Writing Lesson Mini-post: Research (Patreon)

My announcement post for the research didn't have much content, but I did give some brief info on something that helped me research In the Way of All Flesh, so I'll just reproduce that here:

It's time to discuss the importance of research when it comes to writing a novel and also to start thinking about opening scenes!

You'll be surprised at how many things end up requiring research when you write a book. For my book, In the Way of All Flesh, I ended up having to do a lot of research for even small plot points. The characters go to a hospital and I had to research which part they'd be admitted to, what the check-in procedure would be, and so many other little things.

I also had a mixed race Thai and White American protagonist, so I spent a lot of time reading both essays on the mixed-race Asian American experience and on Thai-American experiences in general. One of the several books I used for research was The Sum of our Parts: Mixed-Heritage Asian Americans, an essay anthology.

But really, when writing a lived experience outside your own, it's ideal to have insight from someone who's actually lived that experience. That's why I talked to people about their experiences and even hired a sensitivity reader who specialized in my main character's background.

Doing research can also inspire one to add amazing things to their story or even to create a whole new story!

To Patrons: 

But we'll be talking opening scenes next lesson! And as far as that goes, I have an example.... stay turned for an early draft of the opening scene to the book I'm writing right now!