I don’t know about you, but I don’t do any research at all during a first draft. I’m very single-minded in the early stages of a book, and my focus is on getting the story down as quickly as possible before I lose my mojo. So I pretty much write all my first drafts in panic mode, with the thought that any research I need to do can happen later.
Well, kids, it’s Later.
I’ve been waist deep in revisions since January, but it’s only been in the last couple of weeks that things have finally started to come together. I’ve been working intensely on my opening, trying to make it ā horrible pun alert… wait for it ā KILLER, but because of my opening scenes (a decomposing body, a character incarcerated in a maximum security prison), I’ve had to stop and do my research. A lot of research.
I’ve got my homicide textbooks to refer to, but those really aren’t for the faint of heart. I can only read them for bits at a time, because the full-color crime scene photos are a lot to digest. People really do die in horrible ways, and while it’s one thing to write about that, it’s a whole other thing to look at photos of people who have actually died.
I do have to send a shout-out to Lydia Kang, who had a fantastic post on her blog today as part of her Medical Mondays series. Curious about how dead bodies decompose? Then read THIS.
As for the prison stuff, I’m thinking a visit to one of the many facilities here in the state of Washington might be in order. I’m definitely working on this one. Because I can’t exactly watch The Shawshank Redemption twenty more times and call it research.
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| Here’s a prison I have been to: Alcatraz. Took this pic when I went on a tour back in 2008. The inside is just as confining as it looks on the outside. |
When do you research your stories? Before, during, or after a first draft?
Wow, fascinating research! I don't usually do research at all, but I'm trying to do more. I guess I'd do it before hand, but I dunno. Afterwards sounds good as well.
Good luck with the revisions! š
Have fun with all the research! Researching your subject leads to a "deeper" novel, I think. I once read a book by an author who researched for 2 years after writing the first draft. I just wish I could remember who it was now so I could cite him/her!
Lydia's post was awesome. She rocks research. I'm with you. I don't research in the first draft. Well, unless I can't move forward without the research. If that happens, then I dive in, get what I need to write the scene, and flesh the details out later.
There are some new jail and prison shows out I've seen. MSNBC seems to have a few, and True TV. A&E's new show Beyond Scared Straight might be useful, too. I mean, until you can get your tour set up.
Cue Keanu… "Whoah." Alcatraz — I've wanted to check that place out for some time. Research? What research? I guess I sometimes Google as I go, but it's not usually any more intense than that. Haven't written about decomposing bodies just yet, so that could be the difference.
ha! I'm revising as I go. Alcatraz is a pretty interesting place, but a bit spooky in parts. I have a ton of pics.
There is no escape from Colorado's SuperMax prison:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADX_Florence
I do the same as you – after the first draft is complete. I let it all hang out in the first draft. It's ugly, but it gets done and then I go back and start the anal retentive editing stuff. Have fun with research!
I loved Lydia's post this morning.
I try to do as much research before hand, but I'm still bad at doing it during the first draft. Let's just say I'm not a big fan of first drafts. I prefer revisions. š
I tend to do some research for the first draft, but most of my research happens during revisions. Writing a first draft in panic mode sounds pretty effective, actually. Good luck!
Fascinating post! My research is decidedly less, er, bloody than yours and I do it before I write the chapter that needs it. š
That sounds fascinating!
My current MS is historical, so I did research both before and during writing it to make sure I got certain things right. But I found the research fascinating, and it threw up new ideas too. Now I've finished I'm going back and checking details too.
I'm like you, never do research for the first go round. I don't want to lose the adrenaline and the ideas that I have the first go round. The second round is when the truth comes out… the research must be done, I must find my answers.
Talk about a boat load of time though… at least I know it's well worth it!!!!
It depends on how much I feel like procrastinating while writing the first draft, lol.
I toured a city jail when I was in high school…VERY scary. I spent the whole time trying to remember which color jumpsuit corresponded with which crime. (Orange was sex crime, red was violent crime, green was theft –not the real system just an example.)
I do minor research before I start writing. I feel like I need to do a little to ground me in the story, but then while I'm writing the first draft, I don't research. I'll make notes in my Word doc for things that I will need to come back and research later, but that's about it. During revisions is where most of my research comes in, too.
That's very interesting to read. I never thought to save research until after the first draft. It's an interesting concept I'm going to have to explore.
I do a little of both, I guess. Especially recently. I spent a year researching the real Vlad Dracula, 15th century Romania, and the Ottoman Empire before I even started outlining my current novel. Halfway through the novel now, I'm going to have to stop soon so as to further research Eastern Orthodox practices and vestments for secondary scenes that cannot be written without this knowledge.
Like the Queen song goes, "I'm going slightly mad . . ."
You know what? I bothered with a lot of research so far, but yeah, I should get a whole draft down before thinking about that. You're an amazing ressource for writing Jen. Tnx
I bet that is really difficult to research with crime scenes and what not. Sad stuff. BUT makes for an awesome book in the end! (realistic kind of awesome, not "I like murder IRL awesome"… GOod luck on all your research!
I usually do a bit of research while writing the first draft, but I don't do any substantial researching until after I get to the revision stage. I'm like you. If I don't get that first draft out quickly, I lose interest.
I am much like you and get to the nitty gritty details after I have the initial story down. Then it is time to really dig deep and fill in all those deets. I can really let it slide until it is revision time and then its like oh snap, I need to figure that out in a little more detail. lol
My research generally dictates the direction my book will take me. Some of it is quite like this–decomposing bodies–some of it is spy equipment, can be anything. Drugs. Everything. But I usually research before hand. I do A LOT more research in my later revisions to make sure details are completely accurate, though.
Hmm, I think I research on the first draft. See, I'm a bit ADD so I always look for excuses to take breaks from writing, and then I research! LOL
Thanks for sharing your process! I enjoyed knowing what you had to read to write a thriller! š
I research as much as I can before hand, but I don't really know my story until I'm past the outline stage and have my hands in the mix. So some research takes place during, which drives me mad because it can slow the process. I limit myself.
Soooo cool that you're going to visit a prison and talk to the warden! You have far more interesting research than I've had!
So interesting to find out how and when you guys research! Like everything else in this process, everybody has their own unique way of doing things.
@GetYourselfConnected: Thanks for the link. I'm all about prisons right now!
Iām a research as you go kind of gal. It helps me formulate my plan of attack.
My book doesn't involve too much research. What research is needed will wait until after my first draft is finished. I need to just get it done and not spend time looking things up.
Your research sounds so interesting! Good luck š
Lydia's blog post was pretty awesome! I have an unhealty facination with the medical discovery channel so nothing fazes me anymore. I just can't eat bar-b-q beef while watching it.
I do some research during the first draft if it's simple but if I know it's going to be a lot then I wait and go back later.
I could watch Shawshank Redemption over and over. And I totally claim Law and Order is research.lol
Watching 20+ times is clearly research. I should know.
You may want to check out this NYT article, "Dead Men Talking". I remember reading it years ago, and was fascinated by it. I was able to find it again:
http://partners.nytimes.com/library/magazine/home/20001203mag-osborne.html
Glad you liked it (prison link). ADX is a scary place.
I do very little research. I mostly write what I know, so if I don't know it, I don't write it. Or I BS my way through it!
I do research during my first draft, and before, and after…there always seems to be something I have to look up.
Good luck on your revisions, and thanks for the shout-out!
I do lots of research, before I start, as I'm writing, and at the revision stages. My alpha readers (wife, brother, sister) question everything, and if I haven't kept copies of my research I have to go back and do it all over again. I wouldn't have the nerve to ask to see the inside of a prison!