Best research methods? October 15, 2009
Posted by kmcalear in Inspiration, Life, Writing Craft.1 comment so far
It’s mid-semester which means right about now I’m waking up in the middle of the night in a cold panic about all the papers I haven’t even managed to find time to research for. AGH! Every semester I promise myself to have them done a month early, but somehow juggling three classes makes that hard, on top of 2 jobs and trying to have some fun in the meantime. Thankfully… lately, I’ve been getting great ideas for papers. Now I just have to actually sit down and do the work to get them written out. But isn’t that always the writing problem?
This got me thinking about research methods for writing and novels. Jana and I both tend to like to do a lot of internet research, but I do think what really helps me when I work on a setting is visiting the place. Unfortunately that doesn’t always happen, thanks to financial feaseability, but I’d love to eventually add that into my method.
I do tend to start listening to things my characters listen to, eat food they like, go to sports/entertainment events the characters would enjoy and pick up books that suit them to get into the ‘Mind’ of the character. I like to approach the research from a character view and then stretch outwards, perhaps some national geographic or travel channel (Alas I have to go to the workout room for that, no home tv anymore. Curse you economic recession!)
Do you research setting first? Characters first? Do you do character sketches, backgrounds, or try to take on some of your character’s traits? How do you research?
