I think I need to be writing something.

Total agreement and thread resuscitation.

If you had to be an expert to write about something, I'd be in trouble. You only have to know how to research and how to string words together in an interesting way. We all know you can do the latter, and that's actually a pretty rare talent. I've found that being too much of an expert can almost be a hindrance in popular writing. It's easy to forget what the average reader doesn't know. Also, most of the articles I've done in the past five years have been based solely on research and telephone interviews.

For me it is almost a biological function(Hopefully prettier.) But if it stops, that is Very Very Bad, in terms of my life and how's it going, and all that. Or as one of Philip Roth's writer characters said(paraphrased): "This is my life. I write a sentence. Then I write another sentence. Then, I move them around. Then, I have lunch. And if I were a gorilla in the zoo, people would think it's cruel if I didn't have a tire to swing off of, or a little mate in here with me. But I don't."

erika, what Ginger said: pick the case, do the research online and by making your local sources cough up (threaten 'em with the ADA if they balk), and write your book. It would be better than damned near anything out there.

Confession? I love Ludovic Kennedy's Ten Rillington Place. Doesn't get much darker than having the actual killer be the star witness for the prosecution against the wrong man, whom they execute by mistake...

(Torn between "It's about time" and "I'm not worthy.") And I've got bunches of half-written stuff already. And what local sources? Don't exactly have my fingers on a lot of pulses. Or a big idea. And I don't believe I'm trying to talk myself out of a pep talk. Shame on me.Kay would never do that. For a minute, she'd be like "Oh, go on," but then she would say "That's right. I'm damn good." And that would be that. She'd just write the fucker, huh?

Local sources that pertain to your choice of subject. Got a case out there that fascinates you? Google it. Bookmark the sites. Read those, then go a little deeper and see what's available locally: library, records at university, whatever. Then bookmark those. Start making notes. Give your astonishing mind to it.

And what local sources? Don't exactly have my fingers on a lot of pulses.

At first, it's more about getting general information than burrowing in or going underground. So once you've picked the case and done some preliminary research, the next step would probably be calling the police department (ask for their public relations specialist, or whoever handles the media; if there isn't one, try to get the officer who handled the case. The officer will know more, but most bureaucracies want you to go through PR first anyhow.), the defense and prosecuting attorneys, and any relatives/friends/advocates who yelped their heads off about the case to the news. You'll probably get a few "no comments," but it should send you on your way.

Also, the courthouse will have trial transcripts and other documents, if you call around a bit.

If you had to be an expert to write about something, I'd be in trouble. You only have to know how to research and how to string words together in an interesting way.

True. If the author or character voice is interesting enough--and the information is relevant to the plot and characters--exposition can be entertaining rather than the opposite. Two very different authors--Robertson Davies and Tim Powers--are both masters at laying out huge tracts of information and explanation that are absolutely spellbinding. Part of this is the ability to pick out and highlight the truly interesting and telling facts and details rather than just doing an info-dump on the reader.

For those who wanted the link, How to Succeed as a Failing Writer is up at WriteMovies.com.

Enjoy!

Great essay, Victor. Witty and insightful.