Did someone say Research?

Researching for a new piece of writing can be as simple as looking at a map and as complicated as using the map.  When traveling to the place you are writing about isn't possible it's time to turn to what others have written.  While I use the internet I also know that about 50% of what is on the internet is crap with no basis in fact and no reference to reality.  Why do I say this?  Because the "I read it on the internet so it must be true" meme is based in that reality. Without the capability to follow the logic in some form of annotation such as footnotes or a bibliography question your source be it in print, face to face contact or on the internet.  Wikipedia by the way is not a good source.  Why does everyone from your English teacher to me say that?  Because anyone can and will update Wikipedia; this gives it questionable content.

My favorite place to verify what I find on a Google search that doesn't have a backstory to it?  Right back on Google. If all of the "facts" lead right back to the original author then sadly it's time to start over. Without independent verification the facts are not real. Unless you are writing Science Fiction or Alternative History it's best to have your facts straight.

Why do you (or I) do all of this? To make our story more believable. If you are writing about Christmas in Australia you should probably know it happens in the middle of their summer not winter. It hurts the believably of a story for it to have a glaring error that isn't explained. If in your AH Australia is now in the Northern Hemisphere it would make since for Australia to have Christmas in winter, in our world not so much.

I have a new and excellent source for my research:  The Oxford Press, combine this with your local interlibrary loan program and you are going to know everything about EVERYTHING! Currently I am researching for my NaNoWriMo book "Live" and I am reading about Ancient Egypt, China and Greece; Medicine, Farming and Preaching; New Orleans, Mexico City, and London.  The background I give myself now will fill my book with authentic details so that when the story happens people are following it and thinking about it.

If you do know something to be true or you are an expert in a field then, of course, you don't need to research it...or do you? Sometimes double checking your facts doesn't hurt.  My family has bred and shown dogs for over 40 years.  My Mother worked as a vet tech for a significant portion of that time. If I am working on a story about dogs there are going to be parts I can and will write about with complete confidence. Those parts do not need to be double checked, I KNOW them. Then there are the parts I know, or think I do. If there is even a little bit of uncertainty then you should double check your facts.

Here's a great thing about fiction that turns all of what I have written on it's ear:  It's NOT supposed to be true.  If a fact doesn't align with your story AND you can give a plausible reason in your story that it is not true in your world then who cares?  If you don't have a plausible reason but it doesn't jar the story then who cares? Just remember that the person who cares could be a reader or worse a publisher.

Love what I am doing and want to see more?  I am now on Patreon.

Writing Resources

I write fiction.  Occasionally fiction of some epic-ness, but mostly just fantasy fiction.  I don't do it to any renown, but I think I have done it well in the past.  Today I am going to leave you with some writing words of wisdom.  Some I pass down from writers I have and haven't met and some I learned myself.

1. Writers write.  Find the time.  It is there.  Do you have time to record something during your commute?  THEN DO IT.  Today we have more tools available to write, so do it.  Take the 5, 10 or even more minutes a day and write.  Stay up a little late, wake up a little early. Eat a sandwich from home at lunch and type in your tablet.  Writers write.  If you aren't writing you are always going to be wanting to write and never an author.  Take advantage of NaNoWriMo in November. They start prep soon so go on over and sign up now.  I will even be your writing buddy.  Look for "FluffyFox."  I will be there with tails on.

2. Research is your best friend.  Know more than you will ever need about what you are writing about so that when you do need it you know it.  More informs characters and interactions than just your imagination.  It is also what will help get  you out of a rut 9 times out of 10.  Start writing background/backdrop stuff and watch the character interactions happen.  The internet makes this easier, but don't forget that old standby-the library!

3. Use the tools that are out there.  Number one resource for me?  The Hero with a Thousand Faces  by Joseph Campbell.  This book of Jungian archetypes helps me create story from the character out.  Every. Single. Time.
Other great books include religious texts, geographical texts, myths, folklore, even fashion journals.  Find the things that are going to make your world alive, not just your characters.  There is plenty on the internet, but go above and beyond that.  If there is someone who is an expert in the field and you can speak to them, then do so.

4. Are you stuck?  READ!  Reading helps you to get back to the basics.  Be unique, but take some time to read similar works when you are stuck, if only so you don't trod the well worn path.

5. Use proofreaders. You are going to be so used to your manuscript that the words are going to bleed together, have people read your work.  Have them comb through it with the proverbial fine toothed comb.  They will find things you have missed time and again.  That plot line in chapter 5 you forgot to wrap up, the character's name changing twice, that sentence that completely changes tense...yeah you will miss that because you know what you mean.
     5.1 Use proofreaders who are not afraid of you.  Husbands/Wives and children (especially minor children) do NOT fall into this category.
     5.2 Don't give them a reason to be afraid of you.  Take constructive criticism.  You asked for it so listen to it.  You can walk away and never do anything with it, but don't snap their heads off because they dare say your baby is flawed.  Give thanks that they aren't a publisher and fix the clerical errors for sure, leave the rest if it is a part of your story...but get the honest critique and THANK them for it!

Remember you are doing what you love and love doing it.  If you don't, stop.  Writing is an exercise that is often tedious if you aren't loving it.  So don't make it tedious.  Ask questions.  Answer them. Smile. Writers are often called masochists because what we love often treats us poorly, let's see if we can kill that perception off okay?

You have been good, you get a cat photo!

Love what I am doing and want to see more?  I am now on Patreon.