So, Jo, are all these things you've done?
Ahem. Let's see.
1.
Performed a risky physical maneuver or intentionally injured myself just to "see how it feels."
- Actually I have not done this! I have accidentally injured myself and THEN put it in a novel, and occasionally I write about an injury and COINCIDENTALLY injure myself the same way... or maybe it's not a coincidence???
2.
Loitered in a place where I am not allowed/do not belong to observe "how they do things."
- Emergency room and courtroom. Oh yeah, one time I ended up in the sleeper section of the train. I was trying to get to the engine but they found me and kicked me out.
3.
Eavesdropped on a private conversation to collect dialogue material.
- All the time. Why do people have private conversations at Starbucks? Just because I'm a stranger doesn't mean I'm not listening.
4. Stalked a complete stranger to observe their physical mannerisms or habits.
- Most recent occurrence... I have a character who uses a wheelchair sometimes, and there's a guy in my apartment complex with one. So... yeah. Now I know how he gets in and out of his car. (Almost ran over him one day, actually... oops.)
5.
Encountered something which permanently scarred me while in search of (mostly) legitimate info.
- Yes. Trust me, you don't want to know what it is.
6. Become an expert in an obscure field so two paragraphs in my novel will be technically correct.
- Ask me anything you want about prefrontal lobotomies. I also do bladder issues, spinal cord injuries, and several major geographic regions.
7.
Joined an online group for a demographic I don't belong to, to gain insight about said group.
- Yes. I said I was an author though.
8.
Professed interest in forming a relationship with someone so I could milk them for information.
- There was this guy in college who had a motorcycle, and I wanted to know about them. I didn't realize he was taking it as a come-on until he asked me out. Oops.
9.
Asked an aquaintance intrusive, personal questions about and even his/her life.
- Most recently, the wife of my hubby's best friend was having issues getting pregnant. I now know quite a lot about fertility treatments. Granted, I haven't written about that subject yet, but I'm sure it will come up someday.
What can I say, I notice and focus on weird things in life.
Though, on the plus side, my vocabulary has grown by leaps and bounds.
