Category: research

>Fun Writing-Related Activities

>Do you find it hard to stay focused on your WIP during the summer months? I certainly do. This summer has been crazy so far and I’ve accepted the fact that I will need a little extra discipline to not let everything slide. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with taking a break. In fact, summer can be a good time to do some different activities related to writing and reading. Here are a few things I came up with: Go to a writing or book festival Visit the home of a famous author in your area or vacation destination Write […]

>When to Start Research & How to Organize It

>Yesterday, I talked a bit about how research can enhance your story. That got me thinking about when it’s a good idea to start researching and how to keep track of what you find out. Depending on the type of novel or short story you’re writing, this can be a relatively easy or tricky proposition. I prefer to start as soon as I know what I need to research. With my current novel I made the mistake of waiting to research underwater archaeology until after I started working out my story. Not smart. My research not only made plot changes […]

>Why It Pays to Research

>Research can be one of the less fun aspects of writing. But it can also be one of the more rewarding. A little research can add detail to your story that’s believable, rich, and engrossing. Whether it’s as specific as police rankings or as general as underwater archaeology (a foundation for my current novel), buckling down to do research gives me confidence later when I start to write. The prime benefit of research in my opinion is all the raw detail you have at your fingertips. You will doubtfully use it all, but just knowing it yourself affects your writing. […]