In 2007, an aspiring horror novelist was arrested on suspision of murder. Police found portions of his girlfriend all over his house, and a manuscript entitled, “Cannibalistic Instincts.”
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m not that dedicated in my research. If my character is going to rob a bank, I’ll stick to watching movies like Swordfish. I’m pretty proud of my ability to keep my diabolical plots where they belong: in fiction.
Unfortunately, I’m not so proud of myself when misfortune strikes those around me. If you show up on my doorstep, bleeding, I’ll pass out the band-aids and the comfort, along with a few questions.
“Stabbed yourself did you? With what? How bad does it hurt? What does it hurt like? Burning? Throbbing? Can you feel the flesh sliding around? What does that feel like? No don’t just say it hurts, tell me in detail. Oh, yeah. Doctor. Let me get my notebook–I mean the phone. Let me get my phone.”
I can’t be the only one who hugs a friend while simultaneously pondering how to put his/her emotional torment into word form. Time to fess up. Do you do it too?
A.M. Kuska's Blog 
Jul 22, 2010 @ 14:34:39
I picture in my mind the “if” story you describe. Ha! But the writing in your first blog reveals someone that might think that thought, reject it, and help her bleeding friend, all of which would happen faster than most people could absorb the situation and appropriately respond. Good writing! Exaggeration makes great humor. I am laughing as I write this silly comment.
Jul 22, 2010 @ 16:31:25
I confess; yes, I do. Writers are always writing! I change the names though. 🙂
Jul 23, 2010 @ 00:56:25
Yes, that blog post is some what of an exageration. I did interview my mother-in-law about her surgery on her foot for potential use in a story. That’s where I came up with all the questions in my blog. I asked them, in a non-emergency setting. -.-
She even let me look at the foot out of the cast and…and…I’m never gonna be a doctor. Her poor foot!
Jul 23, 2010 @ 07:07:42
This made me chuckle.
Jul 23, 2010 @ 11:17:37
Well first I’ll notice the pattern of blood on their clothes, then the color of it, then maybe the look on their face. THEN I’ll bombard them with oddly specific questions (“A knife, eh? What kind of knife was it? Stainless? Stamped or forged?”). Of course, that’s not just limited to injuries. My families always astonished at the little details I notice about everyone else but didn’t realize my father had grown a beard until the day he shaved it off.
Jul 23, 2010 @ 14:18:16
Really? My husband gets mad when I don’t notice he’s gotten a new haircut. It’s not as if I’ve gotten a mental measuring stick out for his very short hair. Besides, when I cut three inches off of mine he doesn’t notice that either. >_>
Jul 25, 2010 @ 05:28:18
I do this all the time. Only I don’t limit myself to their pain. If something really wonderful happens to someone I know, I’ll be sitting in the corner at the party with a notebook and pen. For the first little while at least, before I’m pulled into the drinking games. Have you ever tried to write a fight scene with the Captain fogging your mind? The results next day will leave you rolling, I’ll tell you that much. ^_^ Great post!
Jul 25, 2010 @ 13:42:51
Oh I would love to see something like that! For “perspective” of course. *ahem* ^^
Jul 25, 2010 @ 21:24:59
Oh my, yeah, I’m not THAT much into my research either. Guess he took the “write about what you know” a little too far…