Writing Passionates discussion

I am writing a...urban fantasy I guess you could call it, but I need advice in several different areas.

Eventually I would like someone to read it (other then myself) to make sure it makes sense, that each character has his or her own unique voice, and that I have minimized the extraneous information. However, right now I am on page...103, and only about 1/3 of the way through the story arch I have in my head. So I don't know how long it will be until I am ready for that.

Right now I have questions regarding military—specifically Special Operations (SEAL teams and the like). Other areas I have questions in are criminal law (I am trying to decide what is and is not illegal in my world, i.e. is giving police false information attained via psychic means illegal? and if so, under what circumstances?) FBI/police procedures for kidnapping/murder, and tactical assistance (the main character has found the kidnapper in an isolated area—back in the woods, and needs to capture the bad guy and rescue the little boy).

…ok, reading that my storyline seems to make no sense. But it does, I promise. Or at least I think it does. In any case, these are only the start of my questions, I’m sure there will be more to follow.

If you can help, I would deeply appreciate it. If all you can do is point me to a source, I appreciate that as well.

Thank you!

Ellen

Umm you can always check wikipedia for fbi and seal special opps and the like.
With your psychic means you could go both ways... Like its obviously illegal to pass on false info to the police, but in your world it might not be so it won't matter. You know??

Wikipedia can't always be reliable though. If you go to the library, and read up on these things in books that you find, that may give you insight on what you want to do.

But really, are you going to find many books of FBI terminology? I usually support relying on published books rather than wikipedia, but simply for the sake of finding any info at all, it might be more practical to use the latter.

I've looked up SEAL stories and FBI ones (I have the FBI site bookmarked on the page that gives you actual case files). I've even watched the Military channel--they had a special where they followed a SEAL class though the BUD/s training not long ago. But I guess what I really need is someone who has more knowledge so I can bounce ideas off them. I just don't know where to find them.

*searches under bushes* They are very good at hiding.

Anyway, thanks for the help.

Ellen

I spent the first fourteen years of my life in the marine corps. lol, technically my father was the marine, but I spent my life around it. So I have a vague idea (very vague--I try to block it out) of the life, or at least the life of a family memeber.

I even know what its like to have someone fighting in a war--my father was in the first Gulf War: desert storm/desert shield, so the men and women who fight--and those who support them have my greatest honor and respect.

Good luck with your story Lyssa.

research has to be the hardest part. I am currently working on my second book (fictional, sort of scifi) and it has a lot to do with art history, particularly photography and mirrors (but not in a lame way I promise), but it involves enough photographs, and or antiques that I need to get my info right. And the best part is, I don't know squat about either category, so now I'm spending my time on google researching instead of writing. :)

Bailey wrote: "research has to be the hardest part. I am currently working on my second book (fictional, sort of scifi) and it has a lot to do with art history, particularly photography and mirrors (but not in a..."

I know how that goes Bailey...good luck!

I am going to try again. I have Googled, looked at Wiki, other sites and books and I still need help with questions on military and police procedure (so I changed the name of the thread and hopefully more people will look at it).

I am a firm believer that you can do all the research in the world, but actually TALKING to someone who has had experience in what you are looking for will help you more than any book.

Therefore, if anyone has had any police and or military experience and would be willing to share--and answer off the wall questions, will you please use the goodreads e-mail and e-mail me? I honestly don't know what I need right now other then a sounding board--or just someone to talk to, to get the...feel of my character's right.

Please, please, please help!

Ellen