Writing Tips to Create a Believable Medical Fiction

From the classic Grey’s Anatomy to House or New Amsterdam, most of the population would have had a phase where they can’t get enough of the good ‘ol medical dramas. Whether it’s a highly realistic TV series or believable medical fiction, such an interest can be deemed a little bit weird if one thinks about it. Why would you be closely tuning in to tragic accidents and the nurses and doctors scrambling to save people’s lives?

But why not, right?

There should be some compounded psychological motivation as to why some enjoy watching what others may deem boring or complicated. But to cut explanations short, it all boils down to the drama and excitement. It’s not like these shows only appeal to professionals or students.

They won’t even get much knowledge from most episodes. Instead, they’re catered to, feeding viewers with tension, heartaches, and drama they can’t get enough of.

From the mess down to winning moments of lives being rescued, these erratic shows ironically help viewers unwind after stressful days. Hence, it’s no wonder why there’s a constant influx of these materials in modern entertainment.

How Is Medical Accuracy Achieved in These Shows?

With their rampant and never-ceasing success, the next question isn’t how long these shows will continue to exist. Instead, it should be on how authenticity and accuracy are maintained, especially with the complexity of the concepts they’re trying to tackle.

People commonly consume these materials because of the drama. The medical jargon and processes only come second. However, the moment there appear to be some errors, apparent ones, these shows run the risk of losing their sparks. Fortunately, these medical shows don’t carelessly go on about their episodes and write scripts as they go. Instead, like any other creatives, they also go through hours of research to get things right and hire medical advisors to ensure they’re only showing the right stuff.

These additional processes guarantee viewers that what they see is close to what happens in real life. However, these procedures can only be done with the right budget and more than enough time. How about authors who want to write believable medical fiction? When time is of the essence, and they can’t hire medical advisors to stick close and help them write, how can they achieve accuracy?

When Experience Is Absent, Research Is Every Author’s Friend

Authors typically write from their experience. That’s how they get their most authentic and vulnerable insights that serve as a foundation for meaningful outcomes.

However, when it comes to writing believable medical fiction unless they’re doctors enjoying a pastime passion, authors can’t rely on experience. When writing medical novels, the question writers would likely get revolves around their competency. It’s not about how well they write or how compelling their storytelling is. Instead, they would be critiqued on how well they can stick to technically correct narratives and realistic processes.

The world of medicine and the whole hospital system can be confusing even to medical students and professionals with years of exposure to these matters. So, how can authors gain credibility to craft believable medical fiction?

Author Dee Bostic is among those who have dabbled in this genre. In Love, Lies & Lab Coats, a medical novel series by Dee Bostic, the author takes her readers to a world where science and romance co-exist. Like other fictional medical materials, the book focuses primarily on the intricacies of human life and social interactions; the story still includes some medical events that should be written thoroughly.

Writing believable medical fiction can be tricky. It doesn’t matter if it’s set in a fictional world. No reader would be captivated and interested in finishing one that’s carelessly written.

So, how should authors approach this genre?

How to Write Believable Medical Fiction?

Whether it’s a scenario weaved within hundreds of pages or other life-centered conflicts, authors should still be mindful when writing medical information. This is the only way to achieve believable medical fiction. Unlike writing fantasy or other alternate-dimension stories, these are typically set in the real world. Hence, they call for realistic portrayals.

The doctor is in!

Rely on Good and Correct Resources

Before authors get to the nitty-gritty of their stories, they’ve usually already completed a thorough layer of research to prepare for what’s to come. In writing believable medical fiction, they must already consider what aspect of the medical field they’ll incorporate into their story and look into it.

Will there be any mention of any illnesses? If so, what should be the symptoms? Will there be any treatments and chance of recovery?

These are among the common questions authors should consider early in their writing journey, especially regarding complicated materials. For medical information, they can either talk to a professional for advice. But if they don’t have any connection to anyone, they can look into reliable medical websites for reference and research about what they should incorporate in their story.

Websites like WebMD or the MayoClinic offer various information about different illnesses and medical facts they can study and weave into their story.

Never Focus Too Much on the Drama

Since authors are writing medical novels, they would often want to add as much heartbreak and agony into the story. But this shouldn’t (always) be the case. While some believable medical fiction can successfully add death and tragedy to the story, authenticity is the only matter to consider. Is the whole storyline and progress of the illness realistic for readers to lean towards?

Creating tension and drama in medical novels doesn’t mean authors can have all the liberty to manipulate the truths and consequences of the field. Instead, they must still stick to the truth. They can always research similar cases and look for ways to alter them to fit their narrative better.

Stick to the Objective

Every story has an objective, regardless of what genre it is. To write believable medical fiction, authors should organize the reason behind their book and what their aim for it is. Are they writing to add as many unique medical information as possible? Are they writing a medical thriller? What would the protagonist get at the end? All of these and more should already be planned beforehand.

Like every genre, authors should ensure they won’t get lost, away from their objective midway. They can branch out into various subplots, but the story’s central point should be clear, especially to the readers. Crafting a story from a field that’s already confusing will be a challenge. But with enough research and thorough preparation, nothing will be too complicated to continue.

If you’re interested in reading Dee Bostic’s story and discovering how she’s successfully woven the medical field into a compelling fictional narrative, grab a copy of her book now!