Heyo! I’m S. M. Boyce, author of Lichgates and the rest of the books in the Grimoire Saga.
Today
I’m going to give you some pointers on how to do research that is
crucial to your story. Without proper research, a story will lack what’s
called verisimilitude—the tidbits of real-life that make it all seem
real. These elements allow readers to suspend belief and fall headfirst
into your tale.
While
it’s crucial to research and understand your world (be it a fantasy
land or modern Earth), how you approach research usually depends on your
writing style.
The
writing process is different for everyone. Some people get an idea and
start writing instantly. Others, like me, outline the entire thing
before starting on the first paragraph. If you are the type that
outlines, research is going to be much easier for you and you’ll be able
to get most of it out of the way before you begin to write.
For
many, research can be an arduous task, but for some it can actually be
an inspiration. So, for those of you who don’t outline, the research
might help you fill in the gaps of your story, effectively building an
impromptu outline in your head.
Tip #1: Chunk it!
When
you research, I suggest you lump topics together and work through them
one-by-one. So, if you are researching the rainforests of the world,
types of horses, and a foreign culture, work through each topic
separately so that you can keep your facts straight in your mind.
Tip #2: Stay Organized
Notes
are extremely important when doing research. Some prefer the notecard
method when taking notes; others prefer a big notebook or the freedom of
a word document. Whatever your method is, stick to it and stay as
organized as possible.
Scrivener,
a program used for writing, actually lets you keep all your research
notes with your story. For those of you who don’t use this program, you
may want to look into it. Though it has a heck of a learning curve,
it’s incredibly useful once you get the hang of it. You can do just
about every step of the writing process from this one program.
Stay focused, Boyce
Back on the subject of researching. Sorry.
It’s
important to save the locations of your resources so that you can refer
back to them. Most internet browsers will let you create a folder in
your bookmark tab. Do this and create one just for the links to research
sources for the book you are working on. If you are using non-digital
sources, keep a list of the materials you’ve used with your notes.
As
you work through each resource, label the notes you take so that you
know where they came from. This will help later if you need to refresh
your memory on certain facts.
Even
though you are doing most of your research before you write the book,
you will likely have to go back to it at some point during your writing.
Research is an important part of writing. Even if you are making up a
world of your own, you will need to research one thing or another. This
process is what helps bring our stories to life and it’s also what gives
our stories some amount of credibility in the reader’s mind.
Let’s open the floor. What are some of your best researching tips?
“The
writing is flawless. The kingdoms and surrounding landscapes
breathtaking. The Grimoire is a piece of imaginative genius that
bedazzles from the moment Kara falls into the land of Ourea. – Nikki
Jefford, author of the Spellbound Trilogy
Spring 2013 Rankings
#6 Kindle Store | #1 Science Fiction & Fantasy | #1 Epic Fantasy | #1 Sword & Sorcery | #1 Teens
Now an international Amazon bestseller. Fans of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and Eragon will enjoy this contemporary remix of the classic epic fantasy genre.
—————-
Kara Magari is about to discover a beautiful world full of terrifying things: Ourea.
Kara,
a college student still reeling from her mother’s recent death, has no
idea the hidden world of Ourea even exists until a freak storm traps her
in a sunken library. With nothing to do, she opens an ancient book of
magic called the Grimoire and unwittingly becomes its master, which
means Kara now wields the cursed book’s untamed power. Discovered by
Ourea’s royalty, she becomes an unwilling pawn in a generations-old
conflict – a war intensified by her arrival. In this world of chilling
creatures and betrayal, Kara shouldn’t trust anyone… but she’s being
hunted and can’t survive on her own. She drops her guard when Braeden, a
native soldier with a dark secret, vows to keep her safe. And though
she doesn’t know it, her growing attraction to him may just be her
undoing.
For
twelve years, Braeden Drakonin has lived a lie. The Grimoire is his one
chance at redemption, and it lands in his lap when Kara Magari comes
into his life. Though he begins to care for this human girl, there is
something he wants more. He wants the Grimoire.
Welcome to Ourea, where only the cunning survive.
—————-
Novels in the Grimoire Saga:
Lichgates (#1)
Treason (#2)
Heritage (#3) – Available Fall 2013
Illusion (#4) – Available Fall 2014
Buy Now @ Amazon & Smashwords
Genre – Fantasy
Rating – PG13
More details about the author
