W.C Research Hub

W.C Research Hub

Our characters are active in their world. They do things that we know very little about; however, in order to tell their story properly, the author needs to know a little more about exactly what their character does.

Do not ever undervalue the importance of researching your character. An improperly researched character sounds flat and unbelievable. Your character is an attorney. Do you know what an attorney does on a normal day? Do you know the jargon, the lingo, the technical mumbo-jumbo? I live every day of my life as an attorney; I can help you understand your character's world. Your character is a brain surgeon. Do you know the name of the instrument that saws into the scull? Is it just called a saw? Is there a technical name? Is there a slang name that only doctors use? I'm not a brain surgeon; I can't help you understand your character's world. But there is probably someone here who can.

This is a collection of research on occupations, technical knowledge, mindlessly trivial details.

Submission:

If you are a fourth grader, a doctorate student, a plumber, a tax collector, a brain surgeon, or anything else, your input is highly valued in the writing world. Let your life be known! Maybe you know how to break down a weapon used by a James Bond type spy. Maybe you understand the inner workings of an outboard motor. Nevertheless, you know something that a writer's character knows; you do something that another author's character does. Submit me your knowledge. Let your life be known! Send your submissions to this guy: DanielHardin . <---That's me.

For Occupations (including students):

Give me a general category: Lawyer, Law Enforcement, Student, Dentist, etc. Give me a more specific category: Oil and Gas Lawyer, Property Technician, Fourth Grade Student, Dental Hygiene, etc. Give me a day in the life of [you]. Give me technical names for the things you do, if there exist any. Give me all the details you think an author should know about what it is that is you.

For General Knowledge:

This is for everything else. Tell me how to pilot a rocket to Mars. Tell me about decompression sickness. Tell me everything you know that would be relevant to a character that most people just wouldn't know on their own.

Format:

There might be other places on the web to find research such as this, but I'm about to make this Writing.Com Unique! Bam!

Corroboration:

There will be three levels of corroboration. The higher the level of corroboration the more you can rely on the information.
         -Uncorroborated: this is when the information has been given but no one else has let me know that they also do the same thing or that they also know that information and it is accurate. Proceed with caution. If it doesn't sound even close to right, get more authority. Email the submitter.

         -Mildly Corroborated: this is when one other person confirms the information as accurate.

         -Highly Corroborated: this is when at least two other people can attest to the information being accurate.

Authority:

You will be able to ask questions of the person or people who submit the information or corroborate it. Your particular question might not be answered in the information given. You can email the "expert" and find out. You can only get this type of personalization here at Writing.Com.

Fictional and Non-Fiction Examples:

You can read pieces submitted by Writing.Com authors whose character is a "living" example. If you've written about an attorney, I'll put it in the research part so that others can read an example of what it is like to write about an attorney. Try to find that anywhere else on the web!

Research Location:

Find and create all your W.C research here:

ID: 1703879   (Rated: 13+) W.C Researcher  If you need it, it might be here. If you know it, put it here. by DanielHardin

Example:

LAWYER

Oil and Gas Attorney (Uncorroborated)

I have the job that could put anyone to sleep. All day, every day, I review documents such as deeds to land, mortgages, easements, leases. Your eyes are probably growing heavy just thinking about that. I know all of the laws pertaining to who can sell what, when, where and how. I'm only licensed in the states of Oklahoma and Texas. I cannot legally do what I do in any other state. Though boring, I get to see the most interesting names. I see names that were common (and uncommon) in the late 1800s and early 1900s. My desk is piled with papers and folders, mostly dull and bland to look at. I have a secretary and a dual-monitor computer setup. I'm barricaded in by pillars of white and red boxes. I work with eight other attorneys: six males and two females. The oil industry doesn't seem to appreciate females, but I'm a lover of the ladies. They talk to me about work-related problems and I make the other males aware. I live with constant fear that my job will end tomorrow. Oil and gas is a volatile industry.

Technical terms: Easement, Marketable Title, Idem Sonans, Acknowledgement, Limited Liability Corporation, Guardianship, Trustee, Foreclosure. If you need more, ask.

Authority: DanielHardin

Character Examples: None. Submit one if you have one!