“Do you have any books on
Enochian magick?” I ask.
The bookstore clerk stares at me nervously. She recognizes me from
last week when I inquired about Slavonic death rites in pagan
Europe. I get that uncomfortable stare a lot these days, as if
clerks and librarians are judging the route to the nearest possible
exit. It just comes with the territory down here where some consider
Harry Potter novels “the Devil’s work.”
“I’m doing research for a novel,” I explain. “I’m a writer.”
Suddenly, the clerk’s anxiety fades, transforming her face with
smiles and sunshine. Somehow being a writer explains everything. I’m
not a weirdo. I’m not a cultist. I’m a writer! From that point
forward the clerk, Cindy, is always willing to help me find whatever
I need. She also discusses her ideas for a book that she wants to
write “eventually.” When she asks me what the key to writing is, I
hold up my new book on the Polynesian Wars and tell her honestly.
“Know it all.”
Writers in the Information Age
Today writers need to be versatile and scholarly, perhaps even more
so than only twenty years ago. With information so readily
available, most readers have a wide range of knowledge. Some readers
are rabid when it comes to factual accuracy, especially fans of the
historical and science/fantasy fiction genres. Like it or not,
someone out there will go through your work with a fine toothed
comb. They demand you get it right every time. And in many ways,
they are justified. Nothing can throw you out of a book faster than
a glaring inaccuracy. It immediately shatters your mind picture and
returns you to the “real” world. Even repeated small mistakes build
up over time. If the author is unwilling to check facts, how much
effort have they truly invested in writing the novel? It becomes
difficult to trust the writer and truly lose oneself in the book,
thus destroying the enjoyment of reading. On a personal note, I’ve
actually returned a book that described the protagonist driving from
Toronto, Ontario to Flin Flon, Manitoba in less than two hours, a
considerable feat when one considers the trip is approximately 1,800
miles long. This was pure sloppiness on the writer’s part.
Although some genres require more factual accuracy than others--such
as historical romance or techno-thrillers-- you, as the writer,
should strive to know your subject with modest aptitude. While this
in no way means you need to become a Rhodes Scholar, you should be
able to discuss the topic with
some degree of certainty.
Digging Up the Bones
It has been said, only write what you know. This cautionary
statement has been the bane of many writers. If you know nothing
about the French Quarter of New Orleans, how can you write a murder
mystery set there and sound convincing? How can you write the next
Jurassic Park if you don’t know the difference between an allosaurus
and a diplodocus? Don’t be disheartened; this is where research
comes in. Thanks to the Internet, today's writer has near unlimited
access to information on just about every subject, from Argentine
coffee to wombat mating rituals. Simply type in what you need to
know and chances are likely you’ll get it a moment later. Or, at the
very least, the Internet will point you in the right direction
and/or tell you what books to purchase on the subject. The Internet
also virtually connects you to every corner of the planet. You no
longer have to travel to Japan or New Orleans or plod through
guidebooks to know what they look like. In many cases, you can
actually view locations in real-time on web cam. Most cities have
detailed web sites, discussing history, culture, and special
locales.
Personally, unless I’m dealing with the “official” website, I prefer
to corroborate electronic information with at least two sources.
Like some nonfiction books, many web sites are biased or completely
incorrect. Make sure that when you are taking the information from
any website you’re using a credible source.
If you have cable television, watch the Discovery, History, and
Learning channels. They offer programs packed full of credible
information, presented in a concise and easy to understand manner.
Simply check your local TV Guide for programs related to your
writing topic. By recording the names of experts, many of whom are
authors, you can track down further reading material later on.
For those who prefer the less technological route, there are
bookstores and libraries. No matter how useful the Internet may be,
nothing beats strong literary research. With few exceptions, you’ll
be able to locate or order the books and journals you require from
even the smallest local library or bookstore. In addition, there is
something satisfying about lounging around with a book, making
notes, and knowing that you’re “working.”
Did I mention the tax-deduction?
Buying “research” materials can be considered a tax write-off. Over
the years I’ve amassed an eclectic library of reference books,
enabling me to just take what I need off own shelf rather than
trudging through the Internet.
Taking Note
Make plenty of notes and log your observations as you conduct your
research. I suggest having a large scrapbook for writing everything
down. I use a laboratory research notebook. In essence, you are
building a miniature encyclopedia listing all the stuff you’ll need
when you get down to the business of writing your novel. Feel free
to paste photos and maps inside your scrapbook. Such visual clues
are excellent for keeping your memory sharp. Also, they can serve as
inspiration while you're working. Simply flip to the photo and soak
in the ambiance. All of this will provide you with more flexibility
and less time consumption than having to scan through a hundred
printouts or piles of textbooks. It’ll also save you a great deal of
space
when all is said and done.
Another benefit to note taking is what I’d like to call
“connectivity.” Jotting things down by hand helps ingrain the
information in your mind. Photos and other mementos are excellent
for this purpose. Your mind ties it together in a form you will
understand and recognize. You will quickly discover your natural
structure for recording research material, one that allows you to
find what you need when you need it.
Drawing
the Mind Picture
So, what does all this work do for you? Simply put, research
material provides you with confidence in the subject matter. In
turn, this allows you to create an effective and accurate mind
picture of the setting and people in your story. Through research,
you will be able to see your characters move, talk,
and interact with their environment. Essentially, you’ll understand
the inner workings of the real world. Silly mistakes on detail can
be avoided more easily from this point forward. You’ll no longer
need to stop in the middle of the writing process and search for
facts or place-names. You’ll already know it all or, at the very
least, have it immediately on hand. This confidence will translate
into your writing, allowing you to create more freely.
Research can also provide you
with a great deal of inspiration. History and science are a
wellspring of ideas, and you’d be surprised what you can find even
in the seemingly mundane. Much of the research you collect will
never go into your book. However, simply knowing that information is
to your benefit. It eases the way and later on your story may change
in such a way as to require that knowledge. I may never need to go
into detail, but when my characters dine at Mike Anderson’s Seafood
in New Orleans, I’ll know what’s on the menu.
Knowledge is power. Use it to your advantage. Your fiction will
always benefit from a pinch of reality. So, before you begin to
write, get your facts straight. After all, you are taking your
audience on a trip of the mind. Don’t lead them astray just because
you were too lazy to know where you were going in the first place.
Be a know-it-all. Your readers will love you for it.
Magazine