The trouble with research

As Scully and Muldaur used to say, "The truth is out there," and that's one of the downsides of research: You learn the truth.

I'm going to skip right over the political implications of this - and yet those are the BIGGEST reasons to do the research. But moving right along...

I've learned a lot of things during my writing career. I've interviewed firemen. I've interviewed policemen. I've interviewed my doctor. All in the interest of "getting it right." But how do you do the research when the subject matter is gray to start with (this question from my buddy, Sarah). The answer? I interview people who have had "close encounters," and I watch television programs and YouTube videos claiming to show ghostly encounters. I traveled to Savannah in search of ghost stories/encounters. Maybe its something to do with being paid to tell you ghost stories (or the tour guide just lacked the ability to spin a good yarn) versus someone relating their experiences, but I only heard one "interesting" ghost story in Savannah, and that was on my historical tour rather than my ghost tour. 

While writing Horned Owl Hollow, I reached out to a local Paranormal Investigator (PI), but we kept missing connections. So I did research into his business to get his credentials while I was waiting to speak with him. I was a little leery when I found a YouTube video of him in his car OUTSIDE the mansion I toured that inspired Horned Owl Hollow. His comment? "I'd love to get inside this house. I bet its haunted." Welp, I DID get inside that house, and if I can, so can he. So much for his credentials. So when we couldn't make connections, I "noped" pursuing that interview. Instead, I interviewed someone with "Elspeth's" job and got a bunch of good, first-hand ghost stories. 

When I got to The Jane Doe Ghost, I interviewed a more "reputable" ghost hunter, Noah at Paranormal Investigators of Milwaukee. The reputable label indicates he applies science. Does the research. We had a very interesting conversation during which I asked him to explain away the ghost stories I'd heard/seen. Unfortunately (the trouble with research, after all), he did pop my bubble on several spooky things I'd personally witnessed, and explained away many of the things I'd found in videos or on tv shows. Nevertheless, he remains optimistic, even after twenty years in the business, that he will encounter the real thing. He said he's been close enough to hold onto his belief that we are not alone. 

As I continue with my ghostly series, I searched out more ghost stories, and found a new video uploaded from the guy I noped on. He did a ghost stake-out that he (and his team) did. It was mildly interesting. I didn't think too much of it - it reminded me of the guy he told me he hoped to emulate, Zak Bagans. For the record, I've watched several of Zak Bagans' shows, and he has grown increasingly over the top. The movie he made was creepy - props to him for that, but his shows? Overacting. Leading his interviewees. Emphasizing what he wants his audience to take note of rather than subtly leading them to draw their conclusions. 

Maybe I'm oversaturated.

Getting back to my point here. Noah at PI of Milwaukee posted a video the other day from a ghost debunker. I love these guys, even if they burst my bubble. 😉 The funny part was he directly addressed one of the techniques the Nope Guy used in his stake-out - a flashlight that turns on and off (which was the mildly interesting part of that investigation). The debunker is Mythos Paranormal, and if you want to watch (or just listen to his delicious Scots accent for twenty minutes), you can check him out here. 

Has all the research spoiled me for ghost stories? No. Like my buddy, Noah, I've had some experiences that defy explanation and can't be debunked (at least so far). I've talked to people with first-hand encounters that send shivers up your spine. I enjoy a good ghost story, even if it's for entertainment purposes only. For those reasons, I'll likely keep writing ghost stories because, true or not, I like a good chill up my spine!