Bloody Research

[WonderandAwe]

I am running into a few road blocks with my research on my current writing project (I would say novel but I only got two chapters so far). 

Where do you go to get information on "taboo" subjects?  I'm not really talking about alterntive sex lifestyles, but more of "What is the best way to crack open the skull to get to the brain?" and stuff like that.  It's sort of hard to find information on that on the internet. 

Also, fighting and stuff.  Where do you go for inspiration for writing such scenes?  I'm planning on taking a trip soon to the local university library to do research about it.  Is this a good idea or should I look at current works already written?

[waywardclam]

Do martial arts, or fencing, or join the SCA, for info on fighting.

For the weird stuff... I usually drop into a writers' chat room.  You wouldn't BELIEVE the questions that get asked at Forward Motion's Think Tanks. 

[the neurovore of Zur-En-Aargh]

Where do you go to get information on "taboo" subjects?  I'm not really talking about alternative sex lifestyles, but more of "What is the best way to crack open the skull to get to the brain?"

If I were looking for that, I'd start from cookery; people do fry calves' brains, for example. Or alternatively from surgery.

[Amber]

You could potentially ask a doctor or medical examiner sort of person about the weird stuff.

[Sara Dennis]

There's a fantastic group on Yahoo called crimescenewriter that was started as a resource for people to ask medical and/or crime scene questions for use in their fiction books. All free, and there are a number of professionals or former professionals there. I believe that Wally, the owner, is a retired CSI.

You can join it here: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/crimescenewriter/

[LizW65]

If you happen to know anyone in law enforcement, they could probably give you some information on weapons and how bodies react to various types of violence, and also point you in the direction of a local forensics lab.  Also, I found this link to the (in)famous Body Farm:

www.deathsacre.com/

-Liz

[waywardclam]

On the subject of books, there are several available in my store (and presumably in others) with titles like "The Science of CSI", etc., and another one called "Stiff" which explores forensics on bodies.  Drop by your local store and look in the True Crime section to see if they have anything like that.

[terioncalling]

Can't really give anything helpful but your question about cracking skulls to get to brains reminded me of the scene in Hannibal where he's frying the agent or whatever's brains and casually pulls the top of his skull off, having sawed through it earlier.

I usually take fight scene inspiration from movies and books with nice good one's.

[WonderandAwe]

Can't really give anything helpful but your question about cracking skulls to get to brains reminded me of the scene in Hannibal where he's frying the agent or whatever's brains and casually pulls the top of his skull off, having sawed through it earlier.

I usually take fight scene inspiration from movies and books with nice good one's.

For that particular question, I am working on a zombie project.  One of the ideas I had to get to the brain was to poke two fingers into the eye sockets and rip the top of the skull off. You would use the face as leverage for this, but I don't think the facial structure is strong enough for this.  It might just collapse. 

[terioncalling]

For that particular question, I am working on a zombie project.  One of the ideas I had to get to the brain was to poke two fingers into the eye sockets and rip the top of the skull off. You would use the face as leverage for this, but I don't think the facial structure is strong enough for this.  It might just collapse. 

Neat!  And an interesting way to get to the brain.  I dunno, isn't facial structure usually pretty strong?  Maybe the area just under the eyes down to the mouth wouldn't be able to take it but I'd think the rest would.  Then again, I could be entirely wrong.

[Paige]

For that particular question, I am working on a zombie project.  One of the ideas I had to get to the brain was to poke two fingers into the eye sockets and rip the top of the skull off. You would use the face as leverage for this, but I don't think the facial structure is strong enough for this.  It might just collapse. 

Yeah, I think if you don't saw through the skull first, hooking fingers through the eye sockets will more likely rip the whole head from the neck. Now, what might work is if the zombie rips the head off then flips it over and rips the jaw off (simple hinge would break easy) then kind of scoop the brain out from the bottom. I dunno, I'd have to look at a skull to make sure. 
Anyway, here's a good sight for bizarre anatomy type questions. Specifically for writers.
http://www.dplylemd.com/

Good luck!!

[Dom]

For police stuff, I'm subscribed to the ask_a_cop community on livejournal.