Goodreads Authors/Readers discussion

Anyone do this? I just blogged about it. I figure a lot of actors do it all the time and get commended for their craft (Christian Bale, Daniel Day-Lewis, Robert De Niro). Salinger was known to channel his inner Holden Caulfield for 'The Catcher In the Rye'. I'm curious if any writers here employ similar methods, even if it's entirely out of character. I guess this works best if you're writing a contemporary novel.

For example, I figure if you're authoring a book about street violence and gangs, what better way to experience everything first hand than to walk around East LA, randomly punching people in the face until you incite a full on riot? You can just tell the police officers you were doing research on your way to jail. I'm sure that'll get all your assault charges dropped.

I guess I'm just sad right now because the supernatural premise behind my upcoming sci-fi novel doesn't really allow for that 'first hand' experience. If only I had a time machine, things could be so different... First, I'd abuse the lottery, then I'd finish writing my book and pay everyone to post glowing reviews.

Seriously though, method writing... Anyone?

I've heard excessive amounts of alcohol and absinthe produce similar results. Not that I'm speaking from experience.

I write erotica ... no further comments from me!!!

My next story is going to take place at a B&B, and I'm going to see if I can shadow the owner for a couple of days.

Hi Marten, I'm wondering what you need to know since the 'supernatural' is such a huge topic. Many aspects of the occult are a long term study of mine, so if I can be of assistance please friend me and drop me an e-mail regarding your concerns.

On the method writing note, the idea as I see it is to find circumstances that parallel the emotional experience of your character. So while I have never had to repair a spacecraft I have worked on plenty of cars so I find the emotional essence which remains consistent and seek to bring that to the page. After all having a heavy cooling pipe fall on your chest and having a transmission fall on your chest are going to have a similar effect emotionally.

A final note is an article I wrote you might like to give a gander to because it may relate to your current needs. Respecting Mystical Traditions in Fiction and the address is: http://read2review.com/guest-posts-in...

My works touching on the supernatural.

Nukekubi

Morbid Seraphic

Pagan Writers Presents Samhain

Pagan Writers Presents Yule

Hot Shots Volume 3

Hey Stephen,

Cool links, and your inclination to help is much appreciated. I went through your books (all intriguing by the way) and to be honest, I'm not sure the supernatural aspects explored in your novels fit the themes I'm trying to explore. The only book that seems to loosely share some related ideas is 'Tinker's Plague'.

But because you kindly offered, I'll friend you and fire off a couple of questions in an email.

Oh, and just to clarify, this topic was also made to get a general sense of how authors approached complicated themes. (ie. whether or not they tried to reenact the scenarios themselves, etc.) I figure since some actors employ method acting for the purpose of authenticity, some writers might as well.

M. Reed

Well I used to write girl on the town Chick-Lit. That was easy, I was a girl on the town flirting with flirting and looking for love. Tough not to work in a method type way.

Now I write Suspense and at least one, usually 3 people are murdered in every book. Phoenix PD frowns on "research" for characters like this. Whatevs.

The good news is there are a slew of people in my past that I take relish in killing with words so the writing comes quite naturally.