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    Mikiesboy
  • Mikiesboy
  • Author
  • 12/09/2017
  • 433 Words
  • 4,404 Views
  • 23 Comments
The content presented here is for informational or educational purposes only. These are just the authors' personal opinions and knowledge.
Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are based on the authors' lives and experiences and may be changed to protect personal information. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 

Why Research Is Important To Me - 1. Why Research Is Important To Me

This is my experience. I hope it's helpful to some of you.

Why Research Is Important To Me

 

I have strong feelings about research; I’ve started a new project, which needs a lot of it. This made me wonder about why I do all of this work. I made a discovery during my initial look around at my new subject that assured me I can safely write, what I’d planned in my head.

Maybe with a Once Upon a Time or Fantasy story you can get away with not researching, maybe. However if you are writing anything, getting it right should be important to you. Even Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and FanFiction writers can benefit from some research.

I spend a lot of time doing research before and during doing a project. Having the right facts, having some back-up that what you are saying is correct, in my opinion, is very important. It’s also important to the reader, if you want them to believe.

Recently I wrote about a man who had spinal cord injuries. Little did I know it would be read by someone whose husband had had a similar accident to the one my character did.

That someone who would read my story could have gone through the same thing had not entered my head at the time. When I read the comment, I felt my heart drop. I was redeemed when I was told how realistic the accident, the hospital, and the character’s reactions were.

The point is, if I hadn’t read about spinal cord injuries, Janka ratings, uses for fallow land and many of other things, my characters would not be living in the real world I’d put them in. I’d be guessing at how things were. The story would not have worked, it would not have felt right to my team, myself, and most especially to those who read it.

I can hear many people groaning as they read this. I write for fun, so accuracy doesn’t matter. Writing is my outlet, or my hobby so I just make things up. Well, you know, I write for fun, too. You need to do what is right for you.

What I put out is important to me. I want people to trust me because when I ask them come with me under the boardwalk to a fairy city, or to accept talking goats and magic, or to read about zombies, angels, vampires, or to follow me to the future, I want them to know they are safe. I want them to know they will get a good story that is different, original, and as real as I can make it.

Thanks to @mollyhousemouse and @AC Benus and @Myr for your support.
Copyright © 2017 Mikiesboy; All Rights Reserved.
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The content presented here is for informational or educational purposes only. These are just the authors' personal opinions and knowledge.
Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are based on the authors' lives and experiences and may be changed to protect personal information. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 

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Former Member

I once read a long fantasy story about a teenager who was a diver – it was a what-if for the author and his youth. The protagonist was good enough to make it to the ’68 Olympic Games in Mexico City. He witnesses Tommie Smith and John Carlos raising their clenched fists and lowering their heads in support of the US civil rights movement (the IOC banned them for life – an Australian, Peter Norman, who wore an ‘Olympics Project for Human Rights’ badge during the ceremony in support was left off the Aussie Olympic team in ’72 and was not invited to join other Olympic medalists at the Sydney Olympic opening ceremony). The protagonist was written as being at least somewhat Openly Gay (I read the story online on another site about 15 years ago), but he never meets Dr Tom Waddell (Tom would later found the Gay Olympics, be sued by the USOC and forced to change the name to the Gay Games) who was participating in the same Olympics. When I emailed the author to ask why they never encountered each other in the story, the author admitted that he’d never heard of Waddell before.

 

The author is a closeted man who I think I remember telling me was in an opposite-sex marriage. Writing was his only outlet for his real feelings and desires. The story had reached significantly more than 100 chapters the last time I noticed it, but I had stopped reading it long before that point.

 

A little research should have uncovered that tidbit of history.

Edited by droughtquake
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Reader1810
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tim, I totally and completely appreciate every bit of effort you put into the research you do for your stories. I especially appreciated your efforts with Changes. The realism of the situation was evident and made the story so much more than it would have been without it. 

 

 

Edited by Reader1810
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Mikiesboy
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16 hours ago, knotme said:

To write [just] for fun isn’t realistic; writing is a lot of work. Some write because they must, to resolve by expression an internal mental mess. But for the rest of us, why do it unless it pleases you? Most of us gain satisfaction from a job well done. Research is part of that.

Thank you for your comments.Writing is very hard work and effort. I've written to resolve a number of issues and challenges and still do.. usually via poetry.  Prose is a different kettle of fish and pleases me when i feel i've done a good job. Thanks again for your input!

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Mikiesboy
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16 hours ago, droughtquake said:

I once read a long fantasy story about a teenager who was a diver – it was a what-if for the author and his youth. The protagonist was good enough to make it to the ’68 Olympic Games in Mexico City. He witnesses Tommie Smith and John Carlos raising their clenched fists and lowering their heads in support of the US civil rights movement (the IOC banned them for life – an Australian, Peter Norman, who wore aa ‘Olympics Project for Human Rights’ badge during the ceremony in support was left off the Aussie Olympic team in ’72 and was not invited to join other Olympic medalists at the Sydney Olympic opening ceremony). The protagonist was written as being at least somewhat Openly Gay (I read the story online on another site about 15 years ago), but he never meets Dr Tom Waddell (Tom would later found the Gay Olympics, be sued by the USOC and forced to change the name to the Gay Games) who was participating in the same Olympics. When I emailed the author to ask why they never encountered each other in the story, the author admitted that he’d never heard of Waddell before.

 

The author is a closeted man who I think I remember telling me was in an opposite-sex marriage. Writing was his only outlet for his real feelings and desires. The story had reached significantly more than 100 chapters the last time I noticed it, but I had stopped reading it long before that point.

 

A little research should have uncovered that tidbit of history.

You are right, of course drought quake!  Research would have helped him. Thank you for your comments my friend!

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Mikiesboy
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16 hours ago, Reader1810 said:

tim, I totally and completely appreciate every bit of effort you put into the research you do for your stories. I especially appreciated your efforts with Changes. The realism of the situation was evident and made the story so much more than it would have been without it. 

 

 

Thank you, Reader! I appreciate your comments and support. :heart:

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Mikiesboy
12 hours ago, Parker Owens said:

I could not agree more. When I run into trouble in my writing, it’s often because there is something in it that begs for research, for better information to guide me and the story. Your writing clearly benefits from your research - it’s wonderfully crafted and utterly believable. 

I often mumble to myself.. "Can that happen?  Is that a thing? When did that happen?" Then i have to look it up because i just need to know then!  Thank you Parker you're very kind! xoxo

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Carlos Hazday
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The moment someone shares a story with the public, they're no longer writing 'just for fun'.  I constantly research while writing, particularly for the CJ series so strongly grounded in the real world. Doing anything less would be insulting to readers who decide to spend their time reading what I wrote. Same reason I don't go long periods of times between chapters. I'm not taking for granted anyone picking up what I write if I treat them as so unimportant. I treasure comments from readers who are reminded of a place when I describe it accurately, and comments like the one someone made about retracing characters' steps while on a visit to Washington and eating at a restaurant I used as a setting. I'll repeat myself: it's all about respect for the readers.

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Mikiesboy
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5 minutes ago, Carlos Hazday said:

The moment someone shares a story with the public, they're no longer writing 'just for fun'.  I constantly research while writing, particularly for the CJ series so strongly grounded in the real world. Doing anything less would be insulting to readers who decide to spend their time reading what I wrote. Same reason I don't go long periods of times between chapters. I'm not taking for granted anyone picking up what I write if I treat them as so unimportant. I treasure comments from readers who are reminded of a place when I describe it accurately, and comments like the one someone made about retracing characters' steps while on a visit to Washington and eating at a restaurant I used as a setting. I'll repeat myself: it's all about respect for the readers.

I know you don't .. but some people who post on here, and other places have said that to me, which is why I included it.. i dont' need to research because .... up to that person but it will show eventually. C, your stories are wonderfully detailed and i'm pretty darned sure, most, if not all the places you talk about, you've been to, or researched very well. It's respect for the reader.. and ourselves, i hasten to add.  Thanks for your comments!!

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Mikiesboy
14 minutes ago, jkwsquirrel said:

What's one of the top rules for writing?  "Write what you know."  Well, if you don't know, what better way to improve not only your writing but your life in general than by digging deeper into the nuances of your topic?  Nice article as always, Tim!

i have a tendency to break that rule on a regular basis ... but i make sure i read a lot before i post anything or i ask GA members with that insight or experience to review for me. Nothing worse than assuming you're right and finding out you're not! Thanks very much for your great comments!

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WolfM
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I couldn't agree with you more, tim.  I write because I enjoy it (most of the time), but I also want it to be written well so the people I share it with will enjoy it.  I do a lot of research sometimes on the smallest item to try and make what I'm writing more authentic.  Sometimes the research is just as much fun as the writing.  Doesn't matter if it is learning about a location I'm using or some other detail.  I learned more about cave formations than I thought I would when that entered into RWTP.  The research that you do for your stories may not be known by most of us, but the end result shows in your incredible writing.

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dughlas

As a reader research is as important to me as grammar and spelling. If you don't take the time to research and find a good team if betas and editor there are going to be flaws in your story that effect the reader's enjoyment and believability. It amazes me the number and types of  interest and knowledge of members and readers on this site. Chances are someone will know if you're winging/faking the facts.

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Former Member
On 12/9/2017 at 2:24 PM, droughtquake said:

‘Olympics Project for Human Rights’ badge during the ceremony in support was left off the Aussie Olympic team in ’72 and was not invited to join other Olympic medalists at the Sydney Olympic opening ceremony).

That is awful! To think in the year 2000 they could still not see the honor of standing up for human rights!!!

 

Research is a valuable asset for any author who wishes to bring a past time to life. Even the year 2000 now seems a million miles away. Thanks JP. 

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Former Member
1 hour ago, AC Benus said:

That is awful! To think in the year 2000 they could still not see the honor of standing up for human rights!!!

 

On 12/10/2017 at 6:57 AM, Mikiesboy said:

…Tommie Smith and John Carlos raising their clenched fists and lowering their heads in support of the US civil rights movement (the IOC banned them for life…

As far as I know the ban was never rescinded by the IOC.

 

And the USOC still hasn’t given the Gay Games permission to use the word “Olympic” (the US Congress legally gave them exclusive rights to it the US)!

Mikiesboy
1 minute ago, Mark92 said:

Good research can make a story win or fail. Especially in a historical setting where timelines are vital. 

You can't have Darwin, before he was born, the same thing goes for something as simple as an elastic band. Sometimes, the research is as intriguing and fascinating as writing the story.

yes Sir, you are correct.  i often get lost in the research... 

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Jason Rimbaud

I just saw this because of Myr's Deep Dive blog post and what a great way to start my day off. 

I got a GED at sixteen, which I think a trained monkey could pass, and never made it to college so my education level pales in comparison to most other people on this site.

Whatever small amount of knowledge I have was because I found interest in something and did my research. Not only does research make your story better, it also expands your mind, like one commenters said so elegantly above. I read as much as I can, incorporate that into my work when applicable, and like you said, I tend to get lost in the research. 

One of my friends recently received his Masters in History. Being as that is a subject I love, I did all his homework alongside him, wrote the same research papers, read the same books, and listened to the same lectures, he was kind enough to record all of them. And while I never received a piece of paper, it was a personal milestone to take the journey alongside my friend and receive the same knowledge. You don't have to go to school to learn something. Great article and one I think everyone could find benefit from reading. 

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