As authors, we sometimes write about things that we don’t necessarily agree with. So our search history can range from bloodthirsty to bizarre (it’s just research, we swear!)
I thought it would be fun to share some of the more weird questions I’ve asked Google in the name of writerly research.
What do you call the chairs they use in nursing homes?
I wanted to know if those special covered, urine-repellent chairs had a name. I still don’t know. I tend to make the mistake of asking Google direct questions, rather than just chucking keywords at it. As a result, I’m so specific it doesn’t understand me.
Another word for… insert whatever word we need a synonym for rather than just reaching for a thesaurus…
Honestly, I’ve lost count of all the times I’ve asked Google for synonyms. I do have a thesaurus as well. I just never use it.
How to throw a javelin.
One of the characters in my latest novel is a highly-proficient thrower of the javelin. Thanks to Google, I now have a basic knowledge of how to stand and how to best throw the spear.
If you’re a writer, what’s the most obscure thing you’ve ever Googled?