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What are some interesting things you’ve learned through story research?
I feel like there’s always something interesting in a writer’s search history. Very often, this includes creative character deaths, so if you’d like to share… XD Well, I’ll go first.
First off. I’ve been researching the origins of the electric guitar (because I have a character who likes to smoosh electricity and music together before it’s even a thing in his world, so he’s essentially invents synthesizers) and it is SO interesting. Basically there was this dude in the 1930s who played in a band, but got frustrated because music was getting louder and louder, and the guitar’s capability just wasn’t enough. There were other people who tried to make it louder, but it was still a fidgety concept. This guy decided to amplify it with a magnetic pickup. There was another guy after him who wrapped the entire thing in a lovely patent bow, and it’s been a musical prodigy ever since.
I really want to understand how the pickup and amplifier work – at least, understand them more than just ‘magnets’ and ‘electrical current magic’ – but I’m not tech-savvy. (*Makes a mental note to find a book at the library*)
The next thing to research will be kaijus. I love how the concept has roots in ancient Japanese folklore, and went through this huge phase of popularity because of special effects in film. Godzilla is a significant part of my senior thesis because of its relevance in war, so I had an excuse to pour through my library database this last week for any articles on the subject. Am I shamelessly going to use some kaiju equivalent in a story universe? You can bet your hat on it, sister/brother.
Other top contenders for rabbit holes this week: the timeless human obsession with flying cars, and 1800s bicycling three-piece suits.
I’m in my retro/historical fantasy phase and debatably will never leave.
Do you do any research when you’re supposed to be writing? What kind?
"If I don't like something, it's probably sanctification. Ugh." -E.C.S.
Most of the research I do for my writing has to do with history… quite often I’ll be writing and then suddenly I’m like hmmmm how did this little detail fit into their lives?
This past week I was researching Christmas traditions in the 1800s, what kinds of gifts people gave one another, and trying to dive into how it would differ depending on social status and where they lived.
I can’t remember a lot of the other things I’ve researched. I know at one point I also looked into journalism in the 1700s and how a printing press worked.
Some of my recent research had more to do with personalities and how different personalities interact with one another, since I’ve been trying to develop my characters a little more.
I also recently read through a list of Gen Z slang terms and their definitions, but that was more to get myself up to speed on my brothers’ lingo than for a writing project lol.
"Real love is for your good, not for your comfort." -Justin Whitmel Earley
Retro/historical anything is pretty splendid. XD
My most recent book research went like this:
Bionic lungs
Underwater smoke bombs
Infrared contact lenses
Memory blocking drugs
I obviously was reviewing a spy school idea. Before that it was a stereotypes about Londoners and Scottish slang phrases. Although, I think the most interesting thing recently was learning that in Pre-Christian England, serf women had to cut their hair short as a sign of their servitude. Thus a free woman’s long, uncut hair was a huge status statement. She would show off on her wedding day by wearing it down and unbraided for once. This idea is just so fascinating! For one, brides in England wore their hair down for literal centuries afterwards because of it. I talked my sister’s ear off about the implications I could use for Shattered Kingdoms.
You have listened to fears, child. Come, let me breathe on you... Are you brave again? -Aslan
Stuff mostly about the medieval ages, or about sword fighting. For instance, feudalism and the exchange between peasants and lords, or the training of knights from pages to knighthood. However, at one point I was researching Irish slang for a story idea, and discovered some interesting slang such as “not looking the full shilling,” which means someone or something is crazy. I also found out how to spot a dead tree and that centipedes can be beneficial to homes since they eat bad bugs and also can regrow limbs.
“Our house is full of ducks!!!!”
Some of these were more “research inspired by books” than research for books.
- Dead bodies can bleed at the mouth and nose if moved after the blood pools.
- Although black was a much sought after color of fabric in the middle ages, we don’t have many examples that survived to today, as the dyes used to make a solid black were highly corrosive.
- If someone has hypothermia, the old “buff their arms and legs” could actually cause a heart attack as it forces cold blood to the body’s core.
- Rus tribes in Siberia “entombed” their dead in wooden boxes left in the woods as the ground was often frozen too hard to dig a grave.
- Tolkien elves used a very simple type of sign language. He alluded to it in several places, but left it mainly undeveloped.
- The Irish were known for their slender battle axes, and wore polka dotted clothing into battle.
- Trees are edible.
First Grand Historian of Arreth and the Lesser Realms (aka Kitty)
Fork the GorkHmm. I actually started learning basic historical swordfighting (mostly rapier) in order to write about it with greater accuracy. I took a free online course which told me the basics (parts of the sword, how to hold it, lunges, basic foot movements). I have this wooden dowel that I was using. I should get back into it–I have daily drills coming straight to my inbox every day but I’ve been ignoring them.
Pray, thou shalt simply add ketchup unto the mac'n'cheese.
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