Writers love research… until they realize they’ve spent three hours reading about medieval door hinges “for authenticity.”
Writers love research… until they realize they’ve spent three hours reading about medieval door hinges “for authenticity.”
Research is essential — it gives your story texture, accuracy, and believability. But it shouldn’t turn into a black hole that eats your writing time. Here’s how to research smart, not endlessly.
1. Know What You Actually Need
Before you open 47 tabs, decide what you’re looking for.
Ask yourself:
- What’s essential to the story’s believability?
- What do I need to understand for the setting, plot, or character to make sense?
- What can I make up confidently?
🎯 Example: You don’t need a PhD in botany to write a fantasy forest. But you should know what plants would kill your protagonist if they pick the wrong berries.
2. Start Broad, Then Zoom In
Begin with a general overview — then dig deeper where it matters.
- Use Wikipedia for summaries (yes, it’s fine to start there)
- Follow the sources at the bottom for reliable references.
- Watch short documentaries or expert interviews for quick, immersive context.
And if you’re like most writers, you’ll spend two hours researching online, five hours checking your at-home book stash, six more reading through your “personal library” — and then suddenly remember you haven’t eaten in nine hours.
Congratulations, you’ve officially time-traveled through the Research Dimension.
3. Use Primary Sources for Authentic Detail
When possible, go straight to the source:
- Diaries, letters, or interviews — great for understanding tone and culture.
- Maps, photos, and videos — useful for visual and sensory inspiration.
- Firsthand experience — visit locations, talk to people, or test small details yourself.
Your story world feels richer when you borrow real-life texture.
4. Keep a “Research Lite” Mindset
You don’t need to memorize everything. The goal is believability, not expertise.
Use the “movie test”:
Would a reader watching this story as a film think, “That feels real”?
If yes — you’ve done enough.
Nobody’s grading your bibliography.
5. Organize Your Findings (Or Future You Will Cry)
Keep your notes simple and searchable. Options:
- A single Google Doc with links and bullet points
- A Notion or Obsidian board for projects
- A folder of screenshots, PDFs, and bookmarks
Add quick tags like “character,” “setting,” “dialogue ref.” so you can find things later.
Future You will build a shrine in your honor.
6. Balance Fact and Imagination
Writers often fall into one of two traps:
- “I must get every detail perfect!”
- “It’s fiction; I can make up gravity.”
Aim for the middle. Readers forgive creative tweaks — but they hate lazy mistakes.
Do enough research to sound confident, then let imagination take over.
7. Check Credibility (Especially Online)
Before you quote or base a plot point on something, verify it.
- Use reputable sites (universities, museums, experts).
- Cross-check details from multiple sources.
- Beware forums and social media myths (“Vikings had horned helmets” — no, they didn’t).
If it sounds too cool to be true, it probably belongs in fantasy — not your footnotes.
8. Know When to Stop
Research should serve the story, not delay it.
If you’ve read five sources that agree, or if you’ve started researching things your characters would never care about, it’s time to write.
You can always fact-check during revision.
Otherwise, you’ll blink and realize you’ve crossed into The Sims Dimension — where time doesn’t exist, your characters are thriving, you haven’t eaten since Friday and somewhere in a deep dark corner your clock says it’s 2 AM on Tuesday.
💬 Final Thoughts
Research isn’t about knowing everything — it’s about making your story feel authentic. Learn just enough to sound confident, stay organized, and don’t fall down internet rabbit holes (looking at you, “medieval cooking YouTube”).
The best writers are curious, not encyclopedic.
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