How to do research for your fiction book
You hear it everywhere as a new writer: do your research. But what does that mean? Is a Google search enough? Or, heaven forbid, asking AI? What does it take to research a book well?
As someone who earned a PhD in sociology from Stanford, I’m an expert in the art and science of research. I’ve broken it down into four simple steps.
Image by Andrew Neel on Unsplash
Step 1: Actually, yeah: go ahead and hit that Google search.
Before you go asking an expert a super dumb question, dig up some basic info online. But don't just trust the AI summary — dig into the sources. Are you looking at some rando blog? A scientific study? A news article? All these different sources will have different levels and types of expertise, different angles or agendas, and different access to information. Take everything with a grain of salt, never trust a single source unless you can verify it elsewhere, and keep your skeptical hat on. But use this opportunity to get out your dumb questions, gain some basic background info, and hone better questions.
Step 2: Travel!
If you can literally travel to places relevant to your book, do that! If you can't actually go (e.g. your book is based in the Pacific island of Tuvalu, and you don't have the funds or time to travel there), do your best to gain a variety of info about that location from a variety of sources. Watch local comedians. Try new restaurants. Read books from other authors in different genres. Get outside your home and your bubble. Every source will have bias, so the more variety you encounter, the more grounded your perspectives will be.
Step 3: Talk to experts.
You’re writing about a NASA engineer and have no expertise in rocket science. You’re writing a time travel book and need a scientific perspective on wormholes. Your character knows kung fu, and you haven’t set foot in a martial arts studio. After completing your basic Google search, familiarizing yourself with readily available sources, and coming up with more questions than answers, it’s time to talk to the experts.
One common question I hear: How do I find these experts? How can I get them to talk to me? The answer: NETWORKING! (Yup, the word that makes most authors shrivel like the witch in Wizard of Oz.) At Jordan Con, I met an author who choreographs fight scenes for TV shows; we spent half an hour talking about how my 5’2’’ female assassin might fight someone significantly larger than herself. Contact professors from your alma mater or local university (their emails are often listed on the university website). Talk to friends and ask if they know anyone. You’d be surprised what you can resource from your own network.
If you show genuine interest in a person’s passion, they’re usually thrilled to chat with you. Just be ready to listen more than you talk. And bring a writing implement.
Step 4: Get feedback on your initial draft.
Once you’ve taken a stab and put something on paper, get feedback! Beta readers and critique groups can be a fabulous option, but if you’re writing characters with a different race, ethnicity, gender, or other identity, I highly recommend hiring a sensitivity editor to provide expert feedback and guidance. If you’re writing about something unfamiliar to you (e.g. a crime novel when you have no background in crime fighting), ask an expert to read your book (or parts of your book) and provide feedback.
Final advice: Be prepared to get messy.
“Research” may feel like a nebulous word, but you can approach it systematically and rigorously. Don’t be surprised if the middle steps feel messy, like you’re gaining confusion rather than knowledge — that just means you’re doing it right! Keep struggling through the messy parts, and you’ll be pleased with the result.