Research Is The Name Of The Game

Research is not for the faint of heart. Even if you love to dig into dusty tomes of history, the information overload can be overwhelming. You come away with pages and pages of notes, knowing that your story will come alive with such delicious tidbits of history, and yet, as you sit down to incorporate all that collection of knowledge, you don't know where to start. How do you fit all that information into your new story?

You don't!

There is no way to stuff your story full of every piece of history you have uncovered. For one thing, you don't want to bore your reader. And you really only need enough to give the reader a sense of the era you are writing. You want to seamlessly immerse the reader into the setting, making them feel like they have gone back in time. Think of it like the tip of the iceberg. Only use a small percentage, using the larger percentage to anchor your view of the story, breathing into it real life.

So how do you go about all this research? I'm no expert, but I'll share what I know.

The library is an excellent resource. Not only can you checkout history books, you can peruse the children's section for illustrated books on your era of choice. Often these give an excellent overview and you can "see" the era in the illustrations. Don't forget the reference center!

Visit the town, city, or state you are writing about. Don't forget to visit a museum, historical sites, or institutions pertaining to your project.

The internet is such an easy way to research. I am amazed at the many sites I've unearthed that are full of just the information I need. Look at some of the sites I've found:

• Timelines of History: http://timelines.ws/
• HistoryBuff.com: http://www.historybuff.com/
• Time Capsule: http://www.dmarie.com/timecap/
• Google Earth: http://www.google.com/earth/index.html (to get a feel for the lay of the land)
• You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/ (to visit places you cannot go)
• Jane Austen's World: http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/ (by far the most comprehensive site on the regency era I've seen)
• Wikipedia: http://www.wikipedia.org/

Organize your research according to categories: Food, Clothing, Transportation, Politics, Religion, Names, Medicene, Entertainment, etc. You can create a three-ring binder, or use programs like OneNote. (My personal favorite!) This can be stored for future reference for the next book in your series. You know you have several up your sleeve!

What is your favorite way to research? Do you have a special book or site you turn to most?

Sherrinda

Writing in the Nooks and Crannies of Life

I’m weird. I’ve come to accept it. My brain works in a very different way – which is a plus for the daily chaos of my life. I think we each learn ways to fit our own writing into the style of our lives. So today – I’m going to talk a little about my way. Julia helped inspire this post, along with the Seekerville ladies. Julia’s question about how I create stories made me wonder how many other people out there are weird like me…and not afraid to admit it :-)

For one thing: I don’t write books in order. I just work around inside the story until it’s all together.

For another: I write more than one manuscript at a time. I usually have two going simultaneously and usually in different genre

Oh, and that would lead to weirdness #3: I write in all types of genre.

Weirdness #4 - I talk to my characters, interview them, write journals from their perspective, and act out scenes - sometimes purchasing props if financially possible. How are you going to be able to describe the feel of a dagger in your hand if you dont' experience it, right? (My excuse and I'm sticking with it)

So how do all these random acts of madness fit together to make a story?

As many of you may know, my days are pretty packed. I’m a pastor’s wife, mom of five, and full-time university instructor/speech-language pathologist. I run at high speeds (usually) from the time my feet hit the floor between 5:45-6am until about 9pm (add another 30 minutes if I walk on the treadmill). Then, if I don’t have grading or lecture preparation to do, I can write. (again, this is assuming that no one has a late project due the next day, or costume to create, or homework to finish…you get the point).

I think, my brain is like a massive filing cabinet. Most of the drawers are a mess, with schedules and kids’ homework all smashed together, but one drawer is in nice order. My writing drawer. My novels are filed away perfectly separated, maybe even color coded :-).

To be perfectly honest, of the five books on my computer right now, two are complete and three are in progress. BUT I have at least 10 more in my head that I can give you a quick synopsis about if you asked me. They’re there – in my files, with character names and plots already in place. I just haven’t gotten around to writing them yet. (Of course, I had a friend tell me once that he thought my mind was more like the storage room in the back of the general store. I know the supplies are back there, but I might get lost trying to find them) Funny guy. HA! (eye roll)

For me, the creation stage happens wherever I am. I don’t have time to sit down for long stretches and outline. Outlining happens in my head throughout the day so that when I have time to write…I’m READY. But I make wise use of stoplights, carpool line, and lunch breaks. Here are a few of my notebooks I keep with me. They are color coded per story. I usually carry two of the four notebooks with me, depending on the novels of my focus at the moment.

As you can see, inside there are different handwritten notes pertaining to the certain story. Unless my 3 year old daughter gets a hold of the notebook, like in the top right corner (note the pink drawings :-)

When I have an opportunity to sit down and plan – Sometimes I’ll write out a sketchy 12 act structure, but that usually doesn’t happen until I’ve written a few chapters first. I usually write out the characters internal/external wants.

Then, I try to pull up OneNote and take a look at (or create) my story folder. As you can see, I have a character page, a setting page, research pages, and a dialogue page. The dialogue page is my one ‘table’ I use. It’s where I place pieces of dialogue that I get out of chronological order, so I can find it later.

I know that some people have a wonderfully thought out method to their writing-madness. As I develop as a writer there are certain skills I'm honing, but the only thing that is absolute...is 'expecting the unexpected.'

So –in summary

1. I get an idea (it can come from anywhere. Sometimes an intriguing character, sometimes an amazing plot, and sometimes just a question stirring in my head)

2. Throughout the next few days/weeks, I’ll let the idea stew while I’m at work, driving from clinic to clinic, sitting in carpool line

3. I start writing a chapter or two

4. Go to OneNote and start creating a folder

5. Continue writing in whatever place of the book I need to – in one of my wips, I am chronologically on chapter 3, but already have the final chapter written. I also find jumping back and forth between wips keeps me actively engaged in both, instead of getting disinterested in the story.

Writing happens – but I have to MAKE it happen. It’s not easy, and I don’t always work it out well. It has to fit into my lifestyle, the nooks and the crannies of it. That’s all I have, but God’s given these moments to use this talent for His glory. And I LOVE to watch how his talents unfold, even in the smallest of opportunities.