The 4 Biggest MISTAKES Writers Make With RESEARCH

What are you currently researching for your WIP? Comment below and tell me! 🤓✍

If watching anime for 3 hours a day is not a proper way to do research on your book I'm gonna cry.

One time I needed information for a flight and I LITERALLY called the airport to ask my questions! They were very friendly and a huge help!

My research of mythology has led me far. I’m writing out a story for an animation series called “Fable of the Hunter”, and as you can guess, it revolves around mythologies and legends. Researching one myth would lead into researching another one just to get the full picture of the previous one. And then that would spark curiosity about something else, and everything that follows is just me indulging my curiosity. It’s fun, but exhausting.

I appreciate the first advice. I still remember years ago while taking an English class on writing there was one girl who would not do proper research on animals which greatly vexed her animal loving peers. The bit of incorrect information that still has me floored was when that classmate wrote in her story that horses mate for life. Boy, did she get a scathing lecture on how horse society work. After so many times of her writing about animals incorrectly, we basically got to where we told her that if she wasn't going to check her information then don't bother writing fictional works with animals in them. Doing research on subjects that greatly impact the plot of the story is 100% correct

In my current WIP one of the MCs is Jewish. I am Christian so have some knowledge of the Levitical law and stuff like that. but have had to do a tone of research, which I really enjoy. I love that writing has given me the opportunity to learn about other cultures.

If your character is freezing to death in the Amazon rainforest, yet you have over 3 months of research on what the main character is eating in chapter 6...then you are doing something wrong.

I spent 4 weeks researching astronomy and ancient Inca astrology trying to figure out how to incorporate an artifact with a ritual that probably .01% of my readers would understand. Talk about rabbit holes. The result was cool, but one of my favorite movies of all time was Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and I'm pretty sure they didn't spend as much time figuring out the puzzles for the Holy Grail.

As a fanfiction hobbyist, my research is usually spontaneous, and I'm probably on an FBI watchlist by now with some of the things I've looked into.

This channel has got to be one of the most useful references for writing I have come across, yet.

Research is fun and dangerous. I feel more creative when I find new possibilities. Some parts flow like water/river. But I put myself in trouble because I ended up with the desire to use every idea and find a new place for it. The good part is that some substitute ideas are better than the original. The bad part is that I don't know how to stop. 😅🤣🤣🤣

on a related note, am I the only person who likes esoteric terms at a minimum when I'm reading a novel? doing your due diligence is great (and necessary), but sometimes authors pack so much obscure terminology to impress their audience. imo, it’s best to balance being accurate while not overwhelming the average reader -- which is admittedly pretty tough.

Interesting fact I've learned reasearching for my historical novel: sometimes even testimonies by people who lived through some events may state wrong facts on that period. For example the person who lived through the nazi occupation does not necessarily know what nazis were doing in secret laboratories.

Im writing about 1960s texas, im from britain btw. Ive had so much fun just learning about it. And ive watched a load of movies, i know, but from the 60s, made and set in texas for the speech and astetic. And having so much fun. I have started my proper research now into lgbtq in the 1960s and the prejudiuced they faced.

Not me binge watching true crime for hours for a murder in my novel, and calling it "research." 😭👋

One of my favorite parts of the research process is networking, which is very odd since I am a diehard introvert!

honestly had no idea i could research something incorrectly can’t wait to be proven wrong

This is the video I've been waiting for! Can't wait for the live training! Currently, I'm researching the afterlife for one book I'm working on. So many different views and this helps immensely.

Hi Abbie. I am currently researching nanotechnology for nanobots, and biomedical/bioengineering science. Additionally, I have been researching ASI (artificial superintelligence). These feature in my current WIP (my second fiction novel), which is set in the second half on our 21st century. ASI doesn't exist yet in 2024 - and according to some experts/scholars - may never be achieved, but it is an important plot feature, as are nanobots. What my nanobots and ASI do in my WIP is not possible as of 2024, however there are many companies in the world trying to achieve the results that will form part of the storyline in my WIP. My point is this: Whilst the technology may not yet exist or function the way my story needs it to, there are scientists and engineers trying to achieve these same results now, so my plot lines MUST be plausible at the very least, based on current technology, whether it be biomedical science or artificial intelligence. Thanks for your research tips, Abbie. I, for one, tend to get lost in the rabbit hole of "over-researching"...lol, and it does my head in.

Your number 1 advice really helps me. I heard your similar thoughts on yours and KA podcast. It takes a lot of pressure off of what needs to be researched NOW vs you can do it later. I also write a list of things that have already been researched so I don't get confused of what I looked up. If I' not sure if something is crucial or not, I can just put it in another list probably call it "the wait list"