Hello Wattpaders!
Many of us view writing as a welcome break from boring schoolwork and long workdays. Hearing about the importance of research when it comes to writing fiction makes the writing process seem more like an intimidating task than a treat. But it doesn't have to be.
Let's start with the basics:
Why do research?
— For your peace of mind
If you've ever blindly charged into an unfamiliar genre without any prior research, you know it can be an overwhelming and tiring process of constant doubt and questions. Doing your research before beginning gives you confidence about how realistic your content is and how calm you feel about the writing process itself, knowing that you have collected enough information.
— For your story
Think of a building with a shaky foundation. Anything else that happens later in this construction will be negatively impacted after that initial foundation has been established. A story that isn't based on research is often obvious in that nothing is holding it together. It goes wherever the wind blows it next. Read more here.
— For the readers' enjoyment
Readers love stories that they can relate to. If your main character's going through high school, writing that experience with authenticity and understanding can make your readers feel seen. Even if you're writing a fantasy story, you can still communicate that relatability with your readers (remember how many people identify with Harry Potter and his friends, and the elements of Rowling's fictional world). Read more here.
"You must inspire the reader with the confidence that you know the fascinating inside story, that you're not just faking it. Even in a novel, your world has to be so convincingly grounded in the facts and feelings of the real world that the reader doesn't doubt it for an instant." - Philip Gerard
What to research
There's so much that goes into writing a successful fiction novel, which means that there are lots of research opportunities: from polishing your craft to learning story structure to learning about the unfamiliar places and periods that you want to include in your story. Read more here.
How to research
Most importantly, research doesn't have to be boring. You can begin with your interests. Are you a major bookworm? Perfect! There's so much reading material available to help you learn about the things you're curious about, both fiction and non-fiction. Do you love watching movies and shows? Find those about the topics and types of characters you want to write about to view some elements of your stories more visually. Do you love to travel? That can help you write about places you've experienced first-hand to make it as realistic as possible for your readers. Read more here.
Here are some tips from us...
"The last thing you want is for a reader to say, you got that part wrong. You will most likely lose that reader too because you've pulled them out of the story and now all they can think about is how X is not Y, X is X. You may spend hours researching something you only mention in one sentence, but it will all be worth it because it will draw your reader more into your world." - KatherineArlene
"The more you know about what you're writing, the easier it'll be to write. 90% of the time it is important to be exact. One time you can "wing it" a little is if you're dipping into lore and mythology, then take what you find and put your spin on it." - ViktoriaRay
"I know it's boring to look up certain things for your book. It can give me a headache sometimes and there are many times when I just stop writing the book because of how much information I need to write it realistically. But research is great, generally. It helps you know more about something that you didn't know before, and it helps benefit your writing... It may be boring, but it can help you make a great book. And research doesn't need to come from the internet or history books or whatever textbook you need; you could watch movies, shows, or other published novels in the genre you're writing in. So depending on where you're researching, it can also be quite fun!" - Alicia20M
*What are your thoughts on these tips? Comment below with your own opinions. *
YOU ARE READING
How to Write Teen Fiction
RandomThe genre Teen Fiction crosses multiple sub-genres, anything from Horror to Romance to Science Fiction. With this book, we want to offer helpful tips and advice when writing teen fiction.
