Writing about things you have no idea about!?

jillianburks · Nov 29, 2009

I want to write an thriller/mystery/romance story concerning the mafia. The problem is that I know next to nothing about the mafia. I've googled the structure of the mafia and the lingo they use- but that's all I have.

So my questions for y'all is: have you ever written about a lifestyle you nothing about? If so, how did you do it?

Albannach · Nov 29, 2009

No. And I wouldn't consider it.

Maxinquaye · Nov 29, 2009

Depends on what you mean by Mafia. If you mean a criminal organisation, then invent one yourself. If you mean the mafia, then you're in for a lot of trouble since it's as much of a culture as an organisation.

Mr Flibble · Nov 29, 2009

Yes

However google is not the be all and end all of research. It's a good starting point.

Read everything you can about the matter, books, bios, newspaper articles. I would say talk to some people who know about it, but you might want to be careful there.

Maybe contact some police who have dealings?

Lady Ice · Nov 29, 2009

jillianburks said:
I want to write an thriller/mystery/romance story concerning the mafia. The problem is that I know next to nothing about the mafia. I've googled the structure of the mafia and the lingo they use- but that's all I have.

So my questions for y'all is: have you ever written about a lifestyle you nothing about? If so, how did you do it?

You'll need to clue yourself up on it somehow. There has to be a parallel in your own life for you to pull it off successfully. I'm assuming you haven't been involved with the mafia but have you been threatened and put in a tough situation by someone who may be dangerous? What about school bullying? You transfer that emotion and experience so you can convincingly portray it.

Maxinquaye · Nov 29, 2009

Heh, yeah. I know next to nothing about murder and violence. Hasn't prevented me from writing about it.

Toothpaste · Nov 29, 2009

Yes. But do way more research. Libraries can be awesome for that. Also, and this might sound like a cop out, but watch some movies - the Godfather's pretty helpful, as is the show The Sopranos.

And remember, above all things, when you start work on your story make sure your characters are three dimensional. It is so easy to fall into stereotypes with a subject like that.

kuwisdelu · Nov 29, 2009

Lady Ice said:
You'll need to clue yourself up on it somehow. There has to be a parallel in your own life for you to pull it off successfully. I'm assuming you haven't been involved with the mafia but have you been threatened and put in a tough situation by someone who may be dangerous? What about school bullying? You transfer that emotion and experience so you can convincingly portray it.

Easier to quote than repeating.

And as far as portraying other things accurately, the mafia is extremely well-documented. Google isn't enough; you should read as much as you can until you feel comfortable enough to write.

ETA: If you're not set on the Italian mafia yet (unless there's a special reason you want to use it), do some quick research on other mafias as well. From the Russian mob to the Chinese mob to organized crime in general; you might just find something that fits your story better, if you haven't considered it.

kuwisdelu · Nov 29, 2009

Oh, and uh, try not to write something you could get capped for.

Maxinquaye · Nov 29, 2009

And furthermore, you have to realize there is more than one mafia: you have the Camorra in Naples, the Mafia in Sicily, Sacra Corona Unita in Apulia and so on. They'll be different.

BrooklynLee · Nov 29, 2009

I wrote a book where many of the characters are engaged in the same business, not one I have a lot of experience with. Even though the main character is a teenager, I did a *lot* of research about that business -- a ton really. The most helpful sources I found were books, a couple of first person accounts written by people who had worked in the business that was in my book, as well as a well-known expose of that particular industry. Those books allowed me to bring a lot of detail to my story that I wouldn't have otherwise.

With the mafia, as others said, you are lucky because there are a lot of sources but you also need to be aware that many readers feel familiar with the mafia because of so many TV shows and movies and so they will notice missteps more quickly. It's sort of like if you're from New York (like I am) and you watch a movie or TV show that claims to be based there but get something really basic wrong -- like the color of a subway line. It can ruin the experience. So you need to tread carefully. It doesn't mean it can't be done, but try to do your research so you don't disappoint your readers.

AlishaS · Nov 29, 2009

Read the Godfather?! Lol

I would say Librarys will be your friend, there will be a lot of stuff there to help. I agree the Google is really a good place to start but won't have everything. I have also seen documenterys on A&E about Mafia's and such.
Good luck though.

Wayne K · Nov 29, 2009

jillianburks said:
I want to write an thriller/mystery/romance story concerning the mafia. The problem is that I know next to nothing about the mafia. I've googled the structure of the mafia and the lingo they use- but that's all I have.

So my questions for y'all is: have you ever written about a lifestyle you nothing about? If so, how did you do it?

PM me. I grew up with these people. I forget who said it's a culture, but they nailed it. I do know a lot about it.

ETA: Maxinquaye said it.

He's the only one in this thread who gets to live

The Lonely One · Nov 29, 2009

Just to repeat the word, for I adore the intonation:

Library.

kuwisdelu · Nov 29, 2009

The Lonely One said:
Just to repeat the word, for I adore the intonation:

Library.

The intonation of "libary"?

(I have trouble with two "r" sounds so close together

)

Kweei · Nov 29, 2009

Yup, I write on subjects that I know nothing about. It takes a ton of research though, and then you have to take that research and make it relevant.

But for me that is one of the fun parts about being a writer

James D. Macdonald · Nov 29, 2009

Stay the heck away from Google and Wikipedia.

Research the heck out of it. That will include actually talking to people. Including cops. Including Mafiosi. If this means you have to learn Sicilian ... do so.

Libbie · Nov 29, 2009

I don't start writing until I know about it.

To know about it, I research it.

katiemac · Nov 29, 2009

Stay the heck away from Google and Wikipedia.

Actually, I like Wikipedia. But I know better than to trust Wikipedia.

Before I start my research, though, I'll log on. I'll read up on what Wikipedia has to say, noting all the topics covered in one article and the areas I might not have even thought (or known) about to research. Then I'll read some of the articles linked to the bottom of the Wiki article.

Before I know it, I'm on my way to the library with 20 more subjects on my list than I would have even considered looking into. I see what relevant books they have. I check them out. I read them. If I need more, I go back.

Meanwhile, I'm writing.

The Lonely One · Nov 29, 2009

James D. Macdonald said:
Stay the heck away from Google and Wikipedia.

On a side note, do spend countless hours using wookiepedia...

kuwisdelu · Nov 29, 2009

Just don't mess with the spice trade.

James D. Macdonald · Nov 29, 2009

Being a writer means that you have homework every day for the rest of your life.

I didn't know a lot about Prohibition-era gangland Chicago before writing Timecrime, Inc.

Before I was done, I had a ton of research, including visiting Al Capone's cell at Alcatraz and Johnny Torrio's grave in Brooklyn. I had a calendar with the important (and not so important) dates, including what day of the week Bugs Moran got out of jail on the loft-and-safe beef that put him in Joliet when Prohibition started ( and what brand of cigarettes he smoked, which led to his eventual death from lung cancer), and I'd talked with Frank Nitti's niece about family stories and what she remembered from the old days. And I'd gone to a range and fired a Thompson on full-auto.

You can do it too.

Then leave all the research in your notebooks and write the best story that you can.

LuckyH · Nov 29, 2009

I agree about the research and all the rest of it, but why write about something you have no personal knowledge of? Why not write what you know?

Mafia stories have been truly flogged to death, I doubt if there is still a market for them. We’ve moved on, the current trends are not about some daft crime organisation that hardly exists nowadays. Law enforcement has come a long way since police commanders could be bribed by some greasy Italian gangster; telephone intercepts and satellite observation have robbed those ancients of any credibility.

It was a romantic dream of years ago, Palermo and Omerta, nowadays they start singing as soon a some rookie cop slaps a hand on their shoulder. The informants don’t need protection any more, it’s the other way round, the few remaining gangsters need protection from the army of informants.

If you want to write about modern criminals, the libraries are just starting to fill up with Wall Street and oil wars. And terrorists, of course.

Sorry, I’ve just realised, if you’re writing historical fiction from hundreds of years ago, then you should research the Mafia.

kuwisdelu · Nov 29, 2009

I'm sure lots of people thought pirates didn't exist anymore, either.

Katrina S. Forest · Nov 29, 2009

jillianburks said:
So my questions for y'all is: have you ever written about a lifestyle you nothing about? If so, how did you do it?

Yes. In my current NaNoWriMo novel, my main character is Deaf. I'm not connected to the culture at all, so I spent two months before NaNo reading books and watching documentaries, just to get a feel for the character. When I go to edit, I plan to start taking some sign language classes and hopefully make some connections to people in the community who'll be able to help me make this story authentic.

Maybe it'll go somewhere and maybe it won't, but it's something I want to do.

I don't think there's anything wrong with writing about a character who's different from you, as long as you're prepared to do the research and willing to accept that what you think sounds authentic could be totally off. In a worst-case scenario, it's an excellent writing exercise.

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