Fic Talk > General Discussion
Question of the day thread number 2!
Sakabelle:
Depends on the story. I tended to do less research for my Nick romances, just because the stories were about him and a made up character anyway, so there wasn't much point. For Running Up That Hill I have done a TON of research, because I don't want to leave out anything that happened during the break or get something wrong. (Even though I have already gotten stuff wrong but whatever)
To me accuracy really does matter in terms of real places and events. I wrote about Sea World, and I was on their website looking up times, when they opened, what shows were playing that day so I could get it right. Same thing with appearances the boys do, if I'm writing about it I'll always watch it first. And sometimes doing that helps, because I pick up on little gestures and things that they do that can add to the story. When I was writing 'Total Request Live' I did that, and there was this one point at the beginning where Nick looks right into Kevin's video camera and says something. So I definitely added that bit into the story. I think it makes things seem more real and plausible.
I've never written a story that takes me completely out of my comfort zone (such as your College story, Tracy) where I would have to do a ton of research about the setting and that sort of thing before even beginning to write, but I imagine if I did, I would do a ton of research for that as well.
Pengi:
Borrowed Time is the first time I've done some really heavy, detailed research. Usually, I'm really vague with dates and settings. I've messed up before too and described something and been called on inaccuracies. But BT is the first time I've actually gone back to rewrite and fix things if I'm called out on it... Typically, I'll do little bits of research, but nothing major. Like what Steph was describing with the Sea World thing. I'll do things like look up jokes for someone to tell or if I need a good hook, I'll look up like a story or a science fact or something for the characters to talk about. I usually have a vague idea in mind of what I need for them to be chatting about and just find what I need. For example, in the next chapter of Borrowed Time, I actually looked up Norse symbols for love. I knew what I needed, and I just went hunting for it. Things like that. Detailed research that includes keeping track of BSB schedules and videos and real people and events and things like that is all new to me.
mare:
When I research, it's mainly about the topics I'm writing about more so than the boys themselves. That really is one of my biggest flaws when it comes to writing, my lack of wanting to research. I hardly if ever watch old appearances or look up facts like Steph does. I'm sure my lack of doing that probably bothers people when they read and are like "she got that all wrong!" but that's why I also try to stay away from being really specific on things when it comes to touring etc...
I did research PTSD for It Stays & Wormholes etc... For Whatever the Night. lol
Rose:
--- Quote from: DelphinaCarter on July 12, 2012, 08:48:07 AM ---Here is a question: how much research do you do when it comes to writing a story? Does accuracy mattert when it comes to real places and events?
--- End quote ---
I do a LOT of research. For Undead, for example, I pretty much know the layout of the MacDill base by heart now LOL. I Google Earth places, to see what they look like. In "Walked Out Of My Dreams" I wanted to be completely accurate and put Brian in a place where literally NO ONE would realize who he was, so I went and found the most isolated place on earth (which took a lot of searching lol). Then I google earth'd it, looked up all this info, so I could describe it like I've actually been there. With Remember Me This Way, I still have countless pages, case studies, videos on things like MRIs, CAT scans, so that I wrote as if I was experiencing it myself.
Even with something like Divine Intervention, I have articles bookmarked from around the time the story takes place in. I have a timeline I found with things that were going on then, the tour dates saved for when I write into the Unbreakable tour. In one of my older stories, I wrote Nick at The Grove, a place I've never been. In a review I got asked if I've been there cause I wrote it that accurately.
I'm pretty anal about research LOL.
My whole thing is that it's so easy to research now, there's no excuse not to if I plan on using real places, real events, etc. I feel like I should know exactly what you're writing about.
But I know I am one of the queens of research lol. (Julie being the other haha)
mare:
Hey! Laziness is a good excuse for no research! :p lol
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