Walk the Walk

By Glenn Walker

Everybody always says (whether they are a writer or not), "You know, I could write a book, if only I had the time." Those of us who are writers know these people, have heard them say this, and we hate them. Admit it, we do.

Writing is not just something one does, it is something one is. A writer cannot not write. Simple as that. But in every field, there are folks who walk the walk, and those who only talk the talk. We see them every day in our writing groups, meetings, and the like. There are the writers who are writing, and the writers who only talk about writing. There's a point where you have to stop talking, put your butt in the seat, fingers on the keyboard, and actually do the deed. Start walking the walk.

There are numerous ways to get that magical motivation needed to move from talker to walker, I'm just going to visit a few here, but however you do it - you gotta start walking.

1. Make time. For a week, keep a journal of your every move, everything you do. Note where the idling spots are, the wasted minutes, the waiting for buses, the time in front of reality TV shows you really don't like any more, maybe even meeting with writer friends for time that's more social than productive. These minutes add up.

Box up all that time and carve yourself an hour, maybe two in your daily schedule. This is now your writing time. You do nothing else during this time. You write, or you edit, or you rewrite (which is what most of this gig is anyway), you research, or you just stare at that blank screen or page until something comes to you. No matter how you go about it, that allotted time is for nothing more than writing.

2. Treat it like a job. Be serious. If you're serious about this writing thing, treat it like your job. Would you slack off or talk with your friends or watch TV or surf the net while you were on the clock at your job? Then don't do it here. Here you are the boss and you must be merciless. Fire yourself if need be! No slackers allowed.

Let everyone in your household know that this is your work time. Spouses, partners, children, and pets should all get the word that when you're at your desk (or wherever your workspace is) at a certain time, that this is your job. Do not disturb under any circumstances (except maybe fire or injury). Bothering the writer is forbidden. After all you're on the clock, and you are. Being self-employed is no different than any other job - time is money, money is time, and your time is worth money.

3. Discipline. You've blocked off time. And you are serious. Now is the hard part - stick to it. That time is only for writing. No rationalization, no bargaining, no flex hours. Write when you said you would, every day that you agreed that you would. If you're wishy-washy and don't think you can do this, find another writer in the same situation and keep tabs on each other, keep each other in line. Without discipline the whole system falls apart.

If you say you're a writer, then write. Don't just talk about it. Walk the walk!

"Mason, On My Way Home" by Randy Ribay

Interview conducted by Marie Gilbert

The Steampunk Granny, Marie Gilbert, is so happy to interview Randy Ribay, author of "Mason, On My Way Home" in Reading Glasses, the first anthology from Hypothetical Press.

Before we start the interview, here are some fun facts about Randy. Born in the Philippines and raised in Michigan and Colorado, Randy Ribay holds a BA in English Literature from the University of Colorado and a MEd from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. By day he teaches high school English in West Philadelphia, and by night he reviews books for The Horn Book Guide and writes strange stories. He lives in Camden NJ with his wife and dog-children. You can see Randy’s website here.

Marie Gilbert: Randy, thank you for joining us and I’ll start with my first question. Tell us a bit about yourself and what inspired you to become a writer?

Randy Ribay: I have always been a reader of stories in any form—books, comics, TV, or movies. One of my favorite feelings in the world is when a fictional story moves me, when it is so powerful that I feel like I’ll never be the same for having experienced it. And so I picked up the pen (rather, set my hands on the keyboard) in order to help others feel similarly and remember what it means to be human.

Marie: What was the inspiration for the story in the anthology?

Randy Ribay: Driving around, I often see people standing on the corner passing out flyers. I wondered it must be like to stand outside all day and pass out paper. From there, I began to wonder if they ever got harassed by passersby. I imagined such a thing happening to someone, and then decided to explore that story.

Marie: What type of stories do you enjoy writing the most? Genre?

Randy Ribay: I write young adult fiction across a variety of genres. I’m interested in teen characters because I think that’s largely when most people become the person they’ll be for the rest of their lives.

Marie: Have you been published in other anthologies? If so where?

Randy Ribay: "Mason, On My Way Home" is my first published work of fiction -- and also the first short story I’ve ever submitted!

Marie: What made you contribute to our group’s Kickstarter? What was the selling point?

Randy Ribay: Damn the Man—support independent publishing!

Marie: Do you belong to a writers' group? Why if yes, and why if not?

Randy Ribay: I had a critique partner for a couple of years, but then his wife had a baby and he fell off the face of the earth. So I eventually joined with the South Jersey Writers' Group because as lonely an endeavor as writing can be, connecting with other writers is invaluable.

Marie: Randy, I loved your story and I want to thank you for the interview.

You can purchase Reading Glasses, featuring "Mason, On My Way Home" by Randy Ribay, in paperback, and also on Kindle.  Randy's first young adult novel, An Infinite Number of Parallel Universes, will be released in hardcover on October 16th, and on Kindle in September.  Make sure to pick up both of these great books! 

This interview previously appeared in a slightly different form on Marie Gilbert's blog, Gilbert Curiosities, right here.  

SJWG Member Roundup for July 2015

Compiled by Jessica A. Walsh, Mieke Zamora-Mackay, and Glenn Walker

There is so much talent in the South Jersey Writers Group, and as we've mentioned in the past, so many bloggers. And many of these bloggers produce content on a fairly frequent basis, so we thought it would be a cool idea to highlight some of each month's more intriguing and interesting blog posts and present them here.

Please give a click and a read, and we hope you will like the samples enough to become regular readers. Check them out!

Kristin Battestella shared links to recent vampire podcasts and interviews she was a part of on her VampFan blog. She also reviewed several movies and series this month on her I Think, Therefore I Review blog including Walt Disney's Return to Snowy River; several older vampire and mummy movies, including The Nude Vampire; the second season of "Thriller;" and the complete series of "The Hollow Crown."

Dawn Byrne wrote about what it's like to always have a home under some form of construction in "Fun Houses."

Joanne Costantino was busy in July, reviewing the television series "Wayward Pines," reflecting on 30 days of yoga, and sharing a family matter and how she handled it in "Perspectives and Snap Decisions" over at her blog, The Life we Claim we Didn't Sign Up For.

Frederick Doot provided his readers with an update on his writing activity, as well as some early reviews of his work in progress in this post.

Jennifer M. Eaton shared three more posts in her "Ger Your Manuscript Past the Gatekeeper" series on her website, with Donna Galanti. She also recapped events from the flash storm that slammed down on South Jersey recently in her post, "The Day the Storm Hit - A True Story."

MK England shared a great idea in her post, "Collaborative Prompt Building."

Mark Galarrita wrote four more drafts of short fiction stories for his website.

Marie Gilbert shared some advice on how to identify and handle negative, energy-draining people in "Negative Energy." She also reviewed the movie Frailty, and also wrote about two recent trips, one to the California wine country and one to The Big Apple. Marie has also been busy reviewing the television series: "Defiance" and "Twin Peaks" at Biff Bam Pop!.

Barb Godshalk kept us updated on her comings and goings at her blog, Momsanity.

Sarah Hawkins-Miduski has been doing a fair bit of traveling recently and has written three more travel posts full of wonderful photos from her trip to California. Check them here.

Amy Holiday reviewed Coraline by Neil Gaiman. You can read the review here.

Jim Knipp updated his readers on his comings and goings over at KnippKnopp, including his appointment as President of The Philadelphia Writers' Conference. Congratulations, Jim! He has also been reviewing the second season of "True Detective" for Biff Bam Pop!.

On her writing blog, Adventures in Writing, Victoria M. Lees wrote about the need for universal questions or themes in memoir. On her Camping with Kids blog she wrote about what to do when the power goes out.

K.A. Magrowski brought her readers up to speed in her post, Catching Up...

Emmy Martin shared a personal story about the negative stigma surrounding mental health on her blog, Finding Stastie.

Lisen Minetti wrote four posts this month on topics such as bucket lists (click here to see what's on here), and a negative Etsy experience and how it creeped into her writing.

Editor extraordinaire, Patti O’ Brien, has an unfortunate tale from a visit to her dentist

Randy Ribay speaks the truth about what real writing is… revising.

Kevin Stephany reviews The Wedding Singer by the Haddonfield Plays and Players. You can read it here.

Loretta Sisco does some time at the Burlington County Prison… Museum, that is.

The Elephant Journal was good to Vince G. Sparks this month. Check out his articles, “The Stigma of Mental Illness," and “The Discrimination No One Talks About, Even Now.”

Cassandra Ulrich shares an excerpt of Love’s Intensity on the Paranormal Romance Blog Hop.

Rich Voza instructs on choosing the right word, and how variety is not always better and posts Chapter 25 of his novel in progress, Dreamlands.

Our very own Membership Trustee, Glenn Walker, takes on this year’s Lay’s Do Us A Flavor contest at French Fry Diary and appears on screen with fellow SJWG member Kristin Battestella on Morning Coffee.

Jessica Walsh continues her journey into self-discovery, understanding, and self actualization with on empowering blog, The Cracking Nut.

Janice Wilson reflects on finding beauty in nature despite being in an industrial wasteland.

Our Outreach Trustee Mieke Zamora-Mackay reviews her 2015 so far – and shares with us what propels her to do everything she does.

We hope you liked this month's selections from SJWG member blogs, and will not only read more at their respective sites, but also come back here next month for more. Don't forget to 'Like' the South Jersey Writers at Facebook, 'Follow' us at Twitter, and check us out on Pinterest. Thank you!

Finding the Writing Group that Works for You

 As a writer, you already know that writing is a solitary act.  As we capture the words on paper, we struggle on our own.  We writers do some pretty peculiar things: sit in a chair for hours either scribbling furiously or staring at a blank screen; talk to ourselves in different tones and voices; make odd gestures in the air, capturing the words to describe how a touch feels on your skin.

Pretty strange stuff.

Non-writers don’t get it.  While they try to be supportive, some of the stuff we do is downright odd. Only a fellow writer would understand.  We all need a sense of community.  A place where we can feel safe and understood.  A place where we can be who we are.  This is where the true value of belonging to a writers group lies.

If you’re considering joining a writers group, there are many choices.  The key is to finding the one that works best for you.  Here are some steps to follow to find the group that is right for you:

Step 1: Evaluate your needs.

Start with your most immediate reasons for wanting to join a group. Are you looking to hone and improve your writing skills?  Would you like to receive feedback on your writing? Are you ready to publish but don’t know what to do next? Are you interested to meet other writers and get to know like-minded individuals.  Identifying these immediate goals will help to identify the right kind of group for you.

Next, evaluate with honesty and humility, your writing experience level.  How many stories have you written? Have you taken any classes or workshops?  Do you have a story actually written? Or do you have a story idea in mind that you would like to write, but haven’t?   If you’ve written a lot, you may find yourself too advanced for a group of newer, younger writers.  If you’ve never written something, but think you’ve got a good story to write, a group with many professional writers may not be the place for you.

Examine the time and energy available to you that you are willing to commit to a group.  All groups require a certain level of participation and commitment to be mutually beneficial to all participants.   If you do not have much time available to you to be out of the home, an online group might work best for you.  Also, you must be willing to share and contribute to discussions to gain the most benefit. If you’re only interested in what you can get, some groups may not be available to you.

Step 2: Understand the kind of groups available to you.

There are several types of writing groups available to you. While an in-person group would be great, online groups options are abundant. Both come in the following forms:

Writing Practice Groups. These groups are focused on the practice of writing.  The hold regular meetings where the participants sit down and write through the session.  Each writer can work on their own pieces, or create fresh pieces from prompts.

 

Critique Groups.  These groups are created specifically for the exchange of feedback between each of the participants.   Typically, prior to each session, the participants exchange their work  with each other to read in advance.  During the session, the participants exchange their thoughts on each other’s pieces.  Given the often sensitive nature of the act of offering and receiving critique, most critique groups follow very strict guidelines to ensure that the sessions are beneficial to all.

Social/Support Groups.  These groups are mainly focused on the social aspect of being a writer.  The main goal of such groups is to create connections with other writers.  During meetings, the members discuss the joys and ails of writing, their journeys to publication, their war stories and victories.  Only a fellow writer will understand the plight of the other.  Sometimes, other writers are invited to speak to the members to share their thoughts or give workshops or talks about certain aspects of the craft and the publication business.

Accountability Groups.  These groups are focused on helping their members accomplish their tasks.  Usually groups like these are created when all the writer members are on the same creative footing, such as creating their first drafts; completing revisions, etc.  The members report to each other their progress at regular intervals.  

Step 3: Identify the writers’ group that you would like to join.

Once you understand what kind of group you’re looking for, it’s time to start your search.  There are three elements you should be looking for in considering a specific group. Some of these elements, you may be able to discern, early on, and some you may discover later on after participating.

1. The group has a stated or identified purpose or mission:

The group must have a defined purpose or mission.  Whether it is to simply be a support group for writers; or provide critique or other valuable feedback.  While it is not necessary for the group to have a written down mission statement, a successful writers’ group’s main purpose must be clear shared by all its members. This mission must match your own goals.  If not, you won’t feel like you are in the right place.

2. The group is structured.

How many members does the group have? Is there a leader? Are there other members who act as part of a leadership team?  Are there subgroups within the whole that provides the support you are looking for? Are there any “secret groups” that seem to emerge within the group? Is the structure flexible?  As the needs of a members of the group evolve, can the group address those changes?  Are there opportunities for members to join the leadership team, or be a major contributor to the leadership?

A successful groups’ structure must be identifiable and unambiguous, and you must be comfortable with the structure of the group.  If not, you could feel lost or like a guppy in a tank of sharks.

3. The group follows through.

Do the meetings happen as scheduled? Do they start on time?  Do the members fulfill their commitments? Do the members participate in the activities with sincerity and cooperation?  If you find that the group does not follow through, you will feel let down and disappointed.  While this is one of the elements that is not discernible from the get-go, attending one or two meetings should be enough to figure out if the group will meet your needs.

Step 4: Join the group and evaluate your experience.

Once you’ve identified the groups (yes, groups) you are interested in, give them each a try.  This is the only way to truly find out if the group is a good fit for you.  Especially, whether or not the group follows through on their commitments.

Keep in mind that you must understand the requirements to be part of the group.  Is there a membership fee? If yes, do they offer a free trial period?  Look into what opportunities they offer aside from meeting attendance.  In some groups, especially critique groups, there may be attendance/participation requirements in order to receive critiques.  There are very specific reasons for this, and one of the foremost reasons is to keep the members work, dignity, and privacy safe.

Try to attend at least two meetings to get a better feel of the fit.  You must leave the meeting (even the very first one) feeling invigorated, excited, and inspired.  If at any point you feel unwelcome, insecure, or lost in the shuffle, the group may not be the right one for you.

Step 5: Try other groups.

It may take several attempts to find the right group for you.  Don’t give up or be disappointed if a group doesn’t feel right.  There are many options available. You will find a group for you.  

Membership in a writers’ group is not a requirement to succeed in this business.  You can certainly go it alone if that is your inclination.  It certainly is a long journey though. Making friends and meeting people along the way, especially ones who understand your goals and your intended destination, sure makes it all the  more enjoyable.

For your consideration:

The South Jersey Writers' Group was founded in 2007 to provide networking and development opportunities for local writers. Meetings are held regularly for topic-based discussion about the craft of writing and the publishing industry. Some of our members are published, some are working on it, others just write for themselves. We are all ages, all genres, all backgrounds, and all levels of experience. The group also offers a critique group, write-ins, blogfests, and workshops to their members and the public.  

We are always open to new membership and offer a 60 day free trial membership period to all prospective members.  Please visit www.southjerseywriters.com to sign up.

Please visit us online at Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, and our blog.

SJWG Member Roundup for June 2015

Compiled by Jessica A. Walsh and Glenn Walker

There is so much talent in the South Jersey Writers Group, and as we've mentioned in the past, so many bloggers. And many of these bloggers produce content on a fairly frequent basis, so we thought it would be a cool idea to highlight some of each month's more intriguing and interesting blog posts and present them here.

Please give a click and a read, and we hope you will like the samples enough to become regular readers. Check them out!

Kristin Battestella shares the New Jersey Author Network's upcoming events in this post

Dawn Byrne reminisces about boring Saturdays at Grandma's in "Faith, Science, Cigarettes, and TV Tea Leaves." She has also recently joined Twitter, Follow her here.

Joanne Costantino channels her father when she suddenly declares the kitchen a "No Phone Zone."

Jennifer M. Eaton shares exciting news that her novel Fire in the Woods was picked up for national distribution by Barnes & Noble in this post. She also explains what an option book is here

MK England recommends 25 books for summer reading. See the list here.

Ron Geraci shares some thoughts on iconic news personality Brian Williams, and liars in general in this post.

Survivalist Marie Gilbert lives to tell the tale after a tornado and getting lost at her grandson's graduation over at Gilbert Curiosities. She also continued reviewing the television series: "Penny Dreadful," "Defiance," "Twin Peaks," and "Orphan Black" for Biff Bam Pop!.

Traveler Sarah Hawkins-Miduski recaps her recent trip to California with posts on Balboa Park in San Diego and the Welk Resort in Escondido

Amy Holiday reviewed five books this month, including The Fault in Our Stars and Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time.

James Knipp expresses thanks to everyone who attended the Philadelphia Writers' Conference this month at the PWC blog here. He also finished weekly reviews of "Game of Thrones" for Biff Bam Pop!. You can read the Season Five finale recap here. Now, Jim is reviewing "True Detective" for the site - check out the first episode of the second season here.

Victoria M. Lees reflects on her desire to go back to school later in life on her Adventures in Writing. She also shares what summertime means to her and her family at her Camping with Kids blog.

Robin Renee celebrated Marriage Equality and reminisced about Joan Armatrading's classic album Track Record.

You can preorder Randy Ribay's new book An Infinite Number of Parallel Universe here.

Kevin Stephany remembers the late Yes founder Chris Squire on his blog here.

Loretta Sisco writes about the perseverance of Twisted Sister, and the evil of The Night Stalker.

Vince G. Sparks breaks the stigma of mental illness and celebrates marriage equality.

Rich Voza's serialization of his latest work in progress, Dreamlands, continues with chapters 21, 22, 23, and 24.

Glenn Walker remembers Christopher Lee and Patrick Macnee, and tries to get a President on his podcast.

Jessica A. Walsh makes an emotional admission, then forms a plan of attack to make things better. .

We hope you liked this month's selections from SJWG member blogs, and will not only read more at their respective sites, but also come back here next month for more. Don't forget to 'Like' the South Jersey Writers at Facebook, 'Follow' us at Twitter, and check us out on Pinterest. Thank you!

SJWG at the Philadelphia Writers' Conference

Mark Doenges, Gail Priest, Amy Holiday, Mark A. Smith, Betsy Heinz, Dean Dobkin

Several members of the South Jersey Writers' Group attended the writing event of this area - the Philadelphia Writers' Conference. In attendance from our group were president Amy Holiday, Gail Priest, Patti O'Brien, Betsy Heinz, Vincent Sparks, Mark Doenges, Mark A. Smith, new members Frederick Doot from the Garden State Speculative Fiction Writers and Dean Dobkin, PWC registrar Jim Knipp, and membership director Glenn Walker. Here's what some of them had to say about the PWC experience:

"The most valuable part of the conference for me was hearing about the successes and struggles other writers and realizing I was not alone. I enjoyed talking with people and hearing about their works and getting to know the folks from SJWG who attended. Thanks to all who made this conference such a success!" ~ Betsy Heinz

"This was my first experience attending the Philadelphia Writers' Conference. I'm grateful for the opportunity to get to better know the other members of the South Jersey Writers' Group better. They made me feel welcome, and we shared a lot of laughs. I met many new people, too. The schedule offered enough free time to chat, network, and support. The energy from everyone was very positive.

"Don Lafferty's Social Media/ Marketing three day workshop was a highlight for anyone fortunate enough to have signed up for it. The wealth of knowledge he shared was inspiring and a bit overwhelming, but his personality made it fun, too.

"Another highlight was the Open Mic during lunch on Saturday. Autumn Stephens Konopka facilitated, and she also set an encouraging and upbeat atmosphere which put people at ease. I enjoyed hearing writers share their work. I felt supported by the audience when I read. There were several authors on the wait list, and by some miracle everyone had a chance to share. I hope they offer two days for the Open Mic next year. I think more people will want to take advantage of the opportunity to read and listen to others.

"Both the Self-Publishing workshop taught by Merry Farmer and the Research workshop taught by Janice Gable Bashman were extremely enjoyable and informative. Both these instructors knew their stuff and how to communicate well. Their students were appreciative.

"Those are just a few of the many highlights. PWC2015 was a great experience for me." ~ Gail Priest

Mark A. Smith and Frederick Doot

"One of my favorite experiences of this past weekend was the opportunity to network and get to know not only others within the Greater Philadelphia Writers Community but the folks that are members of the SJWG. I knew most of the folks from the meetings but it was just recognizing who they are and a brief hello and goodbye. Having our 'own' table or meeting spot was great because I really had some good conversations and got to know the members of our group a little bit better.

"I thought the seminars, the speakers and the whole 'vibe' of the conference was a positive experience that has definitely given me an incentive to keep writing and working harder to improve my writing. The speakers were extremely helpful and informative. Since this was my first writing conference I have ever attended, the bar has been set and it is high. After all, what better place to start than Philadelphia and the longest running writers conference in the country?

"As we say in Boston, 'that is my story and I am sticking to it!'" ~ Mark A. Smith

" When I woke up Monday morning my brain hurt from knowledge absorption, but I was exhilarated. It felt appropriate, because I attended the 67th Annual Philadelphia Writers’ Conference this past weekend. There was much to learn, and I soaked it up.

"As a scholarship winner and first time attendee, I knew it would be a good place to network and meet other writers. What I discovered was so much more than I anticipated. From Friday through Sunday, there were opportunities to learn, share, discuss and explore a ton of information about the art of writing.

"Sitting in a conference room of peers at all different stages in their careers, with the common goal to learn, was inspiring. At last, I felt established and validated as a professional. Although writing is a very solitary process, it is great to know that from published author to novice, we all struggle with similar issues.  
"The conference schedule allowed me to choose what workshops best served my particular interests. I attended outstanding sessions on developing social media skills, plotting and outlining your novel and self-publishing essentials. 

•  I’ve learned that I don’t know enough about metadata and marketing myself, but now I have resources.  
• Book Architecture is an excellent way to plot my work and that I’m a “Pantser” – I write by the seat of my pants without a written outline. 

• Self-publishing is on the rise, and Smashwords is my friend. 

Mark Doenges, John Fahl, Amy Holiday, Vince Sparks, Gregg Feistman, Patti O'Brien

"I emerged from the conference with valuable information and solid resources. Also, having a chance to connect with fellow members of South Jersey Writers’ Group was a bonus. Being together gave everyone a chance to get to know each other better. We discussed our work, shared stories, had lunch and chilled with a few drinks.

"I certainly look forward to attending the conference again, and would urge everyone looking to perfect their craft to add it to their calendars. There’s nothing like the support of other writers to remind you to just keep writing. 'Get out of your head and put it on the page - WRITE.'" ~ Vince Sparks

The Philadelphia Writers' Conference was a whirlwind of excitement, information, and networking. If you're a writer in this area and haven't attended, you have no idea how much you're missing. This is the best writing opportunity around. Make your plans for next year as soon as possible!

Research, Research, Research

Guest post by Tony Rothman

The old adage, “Write what you know,” remains one of the soundest pieces of advice you can give a writer, be the recipient of that wisdom a novice, a veteran—or yourself. Nothing eases the agonies of creation more than the ability to draw on first-hand experience. But two provisos should be added to the age-old counsel: One, personal experience too often proves a disguise for self-indulgence; witness the sea of personal memoirs currently drowning us, as if no worlds exist beyond a dysfunctional childhood or a sick parent. Two, if you don’t know something, you can learn it.

Luckily, there is a fairly straightforward cure for both self-indulgence and ignorance: research.

This year, by a strange alignment of the heavens, I’ve had two novels published on two very different themes. The first, called Firebird, is a scientific suspense novel involving a race for nuclear fusion between two giant laboratories, a fictional one in Texas, the other the real-life ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) project currently under construction in southern France. The second novel, titled The Course of Fortune, is a three-volume historical epic set in the sixteenth century Mediterranean and climaxes at the 1565 Great Siege of Malta.

By training I am a physicist and, as it turns out, essentially grew up at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, where my father worked during the 1960s. In embarking on Firebird, I was very much on home territory. Nevertheless, while I might have been able to write a novel about fusion based solely on my knowledge of physics and my memories from boyhood, it would have been neither a good nor authentic one. Science, more than any other activity, teaches you to doubt your own convictions and bend over backward to prove yourself wrong. Keeping an open mind that there may be a lot more out there than you think you know is the first step in undertaking research for any project, scientific or literary. Nowadays, the second step may be to realize that you can’t learn everything online.

For Firebird, I wanted to convey the atmosphere of a big scientific laboratory, but I had never worked at one and you can’t feel virtual labs, or smell them. To remedy that deficiency (and to do some genuine scientific research), I got myself invited to PPPL for a year, where I went through the training courses, ate lunch with colleagues, listened to their stories, sat with the crews as they ran experiments, smelled the acorn oil used to lubricate the generators. Nothing could substitute for the on-site research, which added immeasurably to Firebird’s authenticity.

Although The Course of Fortune is a historical novel, I applied much the same attitude toward researching it. The Great Siege of Malta was one of the most momentous and fiercely contested sieges in history. In the summer of 1565, between 30,000 and 40,000 Turks and Barbary corsairs invaded the island of Malta, which was defended by some 600 Knights of St. John, and another 6,000-8,000 mercenaries and untrained Maltese militia. After four months of the most vicious and ingenious fighting imaginable, the Turks gave up, having lost perhaps 15,000 men. When you first encounter the Siege of Malta, as I did accidentally while researching another possible novel, your first reaction is to disbelieve it.

That is, to a large extent, the point. The other thing science teaches you is to bring a sharp skepticism toward any subject you encounter. Had I relied solely on the Internet in writing The Course of Fortune, the book in the first place would never have come into existence. The sources available online were few and far between and not nearly detailed enough to recreate the 16th century world. What’s more, to rely on popular accounts quickly proved dangerous in terms of authenticity. If the numbers above seem slightly vague, that is intentional. Popular writers tend merely to repeat the previous writer’s account, with the result that many statements accepted as fact are little more than legends and errors passed down through the centuries. For example, the Wikipedia article at the time was obviously written by a youngster intent on recounting a heroic adventure tale. Very likely the author had read Ernle Bradford’s Malta: The Great Siege, the most popular account of the battle, which turns out to be a novel in its own right, full of inaccuracies, major errors and inventions. Nevertheless, subsequent authors have casually accepted many of Bradford’s statements, whereas serious investigation reveals that no one is certain about many details, especially of the numbers involved. (Some time ago, I should say, I rewrote the Wikipedia article.)

Thus, step three in conscientious research is to enlist a healthy skepticism of the sources that lie at your fingertips and to venture into the territory beyond. For The Course of Fortune, I needed to dig up rare four-hundred-year-old texts (including contemporary curses), which to this day have not appeared online, and I needed to teach myself to read them. I visited Malta on several occasions, climbed around the fortifications and, most importantly, found myself a Maltese advisor, who to my great fortune turned out to be not only Malta’s leading historian but exceedingly generous in sharing his time and original research. People like to help. Use them.

My approach might seem extreme to authors who have been raised online, but once a sufficient amount of research has been carried out, it will guide a novel, especially a historical one. In that sense, The Course of Fortune turned out to be one of the easiest things I ever wrote, despite its one-thousand-page length. Certainly, the research alone does not itself determine a work’s artistic success; nevertheless, it is only after you know the sights and sounds of your imagined or recreated world, its smells, its customs, the books its citizens read, the music they listen to, the food they eat, the oaths they swear, can you make it as real as the world we inhabit every day.

About our guest blogger: Tony Rothman is a physicist who has specialized in general relativity and cosmology, although he is interested more broadly in fundamental questions. Most recently he has been teaching at Princeton University. He has also written ten books for the general public and hundreds of articles. He can be found on Twitter, Facebook and his own website.  Tony Rothman will be speaking at the Lawrence Branch of the Mercer County Library in Lawrence NJ on Tuesday, June 30th at 7:00 PM.