Going Pro

If you decide your draft could benefit from a more specialized review, either in certain passages or for plot or character elements that occur throughout the book, subject matter experts, or SMEs, can often cut down the research you'll need to do and provide more specific feedback on your story. SME is not an official title or degree but a recognition of specific skills that may be helpful as you’re revising your book. According to the job site Indeed.com, "Subject matter experts, or SMEs, are authorities in their field who can provide expertise to fill knowledge gaps on a project or within a company. Although many professionals today undergo cross-training in several areas, SMEs are in great demand because of their deep understanding of their chosen field."

SMEs often have years of formal education or training and firsthand experience within their field. As you're searching for SMEs related to a topic, look first at contacts in your community who are already recognized as successful in their field from awards they received or press notices. Do you have friends, neighbors, or relatives with unique skill sets related to your story? Then turn to books or articles in your targeted field; who is writing them? What topics and people are trending on social media that tie into the details you're researching?

You might wonder how to approach these experts, but many like to provide explanations or describe their field of expertise to someone else. Introduce yourself as an author working on a short story or novel and explain the questions you're hoping to answer. If your introductory email or phone call mentions some aspect of their writing or website that drew you in, your SME might be eager to assist. Flattery often works! And if you run into someone who is too busy to reply or is a curmudgeon, don't be discouraged; move on to others on your list.

Tips for your SME Search

Once you have identified your SMEs, keep the following tips in mind to make sure your discussions provide the answers you need.

1. Know who you're talking to. Review their website, if any. Peruse any books or magazine articles written recently, and explore any online appearances such as on YouTube, Instagram, or local or national media appearances. You'll know better the questions to ask them and maybe get a few of the more obvious details cleared up before you reach out.
2. Prepare a list of questions for your contact. Make sure you're organized and know what you want to ask ahead of time. You may think you won't forget, but it can be easy to get sidetracked in a conversation, and there's nothing worse than hanging up the call and realizing you forgot to check the most important detail in your story.
3. Prepare a script that explains your reasons for reaching out to them. Phone calls work, but email may be preferred for its flexibility. If you're calling or meeting in person, suggest several options for your contact time to allow them to schedule a time convenient for them.
4. Be respectful. Keep the conversation short and to the point. If you can, set up a Zoom call that would define your time parameters.

Pro Tip: If you wish to record their responses, get their permission in advance. This isn’t just good etiquette; depending on where you live, disclosing that you’re recording a conversation may be a legal requirement.

5. Follow up. Be gracious and thank them for their time and knowledge, and follow up with a written response. Tell them when or where your work will be published if you can, so they can look at it or cite it later. Ask if you can reach out later, should additional clarifications be necessary. Know that you may also reach out to additional experts; you are not limited to just one.
6. Give credit where it's due. Beyond thanking your SME personally, it may be a nice gesture to shout them out in your book's acknowledgments. Here are some sample acknowledgments to give you an idea.
   In her bestselling novel about nurses who served in the Vietnam War, The Women, Kristin Hannah thanked the many nurses she consulted about their experiences by name, saying in part, “You truly are an inspiration,” “Thank you for taking the time to read and critique an early draft and answer questions,” and “Thank you for sharing personal photographs and memories.”
   In her Cozy Mystery set in Puerto Rico, Barbacoa, Bombas, and Betrayal, author Raquel V. Reyes acknowledges the cooks of that island who inspired her and taught her local cooking traditions.
   A more formal recognition was made in the epic biography American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by authors Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, who acknowledged their SMEs by saying: “We are indebted to several eminent scholars who took the time to carefully read early versions of our manuscript. Jeremy Bernstein, also an Oppenheimer biographer, is an accomplished physicist and writer who did his best to correct our wrong-headed apprehensions of quantum physics.”

Of course, after your interview with your SME, you might need to make changes in your manuscript to correct any deficiencies or descriptions revealed by your newly gained information. But the result will be a stronger, more believable story for your readers to devour. So, indie author, start your search. Using the tips above should make it easier.

Sharon Kay Dooley