It’s been said that writers must write what they know, but that can only carry an author so far.  After all, writers are not all-knowing beings. Even the best authors rely on research to craft a story. Inspiration can strike from personal experience or a sparked curiosity, but taking the time to become informed about the subject matter before including it in a piece of writing is crucial. Unless an author implements the literary device of suspension of disbelief, a lack of believability can certainly jolt a reader from their faith in a story.

Take a setting, for example: Joan Didion or John Steinbeck knew every nuance of every city and small town they ever depicted. However, this was only accomplished by first-hand experience of these places. Maybe you’ve passed through a town that felt like a character in and of itself, but if a writer chooses to use an actual city, they should take the time to depict its uniqueness accurately. There is a risk in taking any place or event and twisting it into misrepresentation. This post will cover some research tips for writers that will help them maintain believability while adding their own creative spin.

Observe Everything

One of the simplest ways to find inspiration for a story, whether fiction or nonfiction, is to be observant. Whether a writer is shopping for groceries or traveling to a new destination, their eyes and ears should always be open. Even if you’re crafting a setting to be fictional, the inspiration for this place can come from a real place. However, a writer should be careful when they  observe a person/people or environment for a short period and make sure not to feel they have a complete picture to depict. The best method of observing a place or people is to immerse yourself in the experience truly. Perhaps spending a day taking in the sights or sounds and then returning to take notes would make for better imagery and detail to include in a story.

Writing a Book Starts with a Book

If a writer wants to conduct research for any aspect of a story, today’s resources are innumerable and at their disposal. It is safe to say that most ideas for stories at this point have been put into a book by a writer. That is not to say that you cannot bring your spin to a story idea which is why personal observations are critical. The best way to research a topic is to look to those who have studied the subject matter before you. Let’s say you are writing historical fiction — history is just as integral to the story as any creative fictional idea. It is a must to read for both fiction and nonfiction writing within the genre. It is still essential to look at nonfiction to find proper research if you are writing fiction. You should also never limit yourself to reading one book within your writing genre because you should strive for some variance in perspective.

Think Like a Journalist

Subpar research leads to an inevitable flawed story. Remembering that the research is the job and the final story is the prize is a great motivator to study up on any topics that the writer doesn’t comprehend in their entirety. I am not saying you need to practice gonzo journalism or model your life after Hunter S. Thompson, but you should be diligent when going after research for your writing. Keep a notepad on you for notetaking, and be prepared to talk to people. Let’s say an idea comes to you for a story on surfers. If you don’t know how to surf, speak to someone who does or talk to several surfers about their process. Record sounds from the beach, and if your notetaking is not up to snuff, then record conversations to get every bit of authentic lingo. Look at each detail infused from reality into your story and ask yourself if you were reading it from a news source if you would trust it?

Don’t Make Assumptions

Whether it’s working on a fictional or non-fictional story, one of the worst mistakes a writer can make is to assume any topic they write about is being depicted accurately without the research to back it up. First-hand experience is the best way to become informed about a topic. Still, if, for example, you are writing about soldiers and you are not in or going to join the service personally, then the best route would be to get the perspective of someone who has. As an author, you must write what you know and research what you don’t because assumptions can lead to misrepresentation.

No Such Thing as Too Many Notes

A writer’s best friend should be their notebook. If we can’t schedule when inspiration will strike, then the next best move is to be prepared for whenever it does. Think about any research you have ever completed for a school assignment. The research and notes accompanying it are usually make or break for a passing grade. Notetaking can take on any form that works for you, whether it is structured like it is for scientific research or a bunch of random fleeting thoughts. The important part is that you will be able to return to these notes and remember the way you felt at that moment and why it was imperative to capture them in the first place. If you are not writing from what you know, then expect the notetaking for research to give you a visual that will easily translate into a detailed plot, character, or setting.

Go Beyond the Books

Books are most likely the first place that another author will look at when researching their own story. The great thing about writing today is that the ways research can be conducted are numerous. If you want to write a book about a magician, you can watch countless YouTube tutorials. If you’re going to write about true crime, listen to one or a hundred podcasts. If your protagonist is a chef, you can watch a masterclass or join a cooking class. With online databases stocked full of academic journals and credible articles, the excuse for lack of research on any topic is nearly inexcusable. The recent push for remote and virtual gatherings means that even if a writer can’t immerse themselves in research in person, it is possible with perhaps even less effort than ever before.