face, in order to research a subject. As opposed to eavesdropping (the most effective way to find natural dialogue). Or lurking, something with which I’m entirely comfortable. And have given as an assignment. This is acceptable writerly behavior. I embrace it. The face-to-face, not so much.

Unfortunately, my second novel is not about a homeschool mom who teaches kids to love writing. Thrilling and mysterious as that is. My work-in-progress has a huge element with which I am unfamiliar.

I took this problem where I take all my problems: to God. Not long after, a solution appeared. It was so perfect, this solution.

Right. In order to get my solution, I had to apply and have a background check. You figured it out? I tell you about it in the video. I also give two ideas for doing your own field research.

8 thoughts on “Spontaneous 3: Field Research”

kathleenjoyceauthor

I loved this, Kelly!! Love the tombstone idea too. Five stars!!

October 3, 2019 at 6:31 pm Reply
1. GriffithsKL
  
  Thanks, Kathleen! I don’t know where I’m going with this, but I like the blend of vlog and blog.
  
  October 3, 2019 at 6:58 pm Reply
peglovesjesus

Good suggestions! You come across well on video. But I was distracted by the cutting and pasting. “What is she making?” I’m asking myself.

October 4, 2019 at 7:26 am Reply
1. GriffithsKL
  
  Thanks for letting me know, Peggy. 🙂 I, too, am distracted by the cutting and pasting, which is how I can get through a video. Haha! But to answer your question: my police notebook had these little tabs that needed labels.
  
  October 4, 2019 at 9:03 am Reply
Rebecca Moon Ruark

Yes! Love the tombstone idea. And definitely getting your research firsthand. Interviews are hard but get so much easier the more you conduct them–and so much more enjoyable than slogging around in archives or other dull research!

October 11, 2019 at 4:07 pm Reply
1. GriffithsKL
  
  Thanks, Rebecca! I wish you lived close. 🙂
  
  October 12, 2019 at 5:50 am Reply
  1. Rebecca Moon Ruark
    
    Me too!
    
    October 13, 2019 at 8:21 pm
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