Tips for Conducting Research for your Story
Writing isn’t all about typing away on a blank screen. It’s about the right words, sentences and most importantly, the right research. But, have you ever sat down to research and found yourself to be utterly bored, or tackling a confusing pile of information?
Here are a few tips to make your research more exciting and fruitful.
- Mine your personal experiences for ideas and insights
There’s no better research than yourself! We all experience a rollercoaster of emotions in our everyday life. From sadness, happiness to anxiety, all our feelings are a result of an action or event. As a writer, it’s never too much to look deep within your own self and study how you deal with certain things and perceive certain emotions. If done right, it can really refine your storytelling skills.
- Read voraciously on the theme of your choice
You cannot write a story about grief without studying grief in detail- the nooks and crannies of how the human mind process it and how it impacts others around you. Try to identify the subject and theme which interests you and read voraciously so that you gain more knowledge.
- Interact with new people and collect their stories
Everyone has a story and as a writer, people and their experiences are a goldmine of content and information! Your neighbours, the old couple you see in your park, your siblings – everyone has a story to tell. You don’t have to adapt their stories word for word, but they can become a source of inspiration.
- Use documentaries, movies and podcasts to expand your knowledge.
Research is not just about scrolling through academic papers day-in and day-out. Instead, research can be fun! Look for documentaries, podcasts and even movies. Today, the world is a treasure trove of content. There is information present all around you in different formats. If you’re a visual learner, go for aesthetic cinematography. Don’t have time to watch something? Just listen to a podcast while doing your chores. There is so much information out there and you’re, quite literally, just one tap away from accessing it.
Now that you’re aware of all these tips and tricks, go research and have fun!
