tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post4274271523048196089..comments2023-10-31T10:12:37.109-06:00Comments on Working My Muse: Research - How Much Should We Do?Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07823808700523297184noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post-91480397377005153162009-06-05T12:14:03.020-06:002009-06-05T12:14:03.020-06:00I would agree with the other people here who said ...I would agree with the other people here who said you need to do as much as you can to ground the story in reality and still make the story fly. I think the real danger can sometimes be adding too much detail rather than too little. But you still need to do that extra research because you need to know what your characters know, even if they never say/observe it in the end.<br /><br />But don'Jade @ Tasting Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06079792384434022728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post-25017705036191153252009-06-01T13:45:36.140-06:002009-06-01T13:45:36.140-06:00Eric, I had to do a lot of research for my book th...Eric, I had to do a lot of research for my book that I'm finishing up wit now. Two young girls lost in the mountains. I researched what goes on when there is someone lost in the woods in a community, rattlesnakes, opossums, raccoons, bobcats, and the list goes on. It wasn't as time consuming as I thought, but it still took time away from the actual writing. I had to say, "Enough is enough and Robyn Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17356555082768185840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post-47080358229822946382009-06-01T02:17:20.767-06:002009-06-01T02:17:20.767-06:00That is a grippingly interesting post. Off the top...That is a grippingly interesting post. Off the top of my head I go along with Beth: if it's fiction we re talking about, you need only enough to build a believable world. Maybe you can have too much. I have twice (at least) produced work )poems) which were totally out of the imagination, though based on stories which are part of our heritage and known to most (I would have thought,) but which Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post-22632664597373384622009-05-31T18:30:46.326-06:002009-05-31T18:30:46.326-06:00My case may be a little different, because my nove...My case may be a little different, because my novel is historical fiction. But I have four years of research into Crossroads at Brandy Station. The funny thing is that I only used about a fourth of it. But I had to understand it in order to get into character. If I could do it over again, I wouldn't change a thing.Clementinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08745982305618408952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post-86188442258196338982009-05-30T07:17:24.665-06:002009-05-30T07:17:24.665-06:00I think you have to have researched enough for it ...I think you have to have researched enough for it to become a natural part of what you're writing - so that it doesn't look 'put in'. So, for example, in historical fiction it has to appear as if you've actually lived during that time. Of course you can't know everything, but it has to appear that way.<br /><br />The key is, I think, not to go overboard. I once read an unpublished story in which Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06949383007237428146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post-62908761887230208842009-05-29T22:31:52.122-06:002009-05-29T22:31:52.122-06:00Haha, this is why I like fantasy best (although I ...Haha, this is why I like fantasy best (although I will try a contemporary work soon enough), because research is virtually unnecessary in some cases. It's not that I don't like research. I'm a history major. I have to like research. It's just what I claim to be doing on the internet as "research" is often not research, it's "procrastination."<br /><br />I don't need another excuse to surf theXiXihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05364953168828471897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post-33187649798594469132009-05-29T17:19:23.717-06:002009-05-29T17:19:23.717-06:00Research is great. How much is enough? As much as ...Research is great. How much is enough? As much as the story calls for, helpful, I know. :P<br /><br />I always keep in mind that the research is for the details. This means that you're going to do more research (likely) than you will actually incorporate into the story. But it's necessary to make things believable. <br /><br />And to make it seem less daunting, I find it helps to do the research Danyelle L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10366276085080565870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post-90068517829965826812009-05-29T15:40:29.170-06:002009-05-29T15:40:29.170-06:00Lately I haven't been dealing with research very w...Lately I haven't been dealing with research very well. I'm working on a story set in the 13th century, and I feel like I'm having to research every teeny tiny thing to get it right. Then I end up not putting half of what I've learned in the actual manuscript. I don't want it to be like a book I'm reading right now that is jammed full of obvious research info-dump, and it's really boring. SighB.J. Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10767654810069240472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post-2696944379587875482009-05-29T15:19:26.291-06:002009-05-29T15:19:26.291-06:00It will be nice when we are all famous authors wit...It will be nice when we are all famous authors with numerous best sellers under our belts and in our acknowledgements we have to thank all of our RESEARCHERS...alas, until then, we have to suffer through it. <br /><br />I actually don't mind all the research myself. Weird I know. I generally know the topic or two that I have to research prior to even beginning my novel and that is largely how Josiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01891614490103342485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post-55128969198056692382009-05-29T12:36:53.490-06:002009-05-29T12:36:53.490-06:00A few google searches usually works for me! Honest...A few google searches usually works for me! Honestly, that's my answer...simple as that. I think you just need to know enough for the part you are including in your story. If you can do more research that's great but as long as what the reader reads sounds and is authentic then you're good. <br /><br />One of the reasons I love writing fantasy - I get to make things up!Rebecca L Suttonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09239634586708606373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post-83766701259589473502009-05-29T11:47:46.818-06:002009-05-29T11:47:46.818-06:00I very much agree with Liana. I write historical f...I very much agree with Liana. I write historical fiction, so I need to get my events, locations and reports fully researched.<br /><br />You however, are talking about some circumstances that, while they may be common (sadly), they are also very individual. I think you could read many accounts of people who have dealt with these situations and they there would be numerous perspectives and Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11972925629235261913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post-85504550532473113032009-05-29T11:17:12.399-06:002009-05-29T11:17:12.399-06:00It depends on the book.
For anything historical ...It depends on the book. <br /><br />For anything historical there is not such thing as too much research. Even for the historical fantasy I have as a pot boiler I want everything to be as accurate as I can within the framework of the world I'm creating. <br /><br />Place names, languages, mythology, beliefs, weapons, tools.... I need to have a solid grounding in that before I can add anything Liana Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14587774916354749190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post-17596841114982239582009-05-29T11:06:14.084-06:002009-05-29T11:06:14.084-06:00I think you need to research enough to build a bel...I think you need to research enough to build a believable world for your character.<br /><br />When do you know enough is enough? When you can realistically see your characters there, can add those details that make him interact with the world.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11431700962951592287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451768142116083239.post-33736380718427734832009-05-29T10:33:07.298-06:002009-05-29T10:33:07.298-06:00Eek! Research. It happens quite often that I get a...Eek! Research. It happens quite often that I get a really nifty (who uses that word, really?) idea in my mind and put fingers to keyboard, only to get about 2k words in and realize ... I don't know anything about this subject/character quirk/mental disorder/supernatural ability. And so the great online search for answers begins.<br /><br />The amount of research I do varies based upon the subjectJESSJORDANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08915521022827231804noreply@blogger.com