Why It Pays to Research

Research can be one of the less fun aspects of writing. But it can also be one of the more rewarding. A little research can add detail to your story that's believable, rich, and engrossing. Whether it's as specific as police rankings or as general as underwater archaeology (a foundation for my current novel), buckling down to do research gives me confidence later when I start to write.

The prime benefit of research in my opinion is all the raw detail you have at your fingertips. You will doubtfully use it all, but just knowing it yourself affects your writing. Readers will get a sense that you know what you're talking about, upping the believability factor. And knowing the truth can help you bend it as needed or desired.

Research can also give you ideas you never would have had otherwise. While reading about marine archaeology, I learned some things that led to developing a whole new aspect of my novel. It may take some effort to find what you need, but the benefits can be surprising.

When should you start researching? How can you keep it all organized? I'll delve into those topics tomorrow. For now, what are your thoughts on the benefits of research and fiction?

Culling Fluff from Your Story

Every scene that you write doesn't necessarily belong in the finished draft. A lot of things you may have written just to keep writing, or they were scenes you needed to know about but your readers don't. Part of writing a first draft is learning about your characters and figuring out the story. So some of your initial writing may be you playing around, testing the waters. So how can you recognize the fluff from the important scenes?

An awesome trick I learned several years ago comes from screenwriting. Get a pack of index cards. Go through your novel or short story and write down a scene per index card. Number the scene, and in a sentence say who is in the scene and what they're doing. Once you're done, lay out the index cards and read your novel in summary. You will immediately recognize the cotton candy from the steak because the one-sentence summary will read something like "Rex and Sir Edmund chat" (from an actual scene card of an old story of mine). Laugh if you want, but I promise somewhere in your novel or short story is a scene like that and this method will smoke it out.

How do you cull out the filler from your stories?

Raising the Stakes

This week, I'm working on raising the stakes in my novel. Like tension, the more complications you add to a story, the better. Things are getting less cut-and-dried. My protagonist's mettle is being tested, and frankly so is mine. We're both having to show what we're really made of and I think the end result is going to be good.

So how does one complicate the life of a hero or heroine? All the advice I've ever read about this is basically to think of all the horrible things that could happen or stand in the way, and when you've run out of ideas, think of more. It is amazing to me how many you can come up with when you think you're done. And the more you push, the better the ideas that come out. You're heroine won't have an easy time of it, but the end will be that much sweeter when she arrives.

How do you torture...I mean complicate...your protagonist's life?

My Attempt at Outlining (What I Learned)

Writing methods seem to vary as much as writing genres. What helps one writer can cramp another's style. Working on my current novel has given me new insight into how I work. I did some experimenting with my methods last year, trying out full-blown outlining for fun. Didn't go over so well, and after a while, I dumped the idea and went to how I usually work and finally got my book written (yay!). However, I did learn some things in the process, including tricks that I will take with me to the next project.

1. It never hurts to try something new. Despite complaining (mostly to my sister) about how much longer it took me, I'm still glad I tried outlining. If I hadn't tried it, I would never know if it works for me or not.

2. Even if an entire process doesn't work, you can still glean things from it. No, I will never attempt a full-fledged outline ever again. But in the process of attempting it, I refined my own work methods and I consider that to be a plus.

3. You work how you work, and that's fine. Part of the reason I tried outlining was because I felt like I was doing things the wrong way. Recently, I read a post by author Carolyn Hart who described her work methods and they are strikingly similar to my own. And she's published over forty books. So I think my method is OK after all.

The funny thing is I work pretty much the same way I did in middle school. I keep all my random ideas in spiral-bound notebooks with pretty prints on the cover. Once ideas for a novel really start to take shape, the story gets its own notebook. When working on a novel or short story, I can only go so far with the idea in my head. There comes a point when I have to hit the page or the details will never emerge or solidify. I often have to write to find out what happens next, and I rather like it that way. I've been surprised so many times while writing, and that means my readers will be too.

So how do you write? What methods have you tried? What have you learned from them?

Fabulous photography by Pink Sherbet Photography

Cuteness from the Vineyard

One of the highlights of my trip to Martha's Vineyard last week was admiring the circle of gingerbread cottages in the middle of Oak Bluffs. So for some Friday randomness, I'm posting photos of some of my favorites.

Adventures in Choosing a Title

After living with a mediocre working title for my novel-in-progress, I'm hunting for my perfect title. I've been listing and brainstorming and trying to think outside of my preconceived notions for the last several days, and yesterday I finally hit on something that's taking me a step closer to my goal. It's still not exactly right, but I finally feel like I'm making progress.

I've discovered over the years that titles can be bliss or misery. I have on occassion written from a great title, but this has been a rare event. Generally, if the title comes first it never finds a home. Just look through some of my old notebooks, filled with awesome titles that have yet to find a story. I have a stellar title for the next novel I'm working on (as long as it fits after the book is actually written), and in the process of brainstorming for my current novel, I've hit on a few gems but they're irrelevant to what I'm working on.

As we're all probably aware, titles can make or break a book. Waltz into Barnes & Noble and browse the shelves. What books will you look at? Personally, a catchy title and a snazzy cover will prompt me to snap that baby off the shelf. Even if I end up putting it back because it's not what I wanted, I still chose that book over the hundreds of other possibilities. A crisp title can say it all - and sell your book.

To get some new ideas, I decided to browse titles at the bookstore yesterday and here are some that stood out to me:

I Thought You Were Dead by Pete Nelson
Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian
Bulletproof Mascara by Bethany Maines
Ravenor: The Omnibus by Dan Abnett
Terminal World by Alastair Reynolds
Every Last One by Anna Quindlen
Anthill by E.O. Wilson
Admission by Jean Hanff Korelitz
Jarrettsville by Cornelia Nixon
The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti

What are your favorite titles? How do you choose titles for your books/stories/poems?

Photo by Ian Wilson

Eye Candy from Martha's Vineyard

Instead of writing today, I'm posting a few visual highlights from my recent trip to Martha's Vineyard. I may post more later in the week. If you're ever in Massachusetts, it's a terrific getaway spot.

The most delicious cupcakes ever from E's Cupcakes in Vineyard Haven.

Lighthouse at Edgartown.

Riley's Reads children's bookstore in Vineyard Haven (Tisbury).

The Riley's Reads mascot.

Staircase inside the Edgartown bookstore.

The Edgartown bookstore. One of several indie book shops on the island.

One of hundreds of adorable cottages in Oak Bluffs