I was given the first novel in the Left Behind series by a good friend. Don't worry, this isn't a review of the series; there isn't room here, but it is an observation about the importance of small details.
Halfway through the book, the authors contrived to have one of the main characters visit London, England. There he met with an officer from New Scotland Yard (NSY). However, the authors failed to research the UK law enforcement system, and actually used US ranks, like Captain and Lieutenant. They also mistakenly purported NSY as the HQ for the British equivalent of the FBI. As yet, the UK doesn't have such a thing.
Not much of a problem, I hear you say, but the authors may have lost a reader who is or was serving in the UK police, anyone who knows about the UK Police, and in short, many British readers. Why? Because no research had been done to verify a small part of a subplot, a number of target readers could feel that no care had been taken to make the book real, and their national institution was not worth bothering about. My point is simple - Never assume anything!
One of the problems with writing a novel is that we (the writers) may be experts in one specific area, but not in the one hundred and one areas about which we are writing. Medical conditions are a favourite, as they can assist plots in so many different ways. Research is essential, a) to make it realistic, and b) to make it accurate. This is so much easier these days with the Internet, and often one can find out everything one needs from the horse's mouth, so to speak.
As soon as we dip into a world of which we are not familiar, then ask, seek and research until you are happy that what you have written is accurate. Ask a doctor who specialises in genetics if a particular trait is genetic or not. Ask a soldier about the mechanics of an armoured vehicle. It is no good writing about the driver of a tank wrenching the wheel over, when the tracks are controlled by two levers. Firearms experts are everywhere, and will adore the opportunity to expound their knowledge for your benefit, as do auto enthusiasts, pilots and divers. Never be afraid to ask, and give them the relevant chapter(s) to read and verify, then you can put their name in the book as being a help. They might even buy the book.
Sometimes, mistakes are unavoidable, and so petty not to matter. The Left Behind series was so involved that that one detail was not even noticed by the vast majority of readers, a niggle to a few, and only upset a small minority. It did not detract greatly from the message the book was making, and the plot in general. However, I do know several potential readers who did not buy the next in the series just because of that one mistake. If and when a writer is fortunate enough to get published, one does not want to prevent someone buying a book, simply because research wasn’t done.
Sometimes, good book sales has nothing to do with luck, just good research.
