On Tuesday, I met a mermaid.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “It was January. How could he see a mermaid when they’ve all gone south for the winter?” I was quite surprised myself, but I managed to meet Georgia, who is a professional mermaid. In a combination of environmental advocacy and underwater performance, this mermaid travels around to aquariums and other public events to raise awareness about sea life and preserving the ocean. After talking with her for a while, I decided to add her to my list of experts.
Every author, whether writing fiction or non-fiction, should develop a list of experts. It’s impossible for everyone to know everything, but it is possible to know enough people that it’s nearly the same thing. I’ve been compiling a list of people who, in some way or another, are experts. Friends, family members, online and in person, I’ve been compiling a document of people I’ve met who are experts in something.
I’ve been talking with my friend who recently became a ship captain about which sails would be most functional on an airship. I approached a coworker and prefaced a question with “You’re nearly a mad scientist, what do you think of…?” I have two friends who, between them, speak the major Romance Languages and a fair amount of German. I’ve needed to assure my nurse and doctor friends I was asking questions, purely for fictional purposes. With only so much experience myself, I find that having a perspective from others (often globally) is crucial to creating real characters and stories.
The best source, arguably, is straight from the expert. If you want to know something, consult a specialist. And, since we all can’t have top scientists or historians on our phones to discuss fiction ideas, we need to find the experts in our own lives. I encourage everyone to create a list like this. Not only will it be helpful in your writing, but it will also lead to some really amazing conversations with friends who know about things you never even considered.
Follow Me On Social Media
