While writing Take The Highway, I found myself in need of knowledge I didn’t posses. Online dating. Something I knew nothing about and have never experienced. The first of weird things to write about I had to conquer. Since the main character in the novel is going through it I had to become an expert. As a married person, I can’t simply go ahead and try it out. Instead, I found myself reading everything I could get my hands on about the subject. Advice books on how to successfully navigate dating sites and emerge on the other side with a life partner. First hand accounts of horror stories from the seedy side of electronic matchmaking. I watched documentaries. Read how-to manuals from experts of all sorts. At one point I had a stack of books about online dating that reached to my waist by the side of my bed. Every night before going to bed I would grab one of the books and read myself to sleep. One fine evening,I came home to find my husband sitting by the the side of the bed looking forlorn. He was staring at my stack of books. “Is this a hint? Should I be worried?” he said. I laughed. “No, no, no, no. These books are not for me, they are for the character in my novel. I can’t go out and try online dating, but I can read about it.” My husband exhaled. “Oh! Ok! I was worried something else was going on.” I sat next to him and we had a good laugh at my tower of online dating books.
And then came time to choose an iconic car made in the sixties or seventies that I wanted to weave into the narrative. “How did I choose which car to include in the story?” I hear you ask. Not by looks. Not by speed. Not by make. Not by color. Oh no. Those things would be too conventional and easy. I wanted to be able to describe the sound of the engine of that car in poetic terms. So I spent days and days listening to recorded engine sounds of a variety of car from that era. The second of weird things to write about. One day I was standing at the kitchen counter hunched over my laptop listening to a particular car engine sound. My left ear nearly touching the speakers. Can you fall in love with the vroooom, vroooooooooooooom, vroooooooooooooooooooooooooooooom sound of a car? It has to be the right vroom, vroom, vroom sound. Can’t be just anything, Right? My daughter walked in. “Mom! What are you doing?” she looked alarmed. “I am listening to car engine sounds.” I replied. “Why?” She asked scrunching he face. “I need to find the right engine sound for the novel.” I said. My daughter shook her head. “Mom! You are so weird.” Well! Writers are weird. All that engine sound research resulted in two or three sentences in the novel. Most readers won’t register that hard work that went into writing those few words. And yet I feel that it was worth the effort. It was the right engine sound for the story. I think writing novel is good fit for obsessive personalities like myself.
And then came the ultimate challenge. A topic I had to research that I don’t want to learn about. In fact, I feel an aversion to the whole thing. Guns. The third in a weird things to write about quest. I know nothing about guns. Furthermore, I don’t want to know about guns. But the story of Take The Highway was going to have some fire arms and so what could I do? Here is the big question. How do you learn about guns if you don’t want to handle a gun? I was afraid to google “How to use a gun?” for fear that the secret service would show up at my door. Luckily for me I was able to find a few books at the public library that talk about how to write about guns.This time I hid the books under my bed so that my family wouldn’t make any far fetched assumption. Then I read a bunch of Steven King novels that have gun use in them. I allowed that to be my inspiration. “Let’s assume that Steven KIng researches what he writes about.” I told myself. In truth. On this topic I still feel shaky on. Unfortunately for me, I am not done with it. Since I already know that a future novel will have plenty of firearms use, I will have to be shore up my knowledge of this subject in the future. If you have any recommendations of books to read, I would appreciate it.
Writing a novel is a weird thing. Makes me find weird things to write about. It forces me to step out of my comfort zone and try things that would never occur to me otherwise. The satisfaction of holding a book in my hand in the end makes all it worth it.

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7 days till book launch. Weird things I had to research while writing Take The Highway https://t.co/9giiDnPDoU
— Elen 🚗 Ghulam (@ElenGhulam) April 5, 2019
Cool
cute bag
Sounds interesting
I love the cover! I know I am going to enjoy reading this book! 🙂
That’s a lot of new things you have to learn about to write a book. But it sounds good..
The research would have been interesting.
Sounds really good
can not wait
Oh the fun and joy of research. Glad you were able to persuade your poor husband not to worry!
Very interesting.
The bag is almost to beautiful to use.
I’m impressed by all of the background information you went through. I love that you care so much about your writing that you’re willing to spend the time to make it authentic for us. Thank you.
Looking forward to reading your book and hopefully winning the purse!
I find the research author’s and writers (movies, etc) do to ensure all aspects have been thought of just fascinating. Sounds like quite the roller coaster!
Love the bag!! The book already has my interest!!
Learn something new every day… Thank you for the opportunity! Looking forward to the release!
Cheers~
Kelly B.
Super cool ! Thank you
Sounds pretty cool
My Mother in law use to be an avid reader but since she lost use of her right side it’s more of an effort … she would enjoy the book and the story behind it
I wouldn’t enjoy researching guns either lol
An easy way to learn about guns would be to go to a gun shop or show, introduce yourself to the management and let them know that you know nothing about guns. If you let them know that you know nothing on the subject they will probably be more than willing to teach you all the things you need to know to put the subject in your novels.
Just an idea.
You certainly put a lot of work in before even putting pen to paper! PS I have a daughter who says “Mum, you are so weird” too!
I love the cute little bag. Congrats on your release.
Writing and reading expands your mind
Travel is good for my soul.
Lol, your poor husband! Reading the post made me laugh aloud. I wish I had novel-writing talent. It might help my obsessive personality. Beading helps a bit, but I’ll have to try my hand at writing. I must go find me some muses. I can’t wait to read this book.
I appreciate all the research that an Author puts in a book, it makes the story feel more real. Sounds like it can be an interesting task, but at least there is fun to be had along the way!!!
wow, sometimes there is a lot of researching to do and do you enjoy that part? I believe I have been on this highway a time or 2.
This sounds really awesome.Going to give it a try.
nice to know the process
Love this article!Thanks!
Cool , exciting book
Sounds like a lot of hard and I can only imagine fulfilling work. I can’t wait to read it.
Very interesting
Congrats on the book launch!!!! So EPIC! I love the book cover too.
I love reading, I love finding hidden gems
Interesting
sounds like a good book
The book sounds like a very interesting read. Congrats on your new release!
It is always interesting to read how a book comes into being, thanks for sharing.
Looking forward to book release. Would love to win the purse!
Thanks for opportunity to win this unique purse.
Love to read and this looks fascinating!
Sounds ok
Very interesting to hear about the research that goes into the writing process.
Can’t wait
Wow you have to do alot of intresting research.
The book sounds fabulous & sometimes you have to do alot of research to see if something is the right fit in your life. Love this bag. Thanks for your great generosity.
I would like to read your book!
I loved your husband’s reaction. 😉 Seriously though…you know when an author has done their homework…and I think it’s impressive how much research you put into accuracy!
Very impressive all the research you have done to complete your book. I know it will be an enjoyable read.
I really like the purse.
Love all the things I learn from reading, thanks to authors like you and your extensive research! Kudos!
I enjoyed your post. A well written book is a joy to read.
Love it!
great insight into your mind and how a writer needs skills to research
As the old saying goes, DO the things that scare you or challenge you. We grow from it!