Website for author research?

Ravenswd · 10-16-2012, 12:18 PM

Does anybody know of a website (the answer may even be MobileRead itself, in some section I haven't discovered yet) where authors can go and ask other authors questions about things in the real world they don't have experience with?

For a story I'm writing, I need some details about high school football (in America, in the 1990s). I've never played high school football, I know nothing about it. I don't want to get the details wrong and look foolish. Where can I go to ask somebody?

(BTW, I don't want a football site - that would only help me with this question. I'm looking for a site where anybody can ask anything, because I know I'm going to need more help with other stuff in the future.)

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Dr. Drib · 10-16-2012, 05:01 PM

MobileRead does, indeed, serve as a resource for writers who need information from other writers for research advice for their writing. In fact, that's one of the very real and viable services that this forum provides.

The Writers' Forum allows a place for writers to get together and talk about "writerly concerns" without indulging in self-promotional tactics, which - as every writer on MobileRead now knows - is allowed in only one place, our Self-Promotions Forum.

Don
(Moderator)

crich70 · 10-16-2012, 07:23 PM

Another place where you can ask questions of that sort is over at NaNoWriMo. They have forums for many different genre's of writing where a person can post a question about some information that they are searching for about writing and may get some good replies back from people who either know the info. or know of a good resource online to find it. http://www.nanowrimo.org

DarkScribe · 10-16-2012, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ravenswd

Does anybody know of a website (the answer may even be MobileRead itself, in some section I haven't discovered yet) where authors can go and ask other authors questions about things in the real world they don't have experience with?

For a story I'm writing, I need some details about high school football (in America, in the 1990s). I've never played high school football, I know nothing about it. I don't want to get the details wrong and look foolish. Where can I go to ask somebody?

(BTW, I don't want a football site - that would only help me with this question. I'm looking for a site where anybody can ask anything, because I know I'm going to need more help with other stuff in the future.)

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Why would you want to limit research to information from other writers? The best answers are more likely to be found in the area of interest, not from any form of third party. Google, Google Scholar or Wolfram Alpha are good starting points.

Ravenswd · 10-17-2012, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

MobileRead does, indeed, serve as a resource for writers who need information from other writers for research advice for their writing. In fact, that's one of the very real and viable services that this forum provides.

Oh, OK... I guess in the "General Discussions" or "Writers' Corner" forums? Sorry. OK, I'll try that. Thank-you.

Dr. Drib · 10-18-2012, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ravenswd

Oh, OK... I guess in the "General Discussions" or "Writers' Corner" forums? Sorry. OK, I'll try that. Thank-you.

No, you've misinterpreted what I'm saying: I'm saying that THIS forum (Writers' Forum) is, indeed, the correct forum to ask this kind of question.

We do not allow cross-postings in different forums.

You are in the correct forum for your question.

Don
(Moderator)

Ravenswd · 10-18-2012, 10:40 AM

Got it now! Thanks!

MartinC · 10-18-2012, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ravenswd

For a story I'm writing, I need some details about high school football (in America, in the 1990s). I've never played high school football, I know nothing about it. I don't want to get the details wrong and look foolish. Where can I go to ask somebody?

(BTW, I don't want a football site - that would only help me with this question. I'm looking for a site where anybody can ask anything, because I know I'm going to need more help with other stuff in the future.)

Um... Don't you need to work a bit harder? I don't mean to be rude, but this does sound a little cut-and-paste-ish. I'm not sure that a couple of forum questions is going to lead to a very convincing story, particularly if you're starting from nothing.

How about watching a few films with a footballing theme? A fairly painless process (depending on the film, of course). You might be able to take on some of the atmosphere - the crowd, the locker room, the coach pep talk. A bit of radio might be good too, for the language. There are lots of stations you can access via the web.

Or you might try a slightly different angle. You can sometimes paper over gaps in technical knowledge with universal personal detail. For example, I don't know anything about football either, but does the helmet make your head feel like a pumpkin on a stalk, the way a motorcycle helmet does? Do the support bandages on your knees and elbows give you a rash? When you take the gum shield out, does it leave a thread of spit on your chin the way false teeth do (but let's not go there...)?

gmw · 10-18-2012, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ravenswd

[...](BTW, I don't want a football site - that would only help me with this question. I'm looking for a site where anybody can ask anything, because I know I'm going to need more help with other stuff in the future.)[...]

A single site that attempts to provide expert, realistic information on all subjects ... that sounds a lot like Wikipedia. Or you could do it the old fashioned way and go to the single site that authors have used for a great many years ... the library.

If you want personal experience you're going to have to go to the source and there will be no single place where you can do this across all subjects - unless you mean the pub (the bar/tavern pick your phrase). In most of the pubs I know there are always people ready to offer their expert opinion on every subject - it's almost as reliable as picking a random site on the 'net.

jehane · 11-03-2012, 10:12 AM

There are a lot of writing sites around that will have this. I used to hang out at Forward Motion - I think it's now FMWriters - that had a big and diverse following and a lot of random questions posted. I still check back every now and again, although I'm no longer very active over there. Nothing to do with the site, just moved onto other things.

Anna Drake · 11-04-2012, 12:50 AM

I think the best trick would be to talk to a football expert. Your local high school coach might be worth approaching. Or if you know someone who played footfall in high school or college, they might be another source. I met with a local detective when writing my last book. He was very helpful. Or you could write the scene and then find an expert to review it. That way you only have to deal with the specifics of what you need and not an entire world of info. Plus, I love web searches. You might need to narrow the topic a little though to have good luck there.

10-16-2012, 12:18 PM	#1
Ravenswd Enthusiast Posts: 40 Karma: 499264 Join Date: Apr 2012 Device: Kindle Fire 7"	Website for author research? Does anybody know of a website (the answer may even be MobileRead itself, in some section I haven't discovered yet) where authors can go and ask other authors questions about things in the real world they don't have experience with? For a story I'm writing, I need some details about high school football (in America, in the 1990s). I've never played high school football, I know nothing about it. I don't want to get the details wrong and look foolish. Where can I go to ask somebody? (BTW, I don't want a football site - that would only help me with this question. I'm looking for a site where anybody can ask anything, because I know I'm going to need more help with other stuff in the future.) Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

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10-16-2012, 05:01 PM	#2
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 44,737 Karma: 55645321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	MobileRead does, indeed, serve as a resource for writers who need information from other writers for research advice for their writing. In fact, that's one of the very real and viable services that this forum provides. The Writers' Forum allows a place for writers to get together and talk about "writerly concerns" without indulging in self-promotional tactics, which - as every writer on MobileRead now knows - is allowed in only one place, our Self-Promotions Forum. Don (Moderator)

10-16-2012, 07:23 PM	#3
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,305 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	Another place where you can ask questions of that sort is over at NaNoWriMo. They have forums for many different genre's of writing where a person can post a question about some information that they are searching for about writing and may get some good replies back from people who either know the info. or know of a good resource online to find it. http://www.nanowrimo.org

10-18-2012, 10:40 AM	#7
Ravenswd Enthusiast Posts: 40 Karma: 499264 Join Date: Apr 2012 Device: Kindle Fire 7"	Got it now! Thanks!

11-03-2012, 10:12 AM	#10
jehane Book addict Posts: 441 Karma: 2650464 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Antarctica/Australia/Ohio Device: Sony PRS-300/T1/Asus TF101	There are a lot of writing sites around that will have this. I used to hang out at Forward Motion - I think it's now FMWriters - that had a big and diverse following and a lot of random questions posted. I still check back every now and again, although I'm no longer very active over there. Nothing to do with the site, just moved onto other things.

11-04-2012, 12:50 AM	#11
Anna Drake Zealot Posts: 104 Karma: 2175016 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: rural Illinois, USA Device: Kindle	I think the best trick would be to talk to a football expert. Your local high school coach might be worth approaching. Or if you know someone who played footfall in high school or college, they might be another source. I met with a local detective when writing my last book. He was very helpful. Or you could write the scene and then find an expert to review it. That way you only have to deal with the specifics of what you need and not an entire world of info. Plus, I love web searches. You might need to narrow the topic a little though to have good luck there.