In a post on Writer Unboxed, Gwen Hernandez discusses the importance of research when writing about real places. “It’s the tiniest of errors made by people writing about places and things they’re unfamiliar with that can pull you out of the story and make you question everything else’s validity,” she says. “It’s the reason I mostly write about places I’ve visited or lived, or completely make up a location, and still do extensive research.”
On the plus side, research can help you:
- Learn about places, events, people, customs, and history
- Discover something that sparks a new idea or direction for a story or character
- Lend authenticity to settings and characters
- Learn more about the quirks and histories of places, including little details that bring them to life
However, research can also lead to:
- Rabbit holes. It’s very easy to indulge in too much research.
- Info dumping. You might find it tempting to share every little detail you’ve discovered, whether or not your story needs it.
- Stifled creativity. You might be afraid to create details if you’re worried they will be contradicted by your research.
- Boredom and frustration. Not all topics are enthralling and some details may remain elusive.
- Junk. Some research books and sites are filled with inaccuracies.
