If you’re a sane human being (i.e., not a writer), you
probably had one of two reactions after reading that title:
1. What
the heck is she talking about?
2. How
in the world does she know that?
But here’s the thing… In order to get a real answer to
either of those questions, you probably have to ask an insane human being
(i.e., a writer). Your only other option is to find an actual kidnapping
victim.
So yes, I’ll admit I duct taped my ankles together while
I was writing “The Politician’s Pawn.” I would have duct taped my wrists too,
but I found that was physically impossible no matter how many ways I tried to work
it out.
Oh, the struggles we writers have to go through for our
art.
That’s the thing though… I was writing about someone
being kidnapped and tied up, two experiences I had no understanding of. And
while I wasn’t about to go out looking for someone to kidnap me (this little
writer isn’t THAT insane), I could at least partially solve the problem of the
duct tape without causing myself any serious harm.
So I went for it. So what?
Honestly, I don’t understand why people look at me like
I’m crazy when I admit this. It’s not even close to the dumbest thing I did
while researching these stories. In fact, it’s downright tame compared to what
I wanted to try out for Books 2 and 3 (more about that later).
Moreover, because I duct taped my ankles, I learned
something very valuable… If you’re sitting on a couch – or presumably a
Suburban seat – with duct taped ankles, you can’t draw your legs up to your
chest. Can you imagine how embarrassingly inaccurate it would have been if I
hadn’t sought out the truth for myself and written otherwise!
I know I’d rather not.
So really then, what I’m trying to say is you’re welcome.
