Turn fact into fiction
A guest post by Carla Luna
Back when I worked as an archaeologist, my friends often told me, “You’ve had so many great experiences. These would make for an awesome novel.” Since I was not just an archaeologist but also an aspiring author, I figured one day I’d turn these stories into books.
Easier said than done.
When I decided to chart my course as an indie-published author, I knew I wanted to write a series of romantic comedies set in the world of archaeology. What better way to make use of my past profession than to fictionalize it? However, when I sat down to plot out Field Rules, my archaeology rom-com set in the Mediterranean, I was stumped. I wanted my characters to be real archaeologists, not adventurous treasure hunters or tomb raiders. However, lost temples, hidden treasures, ancient curses, and scary mummies are more exciting than the reality of life in the field.
There’s a reason archaeology in popular culture rarely focuses on the day-to-day minutiae of fieldwork. Because it’s often kind of … boring. On most of my digs, there were numerous days where we spent hours toiling in the heat, only to uncover endless buckets of broken pottery. Even our most “exciting” finds were fairly mundane, like a small cache of Roman coins, the tiles from a mosaic, or a portion of a wall. Hardly the stuff of epic storytelling.
But this isn’t just an issue for archaeology. It’s the truth for a lot of professions—first responders, doctors, lawyers, chefs, and so on. Sure, there are days when they might deal with medical emergencies, arguing riveting cases in court, or battling it out on Iron Chef, but there are a lot more days mired in paperwork, prep, or research.
So, how does one make real-life professions appeal to the reader without telling a boring story or painting a totally inaccurate picture?
Focus on the characters – As with all good fiction, you want your main characters to stand out. They should have clear goals, a strong motivation for achieving these goals, and serious obstacles standing in their way. Their goals don’t have to be “life or death,” but they should be important to them. Is their career on the line? Are they striving for a new job? Dealing with a toxic boss or a co-worker who’s trying to sabotage them? All of these things can be used to craft a compelling story.
Up the stakes – Even without the threat of evil Nazis or ruthless rivals, you can create high-stakes situations. In Field Rules, the assistant director of the dig has it out for Rick and Olivia (my two main characters). Though he’s not the one in charge, he has the power to derail their careers. One early reader said she was so anxious about what he might do to them that she was kept in constant suspense. Readers who are feeling suspense continue to turn pages. (Click here to learn more about creating conflict.)
Make your characters passionate about what they do – About a third of the way through Field Rules, Olivia finds a small piece of pottery with ancient Phoenician writing on it. Is it a valuable treasure? No, but it’s rare enough that she’s thrilled by her discovery. In another scene, Rick finds a prehistoric site laden with evidence of early stone tools. Not exactly a Pharoah’s tomb, but it gives his professional reputation a much-needed boost. Whatever your character’s job might be, you can give them moments of victory (or defeat) that elicit strong emotional reactions.
Try to strike a balance between sharing your expertise and overwhelming the reader – I love it when a book introduces me to a field that I know little about. I recently read an entertaining rom-com called The Astronaut and the Star, where it was clear the writer had done a lot of research about NASA and space exploration. She managed to imbue the story with tidbits of information without bogging down the pace. On the flip side, I’ve also read books where there’s so much detail that I skim through the exposition. Ideally, you want to ground the reader in the main character’s world without making them feel as though they’re sitting through a lecture.
Get rid of the boring parts – Do people need to know about all the paperwork, the lab work, and the dull parts of your characters’ careers? Not unless it plays a key role in the story (e.g. if you’re trying to show the reader how bored/frustrated they are with their current job). In writing about archaeology, I focused on the spectacular fails (like Olivia getting lost during a ground survey or forgetting to lock up the dig site) and the wins (Rick finding that prehistoric site I mentioned), while glossing over the mundane aspects with a few sentences. It’s a novel, not a lab report!
Ask your beta readers for feedback – While I always use beta readers for my romance novels, they were especially important here. In my reader questionnaire for Field Rules, I asked them if any of the archaeological aspects of the book bored or confused them. Quite a few readers wanted to know more about the archaeology, just to clarify certain parts of the story. Getting targeted feedback can help you strike the perfect balance. (More on beta readers here.)
In the end, you’re writing fiction, not fact. But I think it’s possible to keep your story grounded in real life while also keeping your readers entertained.
Carla Luna writes contemporary romance with a dollop of humor and a pinch of spices. A former archaeologist, she still dreams of traveling to far-off places and channels that wanderlust into the settings of her stories. When she’s not writing, she works in a spice emporium where she gets paid to discuss food and share her favorite recipes. Her passions include Broadway musicals, baking, whimsical office supplies, and pop culture podcasts. Though she has roots in Los Angeles and Vancouver Island, she currently resides in Wisconsin with her family and her feisty Siberian cat.
