1) I have never been murdered 2) I have never committed a murder 3) I have never investigated a murder 4) I have never known anyone who has been murdered, committed a murder nor investigated a murder

I’m sure, as a writer, you have heard cliché, “Write what you know”. So herein lays my dilemma. Obviously not all murder mysteries have been written by authors with first hand knowledge. Of course we know there are cops (John Douglas), robbers (Donald Goines), lawyers (John Grisham) and medical examiners (Patricia Cornwell) who use their personal experiences to create factual fiction. The rest of use though, must rely on thorough research.

Why Conduct Research?

After all, it is fiction, right? Well yes and no. If you are writing Fantasy or Sci Fi, you have a bit more latitude, but even so, research could prove beneficial. For example, you may discover a new invention or scientific theory which you can build upon. You may learn of a certain insect or animal with ritualistic behavior that you can incorporate into one of your creatures.

For rest of us though, research is non negotiable. If you have based any part of your story in “real world” in a real place, developed characters with real personality traits or real occupations, then someone, somewhere will know facts. They will recognize your ignorance in a heartbeat and likely lose respect for you as an author.

For me, there is nothing better than losing myself in a good book, so when I run across a blatant error or oversight, it snaps me back into real world. Then I forget about story itself and start critiquing all that came before or will come after.

Not only will your research build your audience’s confidence, it will build your own. As you learn more, you can apply that knowledge. You may learn that something doesn’t work way you thought it did. You’re surprised. Suppose your character stumbles upon this bit of information too? Now they can be surprised. Or maybe they can be expert, who explains away misconception to your audience. It could be something small, or something so significant it changes course of your story.

Research allows you to make informed decisions. I’ve also found it helps me get past writing blocks or awkward transitions. I’ve included: crime statistics, historical references and details on personality traits (one of my characters suffers from depression so I’ve added a lot of information on mental health and treatments).

Do you recognize any of these symptoms of poor listening?

1)Getting distracted, half listening, thinking about something else or what you plan to say next. Part of problem may be our ability to think four times faster then we can speak. It is easier to stay focused if you remove distractions. Some distractions may be internal: you’re ill, upset or you may be physically uncomfortable, while others are external: noise around you, kids, phone ringing, TV blaring. All these factors compete for your attention. If you can’t remove distractions, let speaker know that now may not be best time to have a conversation, because you can’t give 100% of your attention. 2)Assuming you understand what others have to say. You may be tempted to interrupt speaker. DON’T. Speakers appreciate having chance to say everything they would like to say without being interrupted. Jumping in before they are done will make you appear impatient, uninterested and rude. The speaker may be so annoyed they will withdraw from conversation. After all, why should they bother to speak if you know what they’re going to say? One of best ways to ensure you understand what was said is to ask clarifying questions. You don’t need to act like a parrot. If your speaker says “It’s raining outside.” don't respond with “Are you saying it’s raining outside?” When in doubt, it is a good idea to repeat in your own words what speaker said so that you can be sure your understanding is correct.