The running joke about if someone checks your browser history and act worried just tell them that you’re a writer. It’s okay. You were researching a story.
For me, this was foremost in mind when I was researching a romantic suspense book and I needed to know who investigated plane crashes and the nearest FBI office to a certain area. I used Google Maps to look at terrain, to check jurisdiction, and to see the process for investigating plane crashes and plane sabotage. Obviously, it was for a book, but it sure made me wonder about “big brother”.
For my fantasy I do a lot of Latin translations on Google Translate and my browser history is bit more tame. Sure, I’ve downloaded open source ethics textbooks because I would love to create a book on the ethics of magic for my world, but while that is a bit of esoteric research, it’s also just the sort of thing writers would do.
I do like your opening thought because I Do wonder who sees my search history and what must go through their heads. Happy IWSG Day 🙂
Plane sabotage – yeah, that might have pinged somebody’s radar!
Let’s just hope they don’t think you’re summoning anything with all that Latin!
I’m sure we’re all being watched!
🙂
HMG
That would definitely be a google alert search! But, it’s necessary to know how things work when we’re writing, so we boldly go to the search engine and find out, right?
Or, the next best thing might be to talk to someone at a small air field – the pilots are often their own mechanics and often have a good understanding of how planes work.
I hadn’t thought of using Google maps for something like that. Thanks for the idea and thanks for joining the IWSG 1st Wednesday.
We should start a group fund to cover legal fees and bail costs should a writer ever get arrested for their search history. LOL
LOL, I agree with Alex that might garner some attention. The Latin sound interesting and browser history might be quite interesting if we could look at whoever we wanted history. Happy Belated IWSG. <a href="https://www.junetakey.com//"<Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
Install a search engine wiping tool to get rid of any trace of previous searches. My searches are weirder and weirder every day. Thankfully I don’t get caught doing this at work. I mean, poor writers working and suddenly having an idea. Got to mark it down somewhere. Got to do a quick search. Ouch! I can feel that. Have a great IWSG day!
We all need to start using incognito tabs and clearing our browser history every few hours!
The plane crash research sounds interesting!
lol yeah, messing with a plane may get you a few added eyeballs from big brother.