Researching is not the same as writing your novel.

The research rabbit hole is dangerous because it can easily lead you astray. All writers know that once you are in the zone, or you have flow, the worst thing you can do is disrupt your momentum. Stopping to conduct research does exactly that.

It’s tempting to think that you simply will not be able to write another word unless you find the perfect quote, statistic, or piece of secondary literature to support your argument. It’s the act of searching that prevents you from writing. That’s why it pays to consider research and writing as two distinct activities that you do not work on simultaneously.

Research is complex. If you go down a rabbit hole while researching your novel, you might not come out for a while. Beware! Ask yourself:  Am I adding colour to the story?

I often write my first draft before doing research. Making notes along the way. That way, I know exactly what I need to research.

Here are some tips on research that I’ve picked up:

  1. Always carry a notebook, camera or phone. You never know when you might need to record a sentence.
  2. Give yourself reminders. Have a list of topics you want to research.  
  3. Use a timer –  how much time you’re spending on research. Don’t waste time. Know when to stop researching. Be strict with yourself.
  4. Remain open to extra details.
  5. Remind yourself that research can turn into procrastination.
  6. Stop researching when you have answered the question or questions you set out to answer.

It’s easy to get interested in something to the point of distraction—usually by accident, and usually to a degree that the subject in question might not seem to merit. Planning and organisation are key elements if you are ever to escape the rabbit hole of research and actually write something.

Unleash the novel inside you

with compelling characters,

intricate worlds,

and fine-tuned prose.

“Linda has published twenty books. She blogs about the publishing world, posts useful tips on the challenges a writer faces, including marketing and promoting your work, how to build your online platform, how to get reviews and how to self-publish. She has mentored many authors and edited their work.”