Accuracy in the Details 

Do readers always expect accuracy in the details when they are reading a book of fiction? Would they even know the difference if you were inaccurate? Well, I guess that depends on what and where you are writing about. We’ve all seen enough police dramas or the inside of hospitals on TV that the expectation for what these should reasonably look like has already been set. Put your own spin on it and you’re good to go. But most medical dramas or police procedurals, to be accurate, need a certain vocabulary or interaction between doctors or lawyers or detectives that call for specific information to be included to advance the story properly. Unless you grew up in or are currently a part of those worlds, doing research is essential to the believability of the story. If your story or series is set in a real place—city, state, or country—you can take some liberties but overall you must be accurate. Readers love being able to recognize real neighborhoods, street names and landmarks while enjoying your book. If you are too far off the mark, you run the risk of not being added to their future must read list.

But what if the world you’re writing about just passes through one of these other worlds? Maybe your protagonist interacts with the police or a doctor, but only briefly and is just a small part of the story. Perhaps your characters are driving through a city or town that’s not integral to the overall story but is still necessary to help the reader connect the dots. Do you still spend the time to be as correct as possible with that interaction, no matter how brief? I think you should. With the internet there is no reason not to try and be as exact with certain details as possible. Now, don’t misunderstand… of course there should be a certain amount of embellishment, we are writing fiction after all. But there is nothing wrong with having that fictional business located on a real street with real landmarks around it.

I realize that I am not telling any writer worth their salt anything that they don’t already know or do, this is really more of a reckoning for me more than anything else. I have only been writing seriously for a couple of years. I’ve had stories rattling around in my head that I had to get down on paper for many years, but I really didn’t worry about the accuracy or consistency of details since they were not being read by anyone other than me. 

But that all changed as I began to write my PI Detective series. I use the backdrop of both my hometown of Syracuse, New York and my current home for the last twenty-three years, Charlotte, North Carolina. They say to write about what interests you and what you know, and I know Syracuse and Charlotte. I was interested in writing PI stories because I enjoyed reading them, so I had been doing my research without even knowing it just by reading great PI fiction by extremely talented authors, and growing up and living in the cities I chose as the canvas to paint my stories on.

However, I can’t see building and more importantly, sustaining a PI series unless I’m willing to have my characters grow over time. And to me, that means having them solve cases beyond their comfort zone and with some bite to them. Perhaps the investigation will take them to different locations or into unfamiliar territory needed for them to solve the case they’re involved in. For that to happen, I have to be willing to put the time in and research either via the internet, maybe a text book, or even seeking out the information or advice of an expert. For example – One of the short stories in The Razzman Chronicles takes the main character, Tony Razzolito to Jamaica in pursuit of the bad guy. Jamaica became an integral part of the story, but the problem for me was that I’d never been to Jamaica. I spent a lot of time making sure I researched and had the details right on where Tony went while in Jamaica. I had people I know who had been there read the story and they helped me along where the internet couldn’t. In the end, I feel I have a pretty good portrayal of the areas where Tony spent his time. 

I am currently writing the third book in the Razzman Files, Tony Razzolito PI series, and it is taking Tony into the world of NASCAR and illegal street racing—two things that I know very little about. I am knee deep in crossing my T’s and dotting my I’s when it comes to being true to the racing world. Considering I live in one of NASCAR’s biggest backyards, I’d better get it right if I’m going to venture into their world. What makes this one such a challenge is that I’ve never been a big racing fan, but so far it’s been a fun journey taking my characters down a new and different path. 

These last couple of years have been an eye opening experience. There is much more to writing than just plopping down words on paper, or in my case, a computer screen. It takes work, hard work at times, to ensure that we are putting out the best product we can. Whether you’re writing in a complete fantasy world or your entire story takes place in a city here on earth, consistency and accuracy in the details will keep the story humming along and the readers satisfied.

*The above is simply my opinion and based only on my own experiences

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