Research sounds like it'll be boring. Your muse gives you the imaginative plot and characters and research guy is just there to check your facts. But sometimes the fact-checker can have some good ideas too.
After a trip to remote country town in Victoria called Warracknabeal, I decided I wanted it as a location for a story. I just had no idea what story. After researching the area, I discovered the local racetrack had almost closed down forever in 1939 due to debts. Then a fire mysteriously swept through the track and burned down the clubhouse. This resulted in the club receiving enough insurance money to rebuild the clubhouse and pay the debtors.
I had my background story - was the fire accidental or was it arson? I then built on that and inserted one murder-victim body at the scene of the fire, now I had a mystery to solve.
Further research revealed that 1939 also saw Black Friday, the worst bushfire experienced in Australia, with a terrible death count. This affected my story as well. If the fire was from a well-meaning supporter or organiser of the club, even if they were innocent of the actual murder, there would be no sympathy for such a character. Arson would have been an unforgivable crime after the massive bushfire.
My research is actually shaping my story, The Waracknabeal Kids. I'm finding lots more interesting bits and pieces about country life during this time and it's providing plot ideas. Have you found anything surprising in your research?
Still not sure you NEED to research a story? Maybe you should watch the following tutorial:
I'm surprised so many people use Twilight as an example of failure? Seems to have done well with sales and movie adaptations. I'm not into sulky vampires but I'm happy to see kids reading anything with words in it :-)
I love the bunny picture and video! Thank-you for making me smile this morning. Who would have thought research could do that? :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a great way of looking at research. (I'll admit, research is my least favorite part of the writing process and I've always avoided it whenever I could). Your post may have me rethinking it.
ReplyDeleteYou know as an avid reader (not a writer), I was never aware of what all authors do to produce a great book.
ReplyDeleteI love research! I get lost in it for hours though, and emerge the other end with one page of what I wanted and a whole sweep of Other Stuff that might end up somewhere else. Better planning needed!
ReplyDeleteThat bunny cracks me up! Research is important I would have to agree..grea post!
ReplyDeleteThe paths your research is providing for you are fascinating - what a fun way to build a story! :-)
ReplyDeleteMy last book I wrote first, did the research second and found out I'd set the book in the entirely wrong time period. I changed the book to the right time period and came up with some weird and wonderful things that never would have made it in there absent the research. It can definitely be a great and fascinating thing.
ReplyDeleteMy research also stimulates more ideas and deeper plot, and subplot, and characterization. I actually find it very interesting, most of the time. Your story of that place with the long weird name is great. I like that photo, too. Thanks!
ReplyDeletegreat post; I have a new respect for writers and all the work you do to get your story in print! I am intrigued by your post!
ReplyDeleteA great post, very interesting. There's an award for you on my S post :o) xx
ReplyDeleteThanks guys, I couldn't get on yesterday my internet was down - I didn't know what to do with myself!
ReplyDeleteNiki thanks I'll head over to yours now to check that out!