“Researching a Story”

Every writer of stories, however long or short, does research.  Why research?  To make for more believable background.  To be consistent across the length of the story (especially important in a novel).  To provide detail for characters so you don’t give the main character blond hair on page 1 and a dark pony-tail on page 100. 

Here are some of my insights about researching a story and how much of your hard-won research should be included.

1.     Less is more.  If in doubt, leave it out.  Many writers spend so much time researching and developing background that they feel compelled to put it all end, to justify the effort.  If it doesn’t advance the story, don’t do it.

2.     Don’t expect to include everything.  A little goes a long way.  Suggest and imply a lot.  Pick memorable details, unique details.  If it’s something the reader should know, be accurate.

3.     Thoroughness. My most recent Tales of the Quantum Corps story, Johnny Winger and the Europa Quandary, has files covering maps of Boise, Idaho, Hoover Dam, Inuit culture, Interpol, Mombasa details and background on Wyatt Earp.  Talk about eclectic.  Is all of included in the story?  Not all…just what is needed.

4.     My character sketches have physical descriptions, brief (chronological) biographies, and personality and character analysis.  I don’t hesitate to deviate.  Some writers prefer to wing it but I like to know my characters in great detail, indeed, I try to put myself into their shoes and become them.  This makes for a schizophrenic home life, but I have an understanding wife.

5.     If you can’t find a detail, make it up.  Imagine something similar.  I had to develop some details about growing or regenerating my nanoscale robotic devices in Tales of the Quantum Corps.  I’ve got a list that spans 3 pages.  And I’ve used it many times in these stories.   Verisimilitude is the operative word…resemblance to the truth.

6.     A few words about naming characters.  Every author has his or her own technique for giving names to characters.  I like to use maps and atlases. Many cities and towns in countries all over the world are named for people.  Scan maps and pick one.  Tweak it if you have to.  You’ll come up with some memorable names. 

7.     There are a plethora of books in the world of SF on world-building.  Alien worlds in your SF stories should be scientifically accurate and internally consistent.  It’s okay to develop your imaginary world in detail.  It’s not really okay to include every detail in the story.  I am, however, planning on including an Appendix to my novel The Farpool , which has an oceanic world called Seome.  It’ll have notes on the biology of this world, their language, cities, history, cultural concepts, etc.  I’m working some of this in as the story progresses, but I’m trying to stay on plot as far as the story goes. 

8.     Remember: setting should serve the needs of the story and never get in the way of advancing the story.  Details for the sake of details…a no-no. 

9.     Atmosphere is more than details of setting.  It’s how characters react to the setting.  It’s what they do in the setting.  Setting is a tool.  Good research makes setting a useable tool, useful for many things. 

10.  Best sources for research: Wikipedia, Google and your own experience and imagination. To put the reader there, you have to be there…what do you see, hear and smell?  Research details that engage all senses.  Use senses other than visual. 

 

These are just some thoughts on how much research to do in developing your story idea and how much to include in the story.

 

The next post to The Word Shed will be in Monday, May 23.

 

See you then.