I've researched where pippies grow, the atmosphere on Venus, the make up of the sun, how to artificially make rain, the guns used by detectives in the early twentieth century, what goes into creating artificial intelligence, natural remedies to clear acne, and various backgrounds of martial arts, among other things. Then there is the endless searches for names for my characters, ensuring they fit not only the character's personality, but also the year they were born.
Now for the zen part of this post: A poorly researched story can disturb a reader's calm. I've read stories where it was painfully obvious the author's only research came from watching movies. Anachronisms, falsehoods and inaccuracies can destroy an otherwise enjoyable story.
So my advice is this: Never bank on your readers to care little about the details, to be ignorant of the facts, or to lack an understanding of how physics works. The more accurate your story world is, the more immersed your readers will become--even if it's a fantasy. Don't mimic something you might've heard at a barbecue, or seen at the movies, or glanced across on the internet. Check your facts. Besides, your research might lead your story to a completely different, yet serendipitous, direction.
What do you love or dislike about research? What are some of the things you've had to research?
--
Hero Lost:
Mysteries of Death and Life
An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology
Can a lost hero find redemption?
What if Death himself wanted to die? Can deliverance be found on a bloody battlefield? Could the gift of silvering become a prison for those who possessed it? Will an ancient warrior be forever the caretaker of a house of mystery?
Delving into the depths of the tortured hero, twelve authors explore the realms of fantasy in this enthralling and thought-provoking collection. Featuring the talents of Jen Chandler, L. Nahay, Renee Cheung, Roland Yeomans, Elizabeth Seckman, Olga Godim, Yvonne Ventresca, Ellen Jacobson, Sean McLachlan, Erika Beebe, Tyrean Martinson, and Sarah Foster.
Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these twelve tales will take you into the heart of heroes who have fallen from grace. Join the journey and discover a hero’s redemption!
Website - Goodreads
Amazon ebook - Amazon Paperback
Barnes & Noble - Nook
Books-A-Million - iTunes - Kobo
And don't forget my daily devotional, Cling to God available in the usual places.
Congratulations to all twelve authors in our anthology! They did an awesome job.
ReplyDeleteYou mean movies don't present facts? Really? Next you'll tell me the media lies as well...
I know...shocking, right?
DeleteMost of my character's names came from the Bible and weren't too hard to nail down, but I really had to scour to find a woman's name that began with an M. (Hint - there are only 2.)
ReplyDeleteCongrats to the authors and their big release week.
Ha, it's easy when it's a biblical name you're looking for, except, as you say, when it's something more specific.
DeleteSo true that we don't want to include fake facts in our stories. You've certainly researched a variety of subjects for your books.
ReplyDeleteAnd that was naming just a few.
DeleteSo true! I think most readers notice the small details. If they're reading your book then they have a love for something within it: topic, theme, setting, etc... So they probably are familiar with said subject(s). And YAY! for the anthology. I really like the cover.
ReplyDeleteReaders are smart cookies.
DeleteWhat? Movies are lying to me? I can't get shot and be up and walking a day later? Noooooo!
ReplyDeleteOkay, I'm done.
Congrats to all the authors!
hahahaha so funny. When it's no longer convenient for the plot, the injury disappears. It's a miracle!
DeleteI hate when I get yanked out of a story because of incorrect facts or poor writing. Sometimes I can get can back into it, but other times, I give up and move on.
ReplyDeleteYep, I usually give up and move on. There are too many other books I want to read.
DeleteI had to look up pippies--didn't know they were Australian clams, so I guess I've done my researcher for today. I try to ensure that all the facts in my novels are accurate. It doesn't take much to upset a reader and once you do, they're lost to you forever.
ReplyDeleteExcellent research! They taste good too, if you like that sort of thing, which I do.
DeleteOh, you are SO right about sharp eyed readers. I made that mistake early on by taking a few spot of accuracy for granted (hey, it was before the Internet when you actually had to go to the Library!) and I got called out big time. Never again. Those nitpicky details are always the best!
ReplyDeleteGoing to a library to research would be so time consuming. I love that we have the internet now, but even what we find there needs verifying.
DeleteTrue!!! Readers will get turned off by unreal and made-up facts. I was going to look up pippies but thanks to Susanne I see they are Australian clams! You've really done extensive research, so cool.
ReplyDeleteRe Pippies: The Plebidonax deltoides, to be exact. Go the research!
DeleteYay for your awesome book, and the new anthology!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about the Zen aspect. It's easy to accidentally miss something, but hopefully our critique partners and beta readers point out the blunder early on. The closer to reality a story's rules are, the more believable it will be to the reader.
And the more authenticity you hold as a writer.
DeleteThe anthology sounds awesome. I research everything. Or so it seems. I sometimes think I spend more time doing that than actually writing and revising put together.
ReplyDeleteOh, it's easy to become lost in research.
DeleteSome great tips about research there, Lynda. Thank you for sharing. I hope life is being kind.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nicola
DeleteIt's great to read what everyone is researching. I think that's why we do such a detailed search, to get it right! I hate when people don't get things right in their writing:-)
ReplyDeleteIt's such a huge distraction when they don't get it right.
DeleteYou've researched some interesting topics. The thing I don't like about researching on the internet is trying to separate between fact and fiction. While there is so much helpful information on the internet there is also a great deal of misinformation so sources need to be checked carefully and common sense often needs to be put into play.
ReplyDeleteSomething I don't like when I'm reading and a place that I know well is involved, is when the writer apparently has never actually been to the place they're writing about and they get things way wrong. I'm just shaking my head as I read thinking "NO,no, no" to myself.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
You are so right. That misinformation can lead many people astray!
DeleteI agree. Research should never have a glaring light on it; it should remain in the background enhancing the story. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
Well said, Anna.
DeleteHeroes I believe will be shown to be much more complicated than we think, based on these stories. Good overview.
ReplyDeleteHeroes are such interesting creatures :)
DeleteI like your sentence, Never bank on your readers to care little about the details, to be ignorant of the facts, or to lack an understanding of how physics works. I always say readers are dumb. We're smarter than people think.
ReplyDeleteGreat May posting.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G
Readers are super smart and super wonderful. Let's never underestimate them.
DeleteAs a reader, I've always enjoyed it when the writer researches a topic thoroughly. Adding little details like that can really make a story seem real to me.
ReplyDeleteIt's the detail that makes the story rich with authenticity.
DeleteLynda, you are so right. Inaccuracies throw the reader right out of your fictive world, whether it is contemporary or fantasy. The world and all the details must make sense for the story to work. Thanks so much for sharing this insight with your followers. All best to you.
ReplyDeleteOnce, I had to throw out an entire story I'd written after I did some research. I realised I should have researched earlier because I learned the story was outrageously impossible if I stuck to the facts.
DeleteI agree with you, Lynda. I write what I know and I know one place very well, NY in the 80's...how lucky am I? :)
ReplyDeleteFYI, I made the big move away from Blogger and can be found at:
Elsie Amata
A great place and a great time.
DeleteAdvice well taken! Pay attention to accuracy and details.
ReplyDeleteIndeedy!
DeleteI think it's awesome when readers pick up a falsity. Shows they were paying attention. I love the research part of writing. Trouble is not to let too much onto the page or it becomes showoffy.
ReplyDeleteDon't eat too many pippies now...
Denise:-)
Research should be like an iceberg. You only see the tip of it.
DeleteOoh How to Arificially Create Rain sounds interesting and semi-related to something I'm writing. :)
ReplyDeleteAccuracy definitely matters. My kids were disappointed by some novels by a bestselling author because they discovered he didn't research some of his details about Portland or the Grand Canyon all that well. (not going to mention author name)
Happy May!
Inaccuracy in stories can be hugely disappointing.
DeleteI so agree with you, Lynda! I think accuracy and a grounding in facts are truly important in writing. That's something I really work on as a writer. Happy writing this month!
ReplyDeleteAnd research is fun, so it shouldn't be so hard to get the facts right.
DeleteThanks for "pippies"! I love it when I learn something new. I completely agree about getting the little things right - nothing yanks me out of a story faster than reading something completely out of sinc with reality (and I don't mean fantasy). This is why I cannot watch most police, fire, legal, or medical shows. Utter trash.
ReplyDeleteAnd I can't watch any shows about tech around my husband because he tells me they are all wrong, lol.
DeleteI can handle books that use too much research as opposed to books that obviously have not been researched. Research is like having continuing education.
ReplyDeleteYes! Education that's actually interesting ;)
DeleteSome cool things you have researched. Great post.
ReplyDelete' Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
Thanks, Juneta
Deletewe have a female writer here in my country (a horrid bitch by the way) who uses her husband to do the research and then when he comes back with the material she starts writing.
ReplyDeleteWell that's no fun!!
Deletehe just left her last week with a gay lover :) it's the talk of our tabloids LOL
DeleteI can almost hear you chuckling at that one from here!
DeleteAbsolutely right that there needs to be some sort of basis in reality, no matter how far out the story may be. You've certainly researched some interesting areas!
ReplyDeleteThat research brings authenticity to our stories.
DeleteI've had books ruined because the freeway systems were wrong. They were writing about a place I lived and they just didn't know what they were talking about. I just felt that if they got that wrong, what else hadn't they researched properly. I just didn't feel as if I could trust the author.
ReplyDeleteYep, I've had a similar experience. It's a shame. While researching a place can take some time, it's well worth it.
DeleteI adore research. I have so much weird trivia in my head. However, so much of it isn't for polite conversation. ;)
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy research too
DeleteHow to artificially make rain? I like the sound of that. Sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteWhat were your findings, Lyn?
My findings were that my story was so wrong and silly and I should've researched that one before I started writing it, lol.
Delete