Research, Research, Research!

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So, as I prepare for my newest novel I decided to post about research!

What is research? 

Well, it's obtaining knowledge. This can be for any reason, but for an author it's to make our work authentic! Something the reader can stick their teeth into and feel how real our work is. You have to research EVERYTHING. For me, a general rule of thumb is to know 100 things about my story world. By doing this, I should be able to make 100 different stories for my researched characters to go into. 

What do I use for research?

Anything I can find! 

I once made my husband stop at a rest stop so I could take pictures and analyze the area. I had a story scene in a similar location and wanted it to be authentic. I followed my brother once as he took pictures through urban areas of the city so I could see the process because I had a character who was into photography. 

I also use the internet. Sites like WebMD if my characters are sick or to look up how long it takes for an injury to heal.

For The Space Between, I watched many films documenting international adoptions of Asian American children and their experiences post adoption. I also studied the adoption process through the states and identified what countries do and don't allow international adoptions to the United States.

Here's one of the movies I rented for research of The Space Between. I found this one very moving, and the below clip that complements it.

What else is research good for?

One of the fabulous things I love about research is I'm learning new information that I can use in everyday life. Research helps me grow as an individual, and though it may be tedious and sometimes mind boggling, it's fulfilling to know what I'll get out of it in the end :D

Now, I ask you: What's your research process? Favorite websites? Things you love to learn? I want to hear it all!

Research and Your Audience Featuring: The Geico Cavemen!

Hello, all!  Well to start off today's post I would like you to watch one of my FAVORITE commercials featuring the Geico Cavemen above!

So what does this post have to do with the Geico Cavemen you may ask?  Well Geico made these two Cavemen pretty perturbed when they ran a commercial without bothering to research if Cavemen existed, thereby offending the whole Caveman Community!



The same goes in writing, my friends.  Research and how it effects audiences.  Author's don't want to offend their audiences so they always research, research, research to not play on stereotypes or cliches.

Now in the writing world they say you should always "write what you know" first and foremost.  So that's what I do personally.  My stories will pretty much always be set in the Midwest or at least feature a character who has lived there at one time in their lives because that's what I know!  I've lived there my whole life so I feel that that's a great starting point from me.  But what do you do to supplement that with things that you don't know to get your story really amped up with variety?  RESEARCH!!!

I call my friends, social network, head to the library, google, and all kinds of things to make sure everything in my stories can be the best that they can be portrayed to wide audiences and I love the process.  I find out so many cool things about the world and how it works through the eyes of my characters.  Heck, I grow as much as them :D  I use my writing to explore new worlds, customs, and environments that I otherwise would have never been able to be introduced to before!

Now I ask you?  What's your research process?  Is there a common theme to your writing as well like my connection to my good ole' Midwestern roots?  I'd love to here it!

Laterz,