Research
Assignment for WRIT 402:
Writing is all about imagination, but even the wildest stories need a bit of research to feel real. Whether you’re writing about a soccer player or an astronaut, research can add depth and texture to your writing. In this post, I’ll share some fun tips and lessons I've learned about how to approach research without getting lost in the weeds.
What Do You Really Need to Know?
(Hint: Not Everything)
When you're starting a new project, the idea of research can feel overwhelming. Where do you even begin? The key is to figure out what will actually help your story.
Start with Your Story: Think about what parts of your story need more depth. Are your characters from a specific time period or culture? Is your setting a real city, or is it an entirely made-up world? Focus on the areas where a little research will make a big difference.
Fill in the Gaps: As you write, you'll notice gaps in your knowledge. Maybe you don’t know much about 18th-century fashion or ancient battle tactics—so, go ahead and do some research! But don’t get carried away, just dig into the bits that matter most to your plot.
Let Your Characters Guide You: Sometimes, your characters will tell you what they need. If your protagonist is a scientist or an expert in a particular field, you’ll need to learn enough to make them believable. Research what you need to know about their job or skills, and you’re good to go.
Where to Hunt for the Good Stuff
(Spoiler: It's Not Just Google)
The internet is a vast ocean of information, but not all of it’s trustworthy. Here’s where to find solid sources that will actually help you.
Books Are Your Best Friend: Books, especially nonfiction ones, can give you the most reliable information. There’s likely a book on what youre interested in! Libraries, Amazon, and digital libraries like Project Gutenberg are all great places to find what you need. My personal favorite is Thriftbooks.
Online Databases: Google can be a great place to start, but for deeper research, try academic databases. They’re full of peer-reviewed papers and credible sources. You don’t need to be an academic to use them!
YouTube and Documentaries: If you're a visual learner, documentaries or YouTube videos can be a goldmine. Watch interviews with experts or dive into history through documentaries. You’ll get a much more nuanced understanding of your topic.
Primary Sources: Go straight to the source. If your story is set in the past, or based on real events, primary sources like letters, journals, and newspaper archives can provide incredible insight. Many museums and libraries have digitized these resources, making them easy to access online. And sometimes your source could be a person that needs a quick email to get into touch!
Is This Source Legit?
(Or Is It Just Another Internet Rabbit Hole?)
Not all research sources are created equal—some are more reliable than others. So, how do you know if what you’re reading is trustworthy?
Expert Check: Who wrote the article or book? Are they an expert in the field? If you're reading a blog or article, do a quick search to see if the author has any credentials or experience. If you're unsure, trust books and academic journals over random internet posts.
Relevance, Relevance, Relevance: A source might be credible, but is it relevant? If you’re researching Victorian architecture, a source on modern architecture probably won’t help. Stick to sources that are specifically about what you're writing.
Avoid Bias: Be cautious of sources with a strong personal or political agenda. They might provide useful information, but their perspective might not be the best fit for your project—unless you’re deliberately addressing bias in your story.
How to Drop Your Research Into Your Story Without Making It Feel Like a Lecture
So, you've done the research. Now what? The trick is to use that knowledge to enrich your writing without bogging it down with facts.
Sprinkle, Don’t Dump: Readers don’t want to be hit with a long list of facts about your setting or characters. Instead, sprinkle in details that make your world feel real. For example, you don’t need to explain every aspect of medieval medicine, but mentioning a character’s knowledge of herbal remedies can add authenticity.
Show, Don’t Tell:Don’t just tell your readers the historical facts you’ve learned—show them through subtle details. For instance, if you’ve researched the process of making coffee, instead of saying, "Coffee was first brewed in Ethiopia," you could describe a character carefully grinding fresh beans with an old-fashioned mortar and pestle before they brew their first cup. You’re not delivering a lesson, you’re giving the reader an experience that feels real—and fun—because it’s informed by your research. It's all about making the research feel like part of the natural world you're building.
Give Credit, but Keep it Subtle: If it’s acamdeic, cite you courses. if you’re not writing an academic paper, you don’t need to cite your sources. But if your research plays a big role in your writing, it’s nice to give a little nod to where you got your info. You could mention your character’s “knowledge of ancient texts” or “years of studying geology,” depending on your source.
Resources You’ll Love
If you want to go further with your research or just get some more tips on how to weave research into your writing, check out these great resources:
“On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft” by Stephen King
This book is a must-read for any writer, but it also dives into the importance of research. King talks about how he uses what he learns to bring his stories to life, and how research can make all the difference in creating a world that feels real.The Writers’ Workshop - Researching Fiction
Writers' Workshop Research Guide
This guide offers practical advice on how to approach research for fiction writers, from where to find sources to how to incorporate them into your writing seamlessly.“On Writing for Children” by C.S. Lewis
On Writing for Children – C.S. Lewis
This is a must-read for anyone interested in writing for younger audiences or anyone curious about Lewis’s approach to storytelling. It’ll help you see the value of research in crafting stories that treat children as thoughtful, capable readers—not as “children.”
A Game-Changing Lesson from C.S. Lewis
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned about writing—and research—came from On Three Ways of Writing for Childrenby C.S. Lewis. This essay had a huge impact on my approach to writing, especially for younger readers. I’ve always admired Lewis, but after reading this particular work in a course where we had to annotate it in detail, it completely changed the way I think about crafting stories.
One line from Lewis stuck with me:
“We do not write for children because they are children, but because they are people.” CS Lewis
This idea flipped the switch for me. It made me realize that research, at its core, is about respecting the intelligence of your audience, no matter their age. It’s not about dumbing things down or making the story feel too “childish” or “simplified.” It’s about understanding your audience enough to give them a rich, authentic experience. That one line made me understand the value of research in a deeper way—it’s not just about learning facts, it’s about learning how to communicate those facts in ways that resonate with the reader, whether they’re ten years old or fifty.
Conclusion:
Research doesn’t have to be a chore—it’s a fun and useful way to make your writing richer and more believable. Remember to focus on the areas that matter most to your story, use credible sources, and sprinkle in those details without overwhelming your readers. Before you know it, your creative writing will be packed with fascinating, well-researched elements that bring your world to life. And, as I learned from C.S. Lewis, it’s not just about learning facts—it’s about connecting those facts with the heart of your story. Happy researching—and writing!
