tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post4404664138007748045..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: Let's Get Ready to ResearchJanice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-68710811961956082342010-03-25T22:39:19.044-04:002010-03-25T22:39:19.044-04:00And some folk assume that fiction just means you c...And some folk assume that fiction just means you can make everything up willy-nilly. I tell some people that I'm researching something for a story, and they give me blank looks and say they thought I was writing <em>fantasy</em>—the unspoken assumption being I should just be able to invent what I don't know.<br /><br />-Carradee<br /><br />Note: I meant 1200s AD, 13th century when I was talking about Pope Gregory IX and all. I get that hundreds/century thing confused, sometimes.Carradeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05431561739001270522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-41671420026197747302010-03-25T17:07:04.646-04:002010-03-25T17:07:04.646-04:00So true. I'm fine with taking a bit of creativ...So true. I'm fine with taking a bit of creative license to make the story work, but when a writer blatantly ignores something major that's known information, it just makes me lose all faith in the story.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-21917433756965859262010-03-23T20:35:41.259-04:002010-03-23T20:35:41.259-04:00I think research is important because you should c...I think research is important because you should credit your readers with some intelligence. Whilst I am sure there are a number of "passive" readers who simply read a book cover-to-cover and put it down without a second though, I'd like to think there are a number of active readers who find elements in books interesting and go and find out the "truth" of those elements. At that point, as the writer, you need to be accurate or as close to accurate as possible.Stuart Clarkhttp://www.stuartclark.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-87728329577616121642010-03-23T13:21:19.635-04:002010-03-23T13:21:19.635-04:00This sounds like what I do! (Except I'm just ...This sounds like what I do! (Except I'm just starting to keep the separate world building notes. And use square brackets around things and people that need renaming. *g*)<br /><br />I have one short story that started off with a vague sense of what I wanted--a slaughtering of "Romeo & Juliet" with fantasy creatures. In doing my research, I discovered that the Inquisition was <em>first</em> started in 12th century Italy by Pope Gregory IX, and before that basic "magic" was fairly acceptable.<br /><br />That gave me the preferred time period. And other little details--like women in Rome tossing unwanted infants in the Tiber even in broad daylight--and historical events that shaped the story. Without the research, I wouldn't have been able to create the story.<br /><br />But I've also been drawn down the research rabbit-hole, before, so it's a careful balance beam to walk.<br /><br />I love hearing how diff writers do things! *g*Carradeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-78060328936293315352010-03-23T08:08:34.231-04:002010-03-23T08:08:34.231-04:00I think flexibility is good when writing. It's...I think flexibility is good when writing. It's important to be true to your research, but not if it starts controlling the story or making you feel forced to write a certain way.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-25639837203747702522010-03-20T14:43:23.902-04:002010-03-20T14:43:23.902-04:00I tend to have a similar pattern.
Although, I t...I tend to have a similar pattern. <br /><br />Although, I tend to go a little heavier on the research at the beginning, especially during the world-building stage, because I want the story to be influenced by the world as well as influencing it. And that means having enough world-building that I get to a point in the story and can say, "The world is like this, so the story has to go like that."<br /><br />But I do research/plan research while drafting, as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-23581485260241229562010-03-20T10:44:43.565-04:002010-03-20T10:44:43.565-04:00Love this post! I too try and do as much research ...Love this post! I too try and do as much research before hand but sometimes I don't always know where the story is going therefore I'll have to make a stopping point when I reach that road block, however sometimes it's fun to stop and research something, gives you a new outlook on some things!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667521490706435608noreply@blogger.com