I was thinking about what to write for today, and my current WIP came to mind. I am working on book two of the Fortune Teller Mystery Series called Corpse in the Crystal Ball.
I am having sooo much fun!
I have always been fascinated by psychic tools. Years ago I had my tea leaves read, and the reading was so accurate it actually freaked me out. Then once in my local writing chapter they brought in a past life reader, and again, the reading was dead on. This interest of mine is what inspired the theme of my series.
If you're going to write a series, you're going to be spending a lot of time with these cast of characters and this storyline. You'd better make sure you choose something you're passionate about, or you could end up one unhappy camper.
Which brings me to the topic of this post: research.
Every author who writes has to do research of some sort. Some more than others depending on the genre they are writing like historicals. Now that's a genre you have to know your facts about for sure. Readers are die hard enthusiasts and if an author makes a mistake, they will be more than happy to point that out. But even if you're writing a contemporary, there are still things you will come across that you have to make a note to look up and fill in. That's research.
Researching how to have your tea leaves read was really cool, but I already remembered some of the process. Having a crystal ball read, however, I had never seen. It is sooo fascinating! Setting the mood, preparing the ball, the actual technique for reading (aka scrying) is awesome! When I am done with this book, I am going to have a fortune-telling party and try all of these techniques. I've played around a bit before with friends, trying our hand at a seance. And as a kid we tried the ouigie board. Fun but spooky. I love this kind of stuff. Any of you ever tried psychic tools? Tell us about your experience. I'd love to hear your stories.
Okay back to research. Some people dread research, thinking it a painstaking process. I think it's fabulous. Often times as I am researching many scene ideas come to me. It helps me plot the story, which is something I dread.
So how about all of you? Do you like research? Do you hate research? Do you have any research tips? Inquiring minds want to know :-)
Happy reading and writing, my people.
Kari
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16 comments:
Okay, my people, help me out. Any thoughts on research? Or even your experiences with psychic tools? I really am fascinated by this whole process.
I do love to research anything I'm writing about b/c it's got me interested. Especially if it's something fun...like spa;) I have a friend who is psychic and it's fun to pick her brain. She's a writer and fun to talk with and willing.
Hey Tonya, thanks for stopping by.
I love to play around with friends, but I'm no expert. Still, we have a blast.
Great topic, Kari. As you know, I'm a Reiki Master. Remember the great time at Nationals when I worked on your back? And on Christine's ankle? I learned so many things while training as a Master, that the list is too long. But, as someone who has a PhD in research methodology (show me the evidence), I became a huge believer in things not quite explained as I became involved in Reiki. Many of my academic colleagues are still convinced I've jumped off a bridge, but I know differently. Thanks for taking this topic up. Shall I follow through tomorrow with my post?
Oooh that's a fabulous idea, Cassy. I'd love to learn more about research and about Reiki. I just might have to have one of my books about Reiki and the person Sunny performs the Reiki on ends up dead! Or it could be a friend visiting Sunny who is a Reiki master and they perform the ritual on someone who ends up dead and now Sunny has to clear her friend's name.
Oh the possibilities :-))
Kari: I'd love to talk with you about Reiki and my experiences. BUT, it comes with the promise to not laugh or think about calling the psychiatrists. Some of my sessions with clients are hard to describe. Okay, I'll pick up on this for tomorrow. Great thread.
Being scientific (medical background) I really don't believe all the psychic stuff. I accept that there are people out there who are so good at reading body language that they can say things that are accurate about a person. (think - The Mentalist and Lie To Me)
But I do love doing the research. Last month the speaker at my local RWA chapter, Corrine Kenner, showed us how to research and plot a story using tarot cards. It was really interesting. What made it even better was that I had won her book along with a deck of tarot cards on VR Barkowski's blog.
In my mystery series, a secondary character is a pseudo-psychic and I have a tarot card reading in the first book and a seance in book 2. Our friend and fellow BC Babe, Rochelle Staab (who also has a mystery series debuting a month after mine) has been a big help to me, even actually doing a seance for me at Crime Bake.
You always come up with interesting topics, Kari.
I heard about that seance at Crime Bake, Liz....LOL what I would have done to see you all try to freak Christine out!
Kari, I tend to get lost in research and have to remind myself that I'm there for a purpose. If it had paid the bills I would have become a professional student.
I love anything to do with Crystal balls, and readings, etc. So I envy you your research. We need to go ghost hunting together sometimes. I could show you some cool EVP's
Kari that seance at Crime Bake was a real eye opener for me. I never discounted the otherworld nor did I embrace it. But that event kind of made me a believer.
oooh sounds good mary.
My research tends to be more of this world. Writing with a military focus I have to be extra careful with what and how I write. Last thing I want is to make a mistake that someone can catch.
Very cool Lindsay! Maybe this year they'll do something again ;-)
If they do then count me in. If I ever get unburied from all this snow
For Hollywood Hoodoo, I spent 16 weeks in Tarot class. The teacher will be a character in a novel some day. She was a Trip!!!
I did some scrying research last year before I changed direction for Novel 2. The different methods fascinated me.
Lately I find myself in the back rooms of occult shops more often than I ever imagined I would. And in police stations.
Since you're writing crystal ball Kari, I'm nominating you to run the psychic experience at our next gathering. So fun!
LOL...oh my Rochelle :-)
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