Quote:
Originally Posted by Gregg Bell
True enough. Sure it would be great if I wrote a story about a kidnapping in Somalia if I went there, interviewed the warlords, felt the searing 120 heat, ate the dust. But is that going to happen?
Will the people who have been to Somalia be taken out of the story. Probably.
What if I want to write a book about outer space? Should I sign up for Branson's space shuttle so I can be accurate?
Yes, research is important. For certain kinds of books cultural accuracy is more important than others. (Historical fiction comes to mind.) Which isn't to say it's okay to be a slouch about it. But there will always be somebody that is not a happy camper.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAHR7_VZdRw |
I don't know one person who's been to Somalia or outer space, but nearly everyone I know has been to London. And those who haven't been still know a considerable amount about it; it feels familiar from TV, books, movies, etc. Which suggests that a lot more people are going to be raising their eyebrows and throwing the book across the room if the details don't match what they know about London.