I admit that I forgot the context for my critique of the writer’s story was how the character was using the money. The writer specifically used a large sum of money that was stored in a safety deposit box. I read the story a couple years ago so I can’t recall the specific amount but I do remember the key to my criticism, he described it as singles. A simple mistake that distracted to the point that the technical problems of his story are the details that remain clearest in my mind.

The key, I guess, is to know the details and use them the right way if you’re going to use them.

A briefcase will nicely hold a million in hundreds, though. You only need 200 stacks of fifty.

(Note: This all assumes minty-fresh, crisp, wrapped bills.)

Write what you know
Learn what you write
Write it the way you know it
Find someone who knows it better than you

I have been listening to this podcast for almost a year now. As I struggle to become a better writer, I learn more each day. I don’t pretend to be an expert (on anything) but I have figured out ways to research and to write that work for me. I’m working on my second novel (deep into comprehensive editing) and there are several places where I’ve felt woefully unqualified to write on the subject.

First, I look it up. I read books, I watch documentaries, I look at websites, and I talk to people. Second, I find a way to write the subject. If I’m writing something that I’m not an expert on, then I write it in a way that feels natural to me and according to my central character’s opinion.

To use the example of horses: I would go to the stable in town. Some stables have special days where you can pay a flat rate for the day to go riding. Talk to the people at the stable. On a day like that, the stable is trying to get people interested in riding and potentially signing up for lessons. Also, there are generally people who have taken lessons for a while and can provide insight into horsemanship.

I’m not saying that a couple hours on a horse will make you an expert. But the information gained from such a day can give a writer insight into how to write an unfamiliar subject.

A specific problem that I’ve encountered in practicality is the ONE MILLION DOLLAR RANSOM trope. A fellow writer in a short story class wrote a story that used that trope. When I was writing the critique for his short story, I looked up the weight of such an amount of money and it’s impossible to shove a million dollars in a suitcase. It seemed dramatic at the time so he used it.

The Million Dollar Ransom trope leads me to another problem, writers writing stories like movies. Basing their concept of reality on movies and writing in such a way that evokes a detailed film or episode synopsis.

Well, I’m out of excuses, I’d better get back to writing.