by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
Researching a novel requires planning, organization, and creativity. Knowledge that feeds into a story is not about showing the writer’s expertise but to heighten the experience for readers—and the process can be incredibly fun.
Online search engines allow the writer to explore what the characteristics of an area and community. Newspapers online are another source of information.
These ideas will help you focus on what your book needs.
- Visit the area’s chamber of commerce.
- Take or download more pictures/videos than you think you’ll ever use. *Remember if online images are used beyond personal research, purposes, use a site like Pixabay for royalty free access. Confirm your usage is in line with their terms of service / licensing.
- Interview people living in the area. For a historical setting, this also means reading diaries and journals. How has history affected the community?
- Listen to how local people talk. Do they use a distinct vocabulary? Journal these distinctions. Ask permission to record dialogue for later playback.
- What are the community’s values and expectations for life and each other?
- What is their diet? How much of their food supply is local?
- What are the menus in the local restaurants?
- What are the local hotels or motels?
- How is the area governed?
- What are the sources of entertainment?
- How do the residents celebrate holidays?
- Does the community have special festivals?
- How does the area experience the seasons?
- What are the medical concerns? What kind of medical care is available?
- What kinds of homes do they live in?
- Where do they shop?
- How do the people dress?
- Do the arts play a vital role in the community?
- How do locals view education, sports teams, and favorite colleges?
- How do the residents earn a living?
- If the area is near a national or state park, look for research material in the visitors’ section.
- Discover the wildlife and birds of the region. Record the sounds.
- Visit the local library. View newspaper archives.
- What churches and other religious affiliations are in the area?
- Is there a museum in the region that you can visit?
- Does politics play a role?
- Are there documentaries about the area?
- What are the people’s joys?
- What do the people fear?
The following apps are timesavers for the serious writer. I’ve listed them in alphabetical order.
Airline(s)
Does your character fly into or out of a distinct city? Does your book need specific flight times?
Evernote
An incredible tool that allows the user to create notes, photos, videos, websites, and more.
Facebook
Have you investigated Facebook pages and groups about the researched area?
Instagram
A picture or reel shows an area, the people, culture, language, and details that an online search may not reveal.
Maps
Sometimes a writer uses real places or locations, and other times fictitious names work best.
News
Check the latest news for insight into an area and its community. If an area has a local news station, a writer can learn much about the culture and its priorities.
PictureThis
This is one of my favorite tools. The user snaps a pic of a plant or tree and learns the name and care information. Be sure to visit the area in the same season as the book’s setting for accuracy.
WeatherBug
A character may be entering an area never visited previously or has unpredictable weather. This app helps the writer determine how nature may or may not cooperate with the character.
Research is a vital part of creating the best novel possible. What tips can you offer?
TWEETABLE
She is the former director of the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, Mountainside Marketing Retreat, and Mountainside Novelist Retreat with social media specialist Edie Melson. Connect here: DiAnnMills.com
Great tips, DiAnn! Thank you! For my latest novel, The Farmer and Mrs. Lombardi, set in Cape May, NJ, I joined a Facebook group that specializes in Cape May history. I garnered a wealth of information from natives who had lived there for years and who had original maps and newspapers filled with just the information I needed. The best part was that I made new friends! :)
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