r/Writeresearch Jan 01 '25

Short Questions Megathread

14 Upvotes

Do you have a small question that you don't think is worth making a post for? Well ask it here!

This thread has a much lower threshold for what is worth asking or what isn't worth asking. It's an opportunity to get answers to stuff that you'd feel silly making a full post to ask about. If this is successful we might make this a regular event.

We did this before branded as a monthly megathread then forgot to make a new one. So maybe this one will be refreshed quarterly? We'll have to wait and see.

Past threads:


r/Writeresearch 43m ago

[Specific Country] question about japan's death row system

Upvotes

so the story i'm writing has a japanese murderer that is put on death row and executed. from what i know about japan's execution system (giving little to no prior notification to the condemned) i assume that the families of the condemned/their victims are also not notified, but what about after the execution? what is the protocol for notifying the families of a murderer and their victims after they are executed in japan?


r/Writeresearch 11h ago

[Psychology] How Would Chronic Pain So Bad that it Makes Anything Pleasurable Seem Dull and Bland Mentally Affect Someone?

4 Upvotes

So, one of my characters has been suffering from chronic pain for several years, and as the title suggests, the pain is so bad that anything that would pleasurable (ie. laundry that's fresh from the dryer, the sensation of running your hand through freshly buzzed hair, your bed when you wake up in the morning, when you're snuggled up in your blanket and your feet feel just the right amount of cold, or snuggling a cat or dog), or really just anything at all, feels like nothing.

Anyway, I was wondering how exactly this sort of thing would affect my character. So far, I'm certain that he'd be facing things like depression and $u1c1d@l [1d3@t10n](mailto:1d3@t10n). Because of this, he's quite envious of others not living in constant pain, and he will sometimes ask someone, "Tell me, [insert name here], how are ya feelin'?"

I just want to know if there's anything else that I should add because I feel like I might be missing something, and I hate leaving things unfinished (In fact, I have to regularly remind myself that I'm still on my first draft so that I can continue actually working on my book). I appreciate any help that can be given.

TL;DR, One of my characters has been living in constant agony for years. Besides depression and certain contemplations, what else would he likely be mentally suffering from because of all that? I want to make sure I'm not missing nor overlooking anything.

Edit: I recently realized that I misread... a lot of things prior to making this post... I apologize for any offense I've caused.


r/Writeresearch 8h ago

Writing the recovery of a bullet wound (or other injury)

2 Upvotes

Within my story, the MC goes unconscious during a fairly modern day adjacent gun fight. I previously had two ideas for the reasoning, one being a bullet wound and the other being a gas released into the air.

I'm very flexible on the "injury" itself, but what is more important to the story is the events that follow. I need MC to begin losing consciousness/awareness within about 5 minutes of the event and to be fully unconscious/unaware within about 10 minutes. At that point, somebody (part of the enemy– as this was semi planned) arrives with the ability to administer basic medical care. She is immediately taken to a medical wing and given treatment enough to recover, but not be completely comfortable. I'm looking at about 1-2 weeks until she is able to function normally, closer to 3-4 weeks until she can be regularly mobile, and about 5-6 weeks until she is able to go back into physical training. I had the idea that during the first 1-3 weeks, her captors are able to bargain with her for information using a pain killer, but I'm not sure about this.

Would love to hear ideas on the injury/action that could line up with all of this and what the week 1-6 recovery following would look like. Thanks in advance!!

(If you saw my other post, this is an updated version to get the answers I need haha, as the last post's comments got stuck on a detail that rightfully needed to be fixed)


r/Writeresearch 5h ago

[Crime] Questions about gang culture within US prisons

0 Upvotes

I'm working on a prison drama comic series located on an American prison, the state will likely be Texas. I have some question regarding prison gangs, which I know are mostly organized among ethnic lines.

Are there non-White supremacist White gangs?

In what gang do White Hispanics normally go? Do they enter Hispanic gangs or White gangs if any?

What about Jewish inmates? Can they enter some of the white supremacist ones, another, non or have their own?

Are there gangs based on religion over race? Like Muslim gangs that would operate on people of different ethnicites as long as they're Muslim?

There's very little information online about Native American gangs, at least compare with other ethnicites. Wonder if there's some input about them that someone can provide.

Do mafia groups likes Russian and Italian mafia maintain a certain gang-like organization or have outright gangs?

Are there any either multi-ethnic or non-ethnically based gangs? Like of political, sexual orientation or social groups.

Thanks in advance and I know I make a lot of question sorry for that. I already have been doing research but this particular topics seem to be evasive on most bibliography. As for example regarding Black, Latino and White supremacist gangs there's plenty of info which make easy the research.


r/Writeresearch 1d ago

[Languages] What type of accent would an immortal from the 1300s have in the modern day?

17 Upvotes

Hi, so I'm writing a novel about a suicidal immortal in Poland, but he's originally from the Holy Roman Empire way back when. Languages evolve over time, so I know he would have originally spoken a form of old German, but because of how language have evolved, I'm not sure what kind of accent he would have in the modern day. I assume he would have an accent of some sort while speaking Polish, but would he have an accent while speaking modern German, just because of the difference between old German and modern German? Is it realistic that I'm taking the approach that his vernacular has evolved to be similar to someone in the present day, because it evolves over time and you pick up what's around you?


r/Writeresearch 16h ago

[Military] How is a US army engineer battalion organized?

0 Upvotes

I was able to find stuff about the 2 engineer companys, but how are the signal, intelligence and HQ/ HQ company organized?

thanks

edit-in a modern infantry brigade


r/Writeresearch 23h ago

[Medicine And Health] Author in need of help regarding writing a character bleeding out

0 Upvotes

I'm writing a story in which one of the characters loses a lot of blood fast– currently the scene is a bullet grazing her thigh/femoral artery. She is recovered fairly quickly and medical aid applied immediately thereafter (current plan is within several minutes, though if there any other ideas that allow for closer to 10-15 minutes, I'd love to hear them!)

My question is, what does the recovery look like in situations like this? In the case of this character, the ones who recovery her are her enemy and hold her captive for interrogation, so any ability to maintain her lack of mobility and functionality for 1-2 weeks is preferred.

Additionally: During this time, the character undergoes interrogation. She has been trained for interrogation procedures and would avoid revealing important information as much as possible, but I do need her to give some away. What are ways that this could be ensured? I'm thinking along the lines of the enemy denying and providing something (like food or a pain drug)

EDIT: Thank you all for all of the wonderful info! I had a sneaking suspicion that the media portrayed femoral artery wounds as very different than they actually are haha, and boy was I right. I also realize my first use of "recovered" doesn't make sense in this context haha. Whoops!

The injury+recovery I am looking for would have her being partially unconscious (either due to pain, lack of blood, or other medical reason) within 5-10 minutes, with somebody being able to administer basic medical care within 10-15 minutes. She would then be immediately taken into a medical unit to have proper care until fully recovered. I'm looking at 1-2 weeks until she is able function, though closer to 4-6 weeks until she can fully be mobile. During the first 1-3 weeks of recovery, I need an idea of a "necessity" they could bargain with her to get information. Previously, I had the idea for it to be an intense pain killer, but I am not sure.


r/Writeresearch 1d ago

[Medicine And Health] Two questions: what are some non lethal injuries one could get in a car accident that still warrant an ambulance ride, and what is the procedure for calling family/allowing visitors after?

0 Upvotes

Location: US

Accident: Character was a rear passenger being driven in an Uber/Lyft. thinking maybe somebody ran a red light.

Age: Mid 20s

Family: Hasn't spoken to parents or husband (whom she's still legally married to but has abandoned for good reasons) in a little over a year.

Other details:

MMC is an old friend who witnesses the car crash, calls 911, and follows FMC to the hospital. She's unconscious when they bring her in. She has been to hospitals in her hometown before, but not the hospital in the state she's visiting where the crash occurs. She got a new phone after leaving her hometown and the only emergency contact in it is her roommate, no family.

Questions: - Since MMC is already there with her, would there be a need to call anyone else? - Would hospital staff be able to see she's married and has family if she hasn't been to that specific hospital before? - What sorts of injuries could she sustain that would land her in there for a night or two without killing or permanently disabling her? - Would MMC be allowed to see her after doctors get her stable, or would only family be allowed? - If only family is allowed, could he lie about being family and get away with it? - Assuming they keep her overnight, is he allowed to sleep in the waiting room like I always see people do in the movies? - She's still on her husband's insurance; would the bill go to his house? Could she go to the billing dept and ask for it to be sent to a different address so her husband doesn't find out she's been there?

I haven't been to hospitals very much (yet lol counting my days) so I have no idea what's typical for visitor protocol. Tried looking it up but info on this is oddly sparse.

As far as the accident goes, I've heard of people coming out of pretty gnarly ones with very minor injuries so I figure I can come up with whatever and just focus on what kinds of injuries she has and how long they keep her in the hospital to treat them. Thank you for your help!


r/Writeresearch 1d ago

[Military] What are the tests like in the Basic Officer Leader Course (BOLC)?

0 Upvotes

I'm writing a scene that involves this, and I've done some research, but I haven't been able to find much information about what the process is actually like. I'd like to know more about the experience of attending BOLC, what the testing is like, and what happens if someone fails a test even though they're otherwise considered a good candidate for becoming an officer.


r/Writeresearch 2d ago

[Medicine And Health] How reasonable is it for someone to set broken bones out in the wilderness?

10 Upvotes

My characters are travelling through the mountains on foot. They get attacked by some monsters and one of them gets his legs broken. Fantasy setting; pre-industrial society with some magical conveniences, (but obviously no "heal broken bones" magic.) They can't go back into town because there are bandits in the way, so basically they have to perform some first aid out in the middle of the wilderness.

Currently I have a sequence written where one character tries to set his bones as best as he can, and then they splint his legs. They make a stretcher to carry him to a safe place, and later he gets a ride into another town to rest up and heal.

Offhand I imagine this should be possible, although there might be some lingering issues once he's healed. The guy doing it may not be a medical professional, but how feasible is it for an amateur to get the bones at least reasonably set? At least good enough so they can safely transport him.

I haven't been specific about how extensive the damage is, apart from describing it as "his legs were twisted like tree roots and there were patches of blood on his pants." But I can make revisions if needed.


r/Writeresearch 1d ago

[Biology] Possible vampire diet? Realistic?

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0 Upvotes

r/Writeresearch 2d ago

[Military] Would a guerrilla army be able to access the nuclear arsenal if they invaded Montana? (FBI, I am just writing a book. Please don't jump through my windows.)

7 Upvotes

Context: A redneck cult in Appalachia tears a hole between Earth and The Other Side while trying to call Stonewall Jackson down from Heaven to help the south rise again. But they inadvertently let a bunch of other people through as well, including some other historical figures that have their own beef with America.

Amidst the chaos of Civil War II, one of these historical figures raises an army and wants to occupy Montana to turn it into their own sovereign nation. And they want to use the nukes stored in the state as a sort of threat to keep America from just charging in and taking the state back.

But, assuming they have scientists and soldiers in their ranks, would they even be able to access these warheads and use them in any conceivable way?


r/Writeresearch 1d ago

[Politics] What are the benefits and weakness of state security and intelligence under the wing of a dedicated Ministry?

2 Upvotes

I'm trying to plan out and structure out my human interstellar space civilisation and specifically I'm planning out the nations security and intelligence. The nations in questions leans authoritarian and I was thinking about having a ministry of state security, which lead to wonder what where some of benefits and weakness of state security and intelligence under the wing of a dedicated Ministry? As seen with the likes of the Soviet Union, China and East Germany? and how does that model contrast some nations more decentralised state security and intelligence agencies.


r/Writeresearch 2d ago

[Medicine And Health] Effects of drug use from an early age?

4 Upvotes

Developing a character who is currently 18, but started doing drugs (including hard drugs) from around the age of 9. At the beginning, he doesn't really do hard drugs and it's mostly alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. Around 11 to 12 he'd start stealing his dad's hard drugs (I'm thinking cocaine mainly) and that's when he starts doing various substances more often. At 15, he starts going to parties and from there he does primary hard drugs regularly (as in almost daily) until he's 18ish.

I'm trying to be logical but I don't know anything about this and researching the topic is not going well. I'm mainly wondering how he would be impacted physically. Quite frankly, I'm curious about if he would even reasonably be a mostly functional human being. I will put him through rehab at 18 or 19!

Sorry this is vague! Like I mentioned before, I'm still developing his character but this is a big thing that I need to figure out before developing him further. I'm also a young and fairly inexperienced writer so please forgive any grammar mistakes!

I put Medicine and Health as the flair, but the psychological aspect is also important, just less so since I have decent grasp on how his mental state would be. I appreciate any information!!


r/Writeresearch 2d ago

[Medicine And Health] How to heal a broken arm?

1 Upvotes

I am writing about a character that has the ability to instruct the body to do things (change blood pressure, send hormones and so on and so forth), but only things it is already capable of doing on its own (grow a new limb is not an option)

He is a doctor; how would he treat someone with a broken arm where the bone is sticking out and the break was only treated with honey for the first 3 days (infected) what would he need to do?

thx

edit:

thank you for every one that answered, I now have more then enogth information :)


r/Writeresearch 2d ago

[History] (1730s) what were the British Royal Navy protocols when encountering a wrecked ship and survivors?

5 Upvotes

So the scene is: British naval frigate is escorting a Duke on their flagship. But on the way they encounter a wrecked/endangered ship with survivors begging for help. What was their procedure? This is a single royal navy vessel rather than a fleet. Would they feel inclined to lend assistance. What are the procedures?

(Playing a bit fast and loose with some dates at present so any procedure that was established between 1730-1780ish would work)


r/Writeresearch 1d ago

[World-Building] Will the World really be a destroyed barren land after WWIII as many sci-fies show?

0 Upvotes

Like The 'War to end all wars' and its even larger sequel all happened within about 50 years.

Was it the deadliest of conflicts in human history? Yes

Did it 'destroy' the world? Nah...

Ofc they didn't have Nuclear Weapons.

  1. If a war was to go nuclear today, all major cities of involved countries will be reduced to nothing.

But would that technically 'destroy' human civilization? Like rid life from all land? Or only put the major cities out of commission?

Would our technology really rollback to the meadival times? How long can it make the surviving human population stay there before we progress back to our current position anyway?

  1. And historically, World Wars were really European wars with the rest of the world dragged into it cause of colonies accross the map. Lateron powerful empires like Japan joined.

Until the USSR, the WWIII was seen as an ultimate future fight between USA (Western Individualism) and USSR (Socialism-Communism). Now that USSR is gone, what exactly could be that causes any war to escalate into an World War?

Also, won't most countries (now independent) be mostly neutral? Like not even a third block, just majority countries in Africa, Indo-Asia, etc?

  1. Finally, a nuclear winter. The apocalypse of our time. Radioactivity everywhere. Stretches of barren land, mutated life, a global darkness and perpetual winter.

Like I can imagine that if every part of the world would have a Hydrogen Bomb dropped on them....but that's not how a war would really be fought....


r/Writeresearch 2d ago

[Law] Realism regarding fictional character released from prison

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3 Upvotes

r/Writeresearch 3d ago

[Biology] Death from throat beinng slit

7 Upvotes

So I want one of my characters to die from having their throat slit, but I don't know how to do it realistically. I heard it can take quite a long time for someone to die from a slit throat but how long? And I know it depends on if a major artery was cut or not but what is the difference in time until bleeding out between cutting a major artery and missing it but still slitting that person's throat? And if you don't hit a major artery can you still do things or do you just collapse and lie on the floor or are you more capable of movement and saving yourself? I also want my character to be snuck up from behind and then have their throat slit, with the killer still standing behind them and they never see the killer face. How do I write that realistically? 
 

Edit: To specify what i want for my character in this death scene is that they check on something and once they see that it is there let their guard down completely and relax and then the thief, who has killed before but I wouldn't call them an experienced killer and who is unstable sneaks up behind them and slits their throat, I want to be able to write and describe his feelings as he bleeds or chokes (on his own blood) to death, I want the death by sloat slitting as it fits my story even though a bullet  to the stomach properly would have been easier, but I also felt like its a bit to common and although this is not a rare death in movies and tv i would say it is more uncommon. I wanted to know how long I could write the dialogue, if only a few words or more complex thoughts were possible to be thought of when dying like this but all of this has helped me a lot and be free to tell me more with this extra information in thought.


r/Writeresearch 3d ago

[Medicine And Health] How were mental issues (depression, anxiety, etc.) treated in the 70s-80s?

3 Upvotes

Should also add the [Specific Time Period] flair but oh well. I’m really curious about this one.

So for context, the main character in my story had depression around late 1970s. I want to expand on how they got help during that time. In the early 1980s, they’ve healed but their darker thoughts still lingers around in their mind.

I’ve read articles and threads talking about how mental health problems weren’t discussed that much and people had to repress them…which tells me that my character won’t be getting help that easy since mentally ill people were often misunderstood and treated harshly during those times.

Any thoughts or experiences whether it’s personal or it’s from parents, grandparents, etc.? I’d love to know. Also feel free to correct me!


r/Writeresearch 4d ago

[Food] Bakers, what are some beginner mistakes that would make baking a cake fail spectacularly?

41 Upvotes

I'm writing a scene where my main character bakes a cake for the very first time, and I need the cake to be VISIBLY bad once it gets out of the oven.

The character is a pretty precise person, so she won't do things like getting the wrong ingredients or failing to preheat the oven, as the recipe would surely mention that.

Overmixing the batter could work; so would using cold ingredients (resulting in even more overmixing); she could also open the oven door too often, making the cake fall.

But I'm not sure these mistakes would actually result in a cake that is unmistakably wrong. Like "batter didn't rise and has turned into a rock-solid plate" wrong.

I'm not set on the type of cake, but I was thinking of a one-layer chocolate cake (she's smart enough not to attempt a multi layer cake). But if there are other types of cakes that could prove to be more insidious to inexperienced bakers, I would have no problem switching to one of those.

Thank you in advance for your advice!


r/Writeresearch 3d ago

[Weapons] Could you stab someone with a very sharp rock?

0 Upvotes

So i'm writing a fantasy story and one of the character's ability is manipulating stone (he has to ability to pull large rocks out of the ground and create rock walls). I thought about how this character could kill somebody and it came to my mind that maybe he could pull out a really sharp, big rock from underneath another character to stab them through the stomach, piercing them, would that work?


r/Writeresearch 4d ago

[Medicine And Health] Progatonist stabbed in right arm and ultimately pierced lung? Thoughts?

0 Upvotes

I changed up the final scene between my protagonist and the knife-wielding bad guy. If he stabs he rin the upper right shoulder near the deltoid while she's trying to fight him off, will that immobilize her arm? Would she still be able to move around (as far as running or kicking him) on adrenaline even as her right arm is imcapacitated?

He will also managed to stab her in the back, again, closer to the upper right back (as she was pushing herself through the RF shielding door using her left side) and he stappers once more in the upper right area, but this time stabbing her from the back and piercing the lung. is this realistic? Or is she automatically down? I have it that she has one more burst of energy to stop him before the pneumothorax starts to take over -- or should I go with another injury?