If you want your fictional world, characters, and plot points to seem plausible, you’ll need to do your study. Efficient research is essential whether you’re constructing a fantasy world, writing historical fiction, or a piece of modern fiction. If you are working on a piece of fiction, here are ten tips to assist you in your research.
10 Tips for Conducting Effective Research for Non-Fiction Writing
- Establish the Scope of Your Research
Outlining your requirements is the first step. For example, you can ask, “What time period or place does my story take place in?” Determining the scope early on is important to avoid becoming bogged down by irrelevant details.
- Make Use of Various Sources
Books, videos, interviews, and scholarly publications are just a few materials you should consult. For instance, original materials such as letters and diaries might be useful for a historical book, but police procedural manuals could be useful for a contemporary thriller. Acquiring knowledge from several sources guarantees a more complete picture.
3. Use what you’ve learned from experience.
Get as close to the story’s topic as you can. It is recommended that you visit the location you are writing about. Explore the area on foot, pay attention to your senses, and learn about the local culture. Your tale will be more genuine if you use first-hand experience.
4. Conduct Expert Interviews
Consult experts in the field who have worked in your field before. For example, speak with a doctor or other healthcare expert if your main character is a doctor. Your characters may gain priceless complexity and depth from these observations.
- Make Smart Use of Online Research Tools
Incorporate reputable internet resources such as Google Scholar, JSTOR, or public archives into your research. Avoid using untrustworthy sources and constantly check your information with other sources. Use Wikipedia as a jumping-off point, but never rely on it as your only source.
- Pay Attention to Details in the Senses
Always keep the five senses in mind while describing a place or era. Describe the senses of smell, hearing, and taste. Your tale becomes more engaging with the addition of these elements. If you’re writing a story set in the Victorian era in the nineteenth century, for instance, you should research the typical meals eaten and clothing worn at that time.
- Make Sure Your Notes Are Organized
Whether you use paper notebooks or digital apps like Scrivener or Evernote, ensure all your research is in one spot. Organize your notes according to the topic and underline the most crucial details shaping your tale. When you’re drawing, this will be a time saver.
- Refrain from Searching Excessively
Avoid the pitfalls of doing too much research. Writers may only put off writing later by doing research. Master the material to convey your narrative confidently, but remember that you are not writing a textbook but fiction.
- Develop Research-Based Realistic Characters
Make sure that your characters’ occupations, behaviors, and histories are based on fact if you’re doing research for character development. For example, if you’re crafting a fictional investigator, familiarize yourself with the methods used by actual detectives. Your characters’ actions and judgments will have more believability due to this.
- Verify for Correctness
Verify important aspects before finishing your draft. Minor errors in time, place, or tradition may undermine the credibility of a work of historical fiction. Avoid offending readers who are well-versed in the subject matter by using incorrect legal or medical terminology.
In Nutshell:
Thorough research is the secret to writing a captivating piece of fiction that readers will love. You may simplify your procedure by following these ten suggestions, which cover everything from establishing the study scope to including sensory information. The correct research enhances your story, whether you’re aiming for historical accuracy, character growth, or immersive world-building.
