Research and Novel Writing
“I enjoy research; in fact research is so engaging that it would be easy to go on for years, and never write the novel at all.”
HELEN DUNMORE
I have indeed done some writing but I have to admit my fascination with research could get me in trouble.
Here is the beginning of my library. This comes nowhere close to all of my online research!
My intent is noble. I would really like to make sure the history (medieval Ireland and Britain) angle of the fantasy world I create is as accurate as it can be, and the mythologies I bring to bear ring true to those who study mythology. The research has yielded fascinating results for me. For example, did you know that a faerie of medieval times was not diminutive in stature? They did not become small until the Victorian era. Did you know that in England, that forks were not used until late in the medieval era? They were reserved for those foods that would stain the hands. Monks believed that God’s good food should be handled with your… well, your hands.
Oh, did I mention that I’m also researching everything from story arcs and plot lines to traditional versus self publishing? That’s a whole world I know nothing about, or at least I didn’t when I started this journey in January.
I’ve learned these things from all kinds of sources! Research comes in all flavors: documentaries, TV stories, major literary works and movies. There are books on the subject, and engagement with subject matter experts through Google plus, and Twitter. I also look for inspiration in my research in places like Pinterest. (Links to my book related pages)
That said, there is a time to research and a time to write. I have given myself a cut off in the past few weeks for research. That certainly doesn’t mean I won’t do more. I will research every name, for example, because I think there is a power in names: their meaning, their origin… what it does mean, is that I am doing a lot more writing over the past few weeks than I have done in several months. THAT is exciting!
The takeaway for today? Research is important. It will strengthen your story and get people to buy in to the fantasy world you are creating. It will give you details that, as an author, you can draw on in each sentence and paragraph. However, The joy comes when you can share your story. So take a moment, and put down your research books or laptop and stop researching. Make time to WRITE! The story that you are uncovering will draw people to you when you share it. It is a story worth writing…
#amwriting #amwritingfantasy #fedonta
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