When to Consult a Medical Expert by Jordyn Redwood

Author (and nurse) Jordyn Redwood has a blog on which she treats writers to important information with regard to medical issues. I asked her to share some aspect of research strategies when it comes to this topic. -- Sandy  

Jordyn: Although I’ve always helped authors along the way with medical questions, it’s been one of my primary focuses for the last three years or so since the invention of Redwood’s Medical Edge—my medical blog for authors.

The reason for creating my blog was the multitude of published works I read that were loaded with medical inaccuracies. Not just a few here and there but time after time things were catching my eye.

In a pod-cast interview, the interview asked if these medical mistakes would be enough for the average reader to pick up. To be honest, I’m probably more sensitive to these errors after spending 20 years in nursing but some are mind-numbingly obvious. Such as saying the spleen is on the right side. Such as calling a collar bone a shoulder blade. You don’t have to have a medical degree in anything to pick up on these missed anatomy issues.

Writers, I think, are confused as to when it’s beneficial to consider consulting a medical expert. And I actually mean more than asking Uncle Joe who has worked as a dentist when you need information about delivering an infant.

Not the best option.

An author who is also a medical expert is your best bet because they know what will overload the reader, they know what is too medically complex for a non-medical author to pull off, and can help you with the nuances (the language and the interactions) from having worked in the field.

But when is it best to consider plucking down a few hard earned dollars to work with a medical consultant?

Here are my thoughts.

1. You need a medical condition that fits a certain set of symptoms. Often times I get queries from authors along these lines and perhaps they’ve tried to find something on their own but just cannot decipher the medical language to know, for certain, if it fits. “I need a fatal condition for a child that won’t be immediately obvious but could put the child in peril around three months of age.” Believe it or not—a metabolic disorder fits this criteria. 
2. You have a medical scenario in mind but aren’t sure if it’s reasonable. This happens frequently and is probably the most dangerous position to work from. Let’s take a look at the following example. “My character has been in a car accident. The car has rolled three times. The injured character was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown 100 yards into a swift moving ravine where he almost drowned. He was rescued and required only a minute of CPR to revive him. I need him home from the hospital that night.” Or the opposite is true. “I have a character that fell down the stairs and I need him to be in the ICU for three days.”

Both of these situations set up implausible medical scenarios. The car accident victim is going to be too injured to go home that day. Someone who requires CPR after nearly drowning is going to be watched, at a minimum, overnight. In order to get admitted into the ICU a patient has to be pretty sick so the simple fall down the stairs is likely not going to injure the character enough.

3. Come with an open mind but with a needed result for your character. What I prefer to know is your end game with an open mind to the medical scenario. “I need a character to suffer an injury from a fall that would land them in the hospital for a few days in the ICU and I’m fine with a few extra days in the hospital but I don’t want them to have any residual injuries.” For you, I would pick an epidural hematoma.
4. You have a pivotal medical scene. I consulted once for an author who had a child dying in the Pediatric ICU from leukemia. This is something you want to flow nicely for the reader. If at any moment they pause, look away from the page, and think about the accuracy of what you’ve written—you’ve taken them out of the story bubble and perhaps their trust in you has fallen. Perhaps you’ve even lost a reader. 

I once read a review from a fan of historical fiction that skewered an author for writing a completely inaccurate historical scenario in the third book of the series. The author not being historically accurate became a trust issue for this reviewer. He then doubted the previous two books and swore off reading anything else from the author.

Don’t let this happen to you. Consult a medical expert if you find yourself writing in these scenarios. It’s likely not as expensive as you think.

Have you ever read a novel with a medical scene you found implausible? Did it ruin the story for you? Have you employed a medical consultant to help with your research? What is most interesting medical issue you've dealt with in your novels, and where did you go to get your information?

~~~

Jordyn Redwood is a pediatric ER nurse by day, suspense novelist by night. She hosts Redwood’s Medical Edge, a blog devoted to helping contemporary and historical authors write medically accurate fiction. Her

first two novels, Proof and Poison, garnered starred reviews fromLibrary Journal and have been endorsed by the likes of Dr. Richard Mabry, Lynette Eason, and Mike Dellosso to name a few. Proof was shortlisted for the 2012 ForeWord Review’s BOTY Award, 2013 INSPY Award and the 2013 Carol Award. You can connect with Jordyn via her website at www.jordynredwood.com.

Peril Synopsis (From CBD): Medical mystery thrillers with a chilling diagnosis—the only cure is to keep reading! Dr. Reeves implants superior memory cells into soldiers’ brains with amazing results—until negative symptoms appear. When his daughter is taken hostage by enraged research subjects, can he discover the answer they demand before Morgan’s life is in serious Peril? 

Devouring the Elephant by Jordyn Redwood

Have you stood in awe of authors who are able to write not only one book in a short amount of time, but two or three? Sure . . . some people are just more prolific than others. You may even attribute their ability to having no children at home or writing full time. But the truth is, all writers need to decide how they’re going to use available hours. Today, author Jordyn Redwood shares what she learned about writing and meeting deadlines. Enjoy! ~ Dawn

Devouring the Elephant

by Jordyn Redwood

I'll never forget when I got "the call" from my agent that I finally had a book contract. Years of hard work had finally paid off and my baby was going to be published. It wasn't long before my exuberant thoughts were replaced by the fear creeping into my mind that culminated into one thought.

He is going to expect me to do this again!

Yes, I was going to have to write another book. Trouble was, I had the luxury of years to write Proof and not under the pressure of any sort of deadline. If I didn't "feel" like writing a particular day—no one but me really cared.

Now, I had to write another one under a deadline and that worry began to eat away at my self confidence. Am I just a one book wonder? Can I write a 100,000 word novel in six-nine months?

These are some things I found that helped me write a novel in a much shorter time frame than the luxury I had of refining and refining words on my debut novel.

1. Write your first draft with little editing. This at first was hard for me but I have found it truly freeing. Whatever the length of the writing project it is you're writing, the first draft is just about getting words onto the paper. I've even stopped researching small points during the first draft as well. I'll simply make a notation in the ms and know this is an area I'll buffer up during the editing phase.

2. Make a goal and stick to it. I try and work well ahead of my publisher's deadline because real life does happen. But just like a real job, by signing a contract you have made a commitment to produce a product for your publisher. People are depending on you to finish it. Make a goal but definitely reward yourself when you finish it.

3. The BIC technique works—which stands for butt in chair. You have to sit and get the words onto paper. The reality of a professional author is that you will have to write when you don't feel like it. When you might be mildly under the weather. When the plot isn't working...

4. There is a dark point in writing every novel—but there is always light at the end. I've yet to come across an author who doesn't have a point in writing each novel where they doubt their qualifications as an author. Recognize this for what it is—a journey. There is wonderful moment where you get to type "THE END" and release your baby into the world.

5. Take a day off each week. The Lord says to do this for a reason. Spend time with the Lord and your family. No one goes to their death bed wishing they would have worked more.

Above all, enjoy the struggle and the fun. Writing is a wonderful, unique adventure. What about you? How do you make your goals feasible?

  

Click to reach Amazon.

Jordyn Redwood is a pediatric ER nurse by day, suspense novelist by night. She hosts Redwood’s Medical Edge, a blog devoted to helping contemporary and historical authors write medically accurate fiction. Her debut novel, Proof, garnered a starred review from Library Journal and has been endorsed by the likes of Dr. Richard Mabry, Lynette Eason, and Mike Dellosso to name a few. You can connect with Jordyn via her website at www.jordynredwood.net.  

The Publishing Type by Jordyn Redwood

I don’t know if this is true for your business, but in medicine, there are definitely types. Recently, I was sitting at the nurse’s station with several of my co-workers when this discussion came up. It is easy to tell if a nurse is going to make it in the ER within the first few shifts of their orientation. There is a certain attitude, work ethic, and demeanor that are likely consistent among ER nurses across the country.


Several experiences have led me to believe that there may also be a publishing type and I’m curious to know what others think. I’ve been quite surprised at some authorly discussions of late and wondered how there could even be controversy… yet, there is. What follows are qualities I think a writer needs to possess in order to seek publication. Notice, I didn’t say write. Anyone, literally, can put pen to paper and write. This is taking your hope, your dream, to the next level.

1. Must love to read. This discussion has been raging over at a marketing loop of authors I follow. Several have complained that there are actual people who think they can craft a novel but hate reading. I find this problematic on several levels. First, I think writing is born from an enjoyment of reading. Your pulse has pounded at an author’s musings and you wonder if you could pull off such a feat. You’ll need to read extensively in the genre you hope to publish in if for no other reason than to know what’s being published. Reading in other genres will help your writing grow. Next, will be reading agent/editor’s submission guidelines. Really, the reading list is extensive.
2. Must be able to multitask. Consider the following if you’re blessed enough to get a multi-book contract. Researching your next series, writing one book, and editing one (or more) novels at one time. Add to that blogging at several sites and developing your marketing strategy for your novel when it is released. Oh, and then there is likely your family, church and full-time job to add into the mix. What else should be on this list?
3. Be able to organize. See #2.
4. Must be able to follow direction. Agents and editors lament often about getting material they just don’t need or didn’t request. This is a waste of their time and you don’t want to be the thorn in their heel. If they ask for a one page synopsis—that’s what they actually mean and it’s not open for your interpretation. It’s not a challenge from them to you to get them to change their mind. The ability to do this will aid a lot in your developing a well-respected, professional reputation.
5. You know how much more you need to learn. A continual love for learning is definitely a must if pursuing publication. I know I had a minor heart attack when my agent asked me for a book proposal. What is that?!? Recently, I was having coffee with a good friend of mine who is also a writer and we were talking about the current state of our relative manuscripts. Needless to say, we both wanted to shred them at the time. I said to her, “You know, the more I write, the more I know how much more I need to learn.” Do you feel this way? Did you feel that way after your first book was published? I think I buy more books now on the writing craft than ever before.

What are your thoughts? What qualities do you see in those who have successfully navigated the publishing road? Which would you take off my list?

Jordyn Redwood is a pediatric ER nurse by day, suspense novelist by night. She hosts Redwood’s Medical Edge, a blog devoted to helping contemporary and historical authors write medically accurate fiction. Her debut novel,Proof, has been endorsed by the likes of Dr. Richard Mabry, Lynette Eason, and Mike Dellosso to name a few. You can connect with Jordyn via her website at www.jordynredwood.net.

Proof: Dr. Lilly Reeves is a young, accomplished ER physician with her whole life ahead of her. But that life instantly changes when she becomes the fifth victim of a serial rapist. Believing it's the only way to recover her reputation and secure peace for herself, Lilly sets out to find--and punish--her assailant. Sporting a mysterious tattoo and unusually colored eyes, the rapist should be easy to identify. He even leaves what police would consider solid evidence. But when Lilly believes she has found him, DNA testing clears him as a suspect. How can she prove he is guilty, if science says he is not?