Research for your novel

ScallyKat · Feb 13, 2007

As I get deeper and deeper into the novel I am writing I am starting to have trouble keeping up with the research. My novel is set back in the 1940's and is greatly historical. My question is, do any of you find it easier to do all of your research before you begin writing, or look things up and change them as you go? I had been going about writing in the latter sense, but it seems like the more detailed and into the heart of the story I get, the more I have to go back and change to stay factual. I just don't want to break the stream of writing I have gotten into by stopping all together only to do strictly research.

Never the less, opinions are appreciated.

Hillgate · Feb 13, 2007

I do all my research beforehand because often things crop up in research that help shape your story, plus you write with more confidence in your subject and I think that comes through, especially with historical fiction.

One thing to do is assimilate all the info but don't feel the need to follow it slavishly, unless you're writing a factual book or about something highly specific in fiction. If you keep the feel and the flow you'll be forgiven, as long as there are no obivous errors (eg men had buttons on their trousers not zips, generally, certain foods weren't available etc etc).

Sounds fun! I like the '40s...

Simon Woodhouse · Feb 13, 2007

Up until now I've only written sci-fi novels, which means there's more world building than research. But at some point in the future I want to write something set in the equivalent of Victorian Europe. Because I want the story to be quite accurate in its setting, I've already started researching the era. To a very large degree, what's possible within the setting will dictate what the characters can and cannot do, and so affect the plot quite a lot. I'm also finding that all the research is suggesting lots of interesting little subplots.

I'd rather know where I'm going, and have the mechanics of the world straight in my head, before I start writing.

TwentyFour · Feb 13, 2007

I went back in the editing to fix what changes were not researched enough. My novel is set in the late fifties, I needed songs, items of interest for teens, cars...all that. Cars are easy, you can pretty much get those fast online. Items are harder, I had to research just when they could buy smaller radios, lipstick was made a certain way, food packaged differently, prices of various objects, drive in prices, all that was hard to do, but fun.

Manat · Feb 13, 2007

I've done two historicals. The first I did a lot of research up front, and stopped several times along the way to do more. It seemed to work well.

The second I started on a very long plane ride,it was coming fast, and I didn't have any way to research. When I got to something I needed to know, I wrote "bla bla bla look up coventaries, massacres, James II and work it in here" etc. I yellowed it so I'd have no problem finding it later. I found this worked really well, didn't interrupt my flow, and added some nice length when I got to revisions. It was actually much quicker and I think that's how I'll do it from now on.

Marlys · Feb 13, 2007

I don't think it's possible to do all the research up front. I try to have a good grasp of the time period my WIP is set in, but things always surface that I have to look up while I'm writing. Sometimes I'll keep writing if it's flowing well, but will incorporate the necessary research later that day.

Recently, I tried writing off the top of my head (for NaNo) and looking everything up later. Didn't work for me. At all.

aadams73 · Feb 13, 2007

I look things up as I go. More specifically I use my evenings for research, and make notes. Sometimes, if it's possible, I'll scribble: research goes here.

Jamesaritchie · Feb 13, 2007

Research

Research is too often spelled p-r-o-c-r-a-s-t-n-a-t-i-o-n.

I read two good books on whatever it is I need to research, and then I write the novel. If I reach a spot where more research is needed, and I can do that research in a few minutes, I go ahead and do it. If it looks like the research will take too long, I simply put a note in the text and do the research after the first draft is finished.

jclarkdawe · Feb 13, 2007

This is further down the road than it sounds like you're at, but I've just written a novel that involves someone who was born in 1922 and grew up on a cattle ranch out west. After doing the research and writing the book, I've now sent it to a resident of a nursing home to look at. Basically, I looked up nursing homes in Cheyenne, WY and called. The program director has a person she says will love to do this for me. Works for me, works for her, what can be better?

My mother-in-law looked at this (she's the right age) and pointed out to me that fluffernutters didn't exist back then, it was peanut butter and marshmellow fluff sandwiches. I also found someone who served in the same Army division that my protagonist did, which gives that chapter a better feel. He loved looking at my chapter.

I'd done all the research, including finding out that the Lone Ranger was a little bit too late for my story, but that an early movie of Zorro did work.

I've found that people who lived during the period can help make sure you have the right feel.

Jim Clark-Dawe

PeeDee · Feb 13, 2007

Generally, if I'm writing in a time period or on a subject that would require research, the reason I'm writing is that I'm suddenly very interested in that subject anyway. Therefore, when I'm not writing a short story about the Battle of Trafalgar (for example), I'm probably kicking back on the couch and enjoying my way through a book on Lord Nelson.

Doing research with the diligence of studying for college exams, I'm no good at. I don't enjoy it, and I rarely need to do it. If my story requires an idea that I know nothing about, then I usually know too little about it to use it in my story. If you see what I mean.

Marlys · Feb 13, 2007

Jamesaritchie said:
Research is too often spelled p-r-o-c-r-a-s-t-n-a-t-i-o-n.

Yes, but procrastination is always spelled p-r-o-c-r-a-s-t-i-n-a-t-i-o-n.

PeeDee · Feb 13, 2007

James's spelling was art. You just didn't understand. Gawd.

gwendy85 · Feb 13, 2007

ScallyKat said:
As I get deeper and deeper into the novel I am writing I am starting to have trouble keeping up with the research. My novel is set back in the 1940's and is greatly historical. My question is, do any of you find it easier to do all of your research before you begin writing, or look things up and change them as you go? I had been going about writing in the latter sense, but it seems like the more detailed and into the heart of the story I get, the more I have to go back and change to stay factual. I just don't want to break the stream of writing I have gotten into by stopping all together only to do strictly research.

Never the less, opinions are appreciated.

Hi ScallyKat!

Welcome to AW!

I'm doing research on the 1940's myself, also highly historical. When I first came up with the plot, I didn't write immediately, but hit the books in the local library. I used what I found out in the story, but a I write, I also continue to do research.

I'm a little curious. There's about 4 of us here (including you) who are writing something on the '40s. Perhaps you and I can share a bit of each other's works? Just PM me if you're interested 'coz I certainly am. I can't find too mny people writing about the '40s

pdr · Feb 13, 2007

If...

you don't do some research first your dialogue and character mind sets will be 'off'.

James R is right about procrastination, but you do need to read a good background history, a social history, and a novel written at that time before you put pen to paper.

If your MC has some interesting, historical type occupation you had better research that too.

Then you mark as you write. For you, writing about the 1940s, using people as your research resources is a really good idea.

PattiTheWicked · Feb 14, 2007

You have to do some research up front, just to get you into the mind frame for the time period. I'm working on a YA set in the year 175 c.e. in Northern Britain, so I've picked up some great reference books on the writings of Marcus Aurelius, art and architecture in Roman Britain, and a few books about Roman mystery religions. However, I could easily spend a year immersing myself in them instead of actually writing.

What I've done is skimmed through them to get a feel for the time period, and then started writing. When I get to a point where I need to look something up, I do one of two things. If it's something I know I have on hand and just need to find, I do so. If it's something I have to hunt for or go to the library to learn, I leave a big empty _____________________ at that point in the ms, which clues me in later on that there's something missing.

PD James mentioned once that several months of research go into each novel. If I used that approach, I'd never get anything finished.

Enzo · Feb 14, 2007

The story comes first.
If you plan to write a story set in a certain place or era, that's probably because you've already read about that, and you have a certain feel for it.
I would just write, and do the research to solve problems as I bump into them on the way.

Jamesaritchie · Feb 14, 2007

Spelling.

Marlys said:
Yes, but procrastination is always spelled p-r-o-c-r-a-s-t-i-n-a-t-i-o-n.

Not when I spell it. In fact, when I don't proof my posts, words are spelled all sorts of ways. Sometimes I even spell "cat" d-o-g.

Jamesaritchie · Feb 14, 2007

pdr said:
you don't do some research first your dialogue and character mind sets will be 'off'.

James R is right about procrastination, but you do need to read a good background history, a social history, and a novel written at that time before you put pen to paper.

If your MC has some interesting, historical type occupation you had better research that too.

Then you mark as you write. For you, writing about the 1940s, using people as your research resources is a really good idea.

I generally skip the novel unless I've never read one from that time period, but the other two, yes.

sfecphory · Feb 14, 2007

I usually research as I go. I don't know what questions I'll have or what research I'll need before I start. If I find that my earlier writing contradicts details I find out later I simply make a note, wherever I am in the manuscript that I need to change X to Y, then I keep going. There's plenty of time during the revisioning stage(s) to make the details follow the research.

Raiyah · Feb 14, 2007

I research whatever I can before hand, because it does allow me to free flow withouth having to stop and double check my facts. Sometimes, however, I do have to stop and look something up when something unexpected happens in the story. My current novel is set in the 40's, 50's and 60's, so I had to organize all my findings. I think its incredibly important to stay factual, because there are a lot of differences with today and back in the day, like the way people talked, and the way society thought--even globally.

But regardless, good luck. Oh and, a cool tip is to find old magazines from the time the story is set it. It gives you an awesome glimpse of what your characters lives were like, and the things that were supposedly important to them. Small things like ads and such, really give a good idea of what times were like.

Prawn · Feb 14, 2007

I read only non-fiction while I write, and I do my best to make it realted to the topic of my WIP. When I am writing, I don't sweat it. I will write something like.

John could still remember when the stock market had crashed in 1929, falling by XXX% in one day. It was the worst one-day loss in history, and at the end of the day more than XXX dollars in wealth had evaporated.

Then when I have time to research, I can use the find function to find those XXXs

The important part is the story. The research makes it better, but I try not to let it get in the way of the story I am writing. I come back to it when I get stuck for the next scene to write.

The Scip · Feb 14, 2007

If i need to know something that i kind find quickly on the internet i just look it up real quick and get back to work.

For example today i found a perfect site on the different types of snakes in New England and what they look like.

I also write with a notbook and a pen next to me, if I have somethng that I need to look up that may require more than a second or two of reading, I write something that I think will work, but I know have to check and then I just yellow the words so I can go back later.

heatheringemar · Feb 14, 2007

I haven't written anything under the historical genre yet, but when it comes to the research I do, I write and write and write until I hit an area that screams "this needs to be researched!" and then I halt all writing until I do what I need to do.

In a strange way, it helps me keep momentum without getting burned out.

TheGaffer · Feb 14, 2007

I like all these thoughts. A few of my own:

--I like to have basic research before I start - my stuff is set in places I haven't necessarily been, so research on the clothing, food, et al, does help.

--To me, though, part of research is the rewriting and letting some of the beta readers make suggestions - particularly if they've lived in that place, time period, culture, that kind of thing. A conversation with someone like that can only enrich your thinking, and then you can apply as much or as little of it as you want to your novel.

Novelhistorian · Feb 14, 2007

These days, I've been writing thrillers about a time and place I've already written about as a historian. Still, I need to know enough before I write fiction so that I can sense the characters and the setting from the inside. If I'm trying to write about a tugboat captain (as I was about a month or two ago), I can't do a good job unless I know what the tug looks like, what the river feels like, and so forth. Sometimes, you can get too bogged down in that, but for me, it's a question of confidence. If I know I know, then I don't hesitate, even if I never use the details I've collected, and the writing flows more readily. And as it turned out, with the tugboat captain, I didn't know, and the more research I did, the more I realized that he wasn't the center of the novel.

I don't think research is procrastination at all. On the other hand, there's an art to using the right facts, and I have to guard against throwing stuff in there just because I happen to know it and think it's interesting. If it doesn't make the story work, it doesn't belong.

Research for your novel

ScallyKat

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