Friday, November 12, 2010

For Your Character File

All---

While I have yet to achieve expertise in any field, I have been very fortunate to have a breadth of experience that I know not every author has been lucky enough to have.  Mostly on this blog, I talk about writing, but I've recently come to realize that one of the ways that we writers can help each other out is by sharing experiences.  So, from time to time, I'll try to do that.  And if you have any questions about archaeology, forensic anthropology, dead bodies, bones, teeth, ambulance stuff, Alaska, or any of the other crazy stuff I've done, that would help with something you're writing or to percolate your thought, let me know.  Leave a comment here, or send me an e-mail (c dot n dot nevets at gmail dot com) or send a note on Twitter.  Maybe once every week or two, I'll answer or a question or share a random bit of experience-based knowledge.

I thought I'd kick off the theme with a few random facts that might help you in character development:

  • No academic profession is as riddled with substance abuse as archaeology.
  • The only people who swear more than soldiers and cops are archaeologists.
  • EMS crews get caught up in jurisdiction wars as much as law enforcement agencies do.
  • Forensics people are really, really weird.
  • There is almost no archaeologist who is not, in the field, a know-it-all.
  • Forensic anthropologists tend to pretty dramatically lose their ability to have an appropriate social filter.
That's a few things to get you started.  If I think of a few more, I'll post in the comments.  And if you have any questions my experiences might help with, ask away!

.Nevets.


7 comments:

  1. That is really funny Nevets. I write fantasy, so I don't have any questions about this stuff, but I look forward to reading your tongue in cheek responses.
    Mary Montague Sikes has stopped by my blog with her blog book tour. Nancy N. R. Williams, fantasy author

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  2. I like that list C.N. my favorite: "Forensics people are really, really weird."

    I think they would kind of have to be.

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  3. Very cool. And you make a good point about how blogging writers sometimes stick to blogging about writing. It's good to write about other stuff! I'll give it a shot too -- though my life hasn't been nearly as interesting as yours.

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  4. Shut up! I don't believe a word of it. LOL So interesting!! I could use some of that, Nevets. Thanks.

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  5. •The only people who swear more than soldiers and cops are archaeologists.

    And waitreses.

    •Forensic anthropologists tend to pretty dramatically lose their ability to have an appropriate social filter.

    So do mothers of 5 yr. olds.

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  6. Very funny! I'd have to add that daycare teachers have a very dark sense of humor and swear like sailors-by spelling. We're very good spellers.

    Somewhere on the blogosphere, I saw a book listed by someone (I forget who) and it was a book of forensics for writers. Do you know it?

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  7. @Nancy - Who? Me? Tongue in cheek? What is this you are suggesting? :)

    @Jennifer - Everyone's life is interesting. Most of us just don't realize it. I only know mines is interesting because people tell me it is. I keep thinking how boring it is and how much more interesting it could have been, "if only..."

    @Deb - hahaha Anytime. :)

    @Anne - You speak with wisdom!

    @TWC - I knew about the daycare teachers' humor, but not the spelling. That makes sense, though, and it's also F-L-I-P-P-I-N-G hilarious.

    I'm not sure the specific book you mean, but based on past experience, I would guess that it has quite a bit of useful information, but needs to be taken witha grain of salt and used with the mindset that specific techniques and inferences have probably changed since its printing.

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