I love researching, well at the very least I love collecting books about topics I intend to research, a bit like my writing craft book collection. My current TBR pile is about my height (1.68cm if you are interested) and half of them can be considered research books. I have a tendency to collect them like some people (including me) collect shoes and other accessories.
Are you the same? Are you easily distracted or just trying to work out the inticate details of X? I may have once gone on a YOUTUBE binge fest and watched countless how to videos on ‘how to escape zip ties.’ But that is another post.
I find that reading nonfiction always sparks so many questions within me, so many ‘What if…’ moments. Sometimes, the truth is weirder than fiction.
I am struggling with handling the balance of researching to make my novel stand up to scrutiny but at the same time I am cognisant that I do not want to info dump everything I have learned onto the page. When this occurs, as a reader, I find it takes me away from the story and throws me back into reality. Now, I need to learn to be aware of the info dumps in my WIP, or at the very least be ruthless during the editing process.
Do you like researching? If you do, do you like researching as you draft your MS or do you have to have it all completed before you start?
Tamara Nikolai 