Fiction or non-fiction book research is one of the most important aspects of the writing process. It can easily make or break your novel or manuscript, but research can be a daunting task that keeps you from doing what you want to do: write.
Should you use research or observation to write a book?
If you’re writing about a complex topic, you probably understand your need for research. However, if you’re writing a simple story, you’re probably tempted to write from your observations. I’ve read almost 140 books the last two years, and one thing that will almost universally ruin a book is when an author doesn’t understand what he or she is writing about and it shows. We don’t know what we don’t know. It’s dangerous to rely solely on your observations to write even about simple topics.
Research for fiction
Good research can easily make a novel more immersive and realistic. Research is essential for period pieces and historical fiction. Your observations as a writer will not help you here and you must rely on other’s observations. You need to make sure your sources are reliable. It’s not only useful in historical fiction or sci-fi, either. Research helps locations feel alive, characters seem experienced, and plot lines seem more plausible.
A stitch in time saves nine
Writing can itself be a long and tedious task, and writer’s block is a real problem for authors. When I wrote my first non-fiction book, I attempted to outline the entire book with only cursory research. I thought that I could save time. Instead, I had to completely rewrite my outline once I had a better understanding of the underlying topics and the most recent research.
It makes writing easier
Research for fiction or nonfiction makes the writing process much more pleasant! If you’ve ever had to write for a job or for school, you know how difficult it can be to write about something you don’t know about. You may constantly second-guess your own knowledge on the topic or struggle to find words to express something you don’t fully comprehend. When you have research on the topic of your manuscript you will see a noticeable change in writing.
Keep the main thing the main thing
If you’re a writer, you want to write, not research. Let Groundwork Research Group help you to develop the research that you need to get your work into the hands of your readers. Even if you are writing on a topic that you understand well our services can help flesh out opposing viewpoints, obtain quotes, and conduct surveys. Contact us today to discuss!