Category Archives: Uncategorized

A miscarriage is often a traumatizing event in a woman’s life. They are also extremely common – nearly 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage. And yet, miscarriage is a taboo subject, rife with misunderstandings. If you are writing a story where a character miscarries, I hope you do your research, avoid the tropes, and […]

Writers love wounding their characters – and not just emotionally. Any wound that penetrates the protective barrier of the skin can get infected. Wound infections are a great way for writers to up the stakes, making a previously minor wound suddenly becomes life-threatening. But there are some important parameters writers should know. 1) How long […]

The short answer is that psychiatrists treat people with mental disorders using medications, while psychologists treat people using psychotherapy. This is a gross overgeneralization, of course, but I wanted to get it out there. For more detail, see below. Psychiatrist   A psychiatrist is a medical doctor. They go to medical school and complete residency like […]

Visiting Hours & Restrictions Most hospitals have moved to open visitation hours, meaning anyone can visit at any time. Studies have shown that allowing visitors increased recovery time, reduces anxiety, and improves overall wellbeing. For this reason, many hospitals have incorporated comfortable chairs and even sofa-beds into their rooms, allowing a family member to stay […]

Answer: Pretty much anything. I know that isn’t a very satisfying answer but hear me out. The extent of your character’s injuries depends on so many factors that I, without intimate knowledge of your story, can’t reasonably tell you the exact extent of the injuries your character might acquire. Let’s say your character gets stabbed […]

With record-breaking, 100+ degree temperatures here in the PNW, I figured I’d share an excerpt from my WIP, a ‘Writer’s Guide Modern Medicine.’ This is part of a chapter titled “Environmental Emergencies.’ As always, the information contained on this website is meant for WRITERS. It is not medical advice and should not be used as […]

Disclaimer: This article is NOT meant as medical advice. It is solely for the purpose of helping writers write about medicine, and is not a substitute for medical care or advice. Please don’t sue me. Great question! Luckily for you, the answer is pretty much that you get to decide. People with a mild allergy […]

Q: What does chemo/radiation feel like? My character has colorectal cancer. Last week, we tackled the chemotherapy end of this question. This week, let’s take a deeper look at radiation therapy. Part 2: Radiation Therapy The short answer is that radiation doesn’t feel like anything. We experience radiation every day from the sun, space, the […]

What does chemo/radiation feel like? What a great – and difficult – question, thanks for asking! I bet there are a lot of writers out there who are wondering the exact same thing. I’ll start out with a disclaimer: I’ve never had chemotherapy or radiation myself, so I can’t speak personally to how it feels. […]

The Question What condition could lead to a baby being born without a full limb? Is it a question of genetics in the parents (one or both) or a condition in the womb? My character has a son whose arm ends a few inches past the elbow. He is seven at the start of the […]