Thirst for Learning
| December 14, 2010 | Posted by ljquillyn under Things that inspire me, Writing with confidence |
You know the cliche, “You learn something new every day.” Well, it’s true. Or at least it should be.
One of my favorite things about being a writer is that I research stuff I want to learn about and call it work! Today, through a series of canceled meetings, I ended up with a full day at the library. I’ve picked out some books on character development, creativity (I was shocked at the largeness of the section on creativity), and Harry Potter commentary. I’m not ashamed. I love to study the creative worlds of other authors. JK Rowling’s richly crafted world is the reason that I love to escape into her stories. I often tell by s.o. that we are going to move to Harry Potter world.
At any rate, I think research is important in fiction writing. I always find that I get wonderful inspirations for characters, story world, and plot points when I’m learning new things. And there’s no shortage of things to choose from. At present, my list of things to learn about includes the following:
- Irish and Scandinavian mythology (I’ve recently discovered that I have Irish and Scandinavian ancestry and want to know more about the stories from my culture)
- Historical Geography of Europe
- Biotechnology – specifically how technology is being integrated into the human body
- Traditional foods from European cultures – particularly Christmas treats (I love Christmas)
My list usually changes about once a week unless I get deeply absorbed into a particular topic. Be honest with yourself! Research what you’re truly interested in right now. Enjoy it, count it as work for your book, and take notes about ideas you can use.
Maybe you need to research a particular topic, though. For instance, you might be writing historical fiction set in 17th century Africa. If you’re a little bored with the history, pick a new topic that you like and find a way to weave it into your story. Maybe you’re interested in learning about traditional foods from Europe, like me. Certainly a French culinary artist could have relocated to Africa (historically true), and is trying to figure out comfort food with new ingredients. Try it out.
Have fun!
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