The 4 Biggest MISTAKES Writers Make With RESEARCH

SAVE YOUR SPOT AT THE LIVE TRAINING: mailchi.mp/abbiee/research
Does the thought of research overwhelm you? Do you find yourself falling down endless rabbit holes of internet searches, which only lead to more unanswered questions? If so, don’t worry - you’re not alone. In today's video, we're tackling the four biggest dos and don'ts of research... common mistakes many writers make, plus how to avoid these pitfalls and make your writing more realistic and believable. We’re going to dive deep into research and I’m going to share with you the life-saving techniques that have helped me take my writing to that next level of authenticity. Grab a notebook and let's get started!
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✨TIMESTAMPS✨
00:00 Do you dread doing research?
01:47 DON’T learn a bunch of useless information
02:58 DO research crucial stuff now, trivial stuff later
04:55 DON’T go to Hollywood for your research
06:00 DO go to real experts
07:08 Come to my new LIVE TRAINING: Story Research Made Easy
10:54 DON’T be afraid to ask people questions
11:59 DO reach out to people and let them read your work
13:40 DON’T rely on AI to give you infallible answers
14:17 DO leverage AI as a search engine
15:43 Save your spot at the live training! Link in description
16:46 subscribe for weekly writing videos :)
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✨ A B O U T ✨
My name is Abbie Emmons I teach writers how to make their stories matter by harnessing the power and psychology of storytelling, transforming their ideas into a masterpiece, and creating a lifestyle that makes their author dreams come true.
Story isn’t about “what happens” - it’s about how what happens affects and transforms the characters. I believe that there is an exact science (a recipe, if you will) behind a perfect story. And if you know what ingredients you need, you can create your own perfect story with ease and confidence. That’s what we talk about every week on this channel - and if it’s something you’re into, be sure to subscribe and join this community!

[@AbbieEmmons]

What are you currently researching for your WIP? Comment below and tell me! 🤓✍

[@carmenalmonte6991]

Celtic culture and fairy lore for a fairy story I'm writing!

[@michalinamaniecka6614]

Pole dancing and I'm doing it for my bachelor paper 🙉

[@mariaorozco1037]

Marine Biology and ukulele playing + maintenance for an ocean and music novel!

[@lemonblue2387]

Two tracks - the thread running from earliest Christianity to today's forms and the thread running from the earliest whiffs of socialism and communism through today's forms.

[@lemonblue2387]

@AbbieEmmons - also an idea popped into my mind about minute 1.5 of the video. Someday it would be fun and maybe useful ... maybe a second non-fiction book for you ... If you did a Live Training on system building based on that book you talk about - and then assuming there are steps to that process - we as a community could build a system together - a group build writing system. (I don't know if you're aware - but in public schools it's a normal practice to teach story writing by building a story with the whole class. Kind of like that - but a novel building system from you and your whole "class." Anyway - love your work - I'm back to the vid. 😃

[@sunny.litty353]

If watching anime for 3 hours a day is not a proper way to do research on your book I'm gonna cry.

[@Priyaryal007]

OMG I feel you! I swear I said that to myself yesterday!!

[@Szystedt]

I’m sure it’s fine 😭 It gotta be

[@JonahsWail]

😂😂

[@ohyaa9340]

4hrs anime 4hrs webseries 4hrs new movies 4hrs old movies 4hrs watching yt vods on how write 4hrs to sleep Fkkkk I don't have time to write 😭

[@rodanhibiki5980]

I’d consider it research. I definitely have a better understanding of foreshadowing and how to connect story elements throughout the narrative after I binged Attack on Titan over a weekend.

[@elizabethagnes5994]

One time I needed information for a flight and I LITERALLY called the airport to ask my questions! They were very friendly and a huge help!

[@Iso20227]

My research of mythology has led me far. I’m writing out a story for an animation series called “Fable of the Hunter”, and as you can guess, it revolves around mythologies and legends. Researching one myth would lead into researching another one just to get the full picture of the previous one. And then that would spark curiosity about something else, and everything that follows is just me indulging my curiosity. It’s fun, but exhausting.

[@VXMasterson]

What mythology (or mythologies) is your story based off of?

[@Iso20227]

@@VXMasterson well, season 1 is mostly Celtic and Norse with a bit of Egyptian. Season 2 will be Roman, Greek, and also Norse. If there is a season 3, it will be mostly German.

[@VXMasterson]

@@Iso20227 That's really interesting! I love mythology so you definitely have my attention. I plan to have one saga of my graphic novel series in Asgard and the following one in Olympus and every time I do research it never feels like enough. It's so interesting but the information is overwhelming. Best of luck!

[@Iso20227]

@@VXMasterson Norse mythology is absolutely one of the more in-depth mythologies. There is a lot of information, a lot of people, a lot of species and events that all tie together with only a few inconsistencies. It’s definitely among my favorite myths.

[@VXMasterson]

@@Iso20227 Same! I wish it wasn't overshadowed by Greek Mythology in the American consciousness. I like Norse Myth the most because despite not having as many sources, I like that it kind of feels like there's a narrative to it from the world's creation to the world's end and rebirth. I know that likely wasn't intention by the worshippers but it's cool to me that it ended up that way.

[@kaytlynspicer6518]

In my current WIP one of the MCs is Jewish. I am Christian so have some knowledge of the Levitical law and stuff like that. but have had to do a tone of research, which I really enjoy. I love that writing has given me the opportunity to learn about other cultures.

[@emilybowne6043]

I appreciate the first advice. I still remember years ago while taking an English class on writing there was one girl who would not do proper research on animals which greatly vexed her animal loving peers. The bit of incorrect information that still has me floored was when that classmate wrote in her story that horses mate for life. Boy, did she get a scathing lecture on how horse society work. After so many times of her writing about animals incorrectly, we basically got to where we told her that if she wasn't going to check her information then don't bother writing fictional works with animals in them. Doing research on subjects that greatly impact the plot of the story is 100% correct

[@paulmahoney5326]

So true, Emily. I stopped reading a well-known book when the character talked about her mother going out and doing cow tipping as a teenager. What a crock of bull dust.

[@klv3160]

I tried writing a invisible note using urine. Dwight Schrute said it worked on the office. And you know what? It didn’t work. So don’t use Dwight’s suggestions as real 😂

[@nikkireigns]

@@paulmahoney5326this is so funny 😆 I still remember an online argument I had about 12 years ago where a woman insisted they’d go cow tipping and push giant Holsteins right over while they were sleeping. It still infuriates me lol 😂

[@Nothereforit174]

This is why I refuse to indulge whiteness. In certain genres it’s okay to fudge reality and even expected, not just fantasy either. For example, in a romance novel you can be wrong about certain history set in a real time and place for the sake of narrative so unless they’re writing realistic fiction about horses, it’s not that deep and they can fudge facts to serve a greater narrative. Especially if that mating fact was for whimsy to offset a romance. Horses also don’t have a society by definition. So what they should’ve done(aside from a good old fashion pop in the mouth but that’s not always proper😅) was stood up and told that horse person they smell like horse dung, clearly wash their hair with horse shampoo, asked them if they braid their hair after they do the horses ass braid to be twinsies, and then implied they must be doing a little too much close investigation of the horses at night to be so dang passionate about their mating habits. That’s how you stop silly white people from thinking they’re more authoritative than they are and put them in their place so they learn how to give constructive feedback like a normal person and back tf off when it’s rejected 😊 otherwise you just refer to them as horse sexer (but maybe not that politely) every time they open their mouth to correct someone about something they moved on from after that point. They have to be trained like animals to be respectful and talk to people like they have sense sometimes. And yes I would do that to you too lol. You don’t tell people how to write and crush their story because you’re attached to guidelines...guidelines are a starting place, not an endpoint. Bet all of you didn’t even know about horses and just jumped on the band wagon to feel like “real writers”. Boring and unpublished(beyond maybe some indie run they finance with little payoff) is how most people like that end up.

[@thisissarcasm9579]

As a fanfiction hobbyist, my research is usually spontaneous, and I'm probably on an FBI watchlist by now with some of the things I've looked into.

[@karlhauser893]

I spent 4 weeks researching astronomy and ancient Inca astrology trying to figure out how to incorporate an artifact with a ritual that probably .01% of my readers would understand. Talk about rabbit holes. The result was cool, but one of my favorite movies of all time was Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and I'm pretty sure they didn't spend as much time figuring out the puzzles for the Holy Grail.

[@priscila3037]

Research is fun and dangerous. I feel more creative when I find new possibilities. Some parts flow like water/river. But I put myself in trouble because I ended up with the desire to use every idea and find a new place for it. The good part is that some substitute ideas are better than the original. The bad part is that I don't know how to stop. 😅🤣🤣🤣

[@shalinisharma4645]

Maybe u should not stop. You should complete your first draft and then if you feel your story is stretched then delete some parts. That way you won't have the guilt that you didn't add up a good part in your story.

[@Sharkuterie327]

This channel has got to be one of the most useful references for writing I have come across, yet.

[@samhawkins4952]

Check out Ellen Brock, she gives advanced advice

[@matthewwriter9539]

If your character is freezing to death in the Amazon rainforest, yet you have over 3 months of research on what the main character is eating in chapter 6...then you are doing something wrong.

[@LosAnggraito]

on a related note, am I the only person who likes esoteric terms at a minimum when I'm reading a novel? doing your due diligence is great (and necessary), but sometimes authors pack so much obscure terminology to impress their audience. imo, it’s best to balance being accurate while not overwhelming the average reader -- which is admittedly pretty tough.

[@madameversiera]

Interesting fact I've learned reasearching for my historical novel: sometimes even testimonies by people who lived through some events may state wrong facts on that period. For example the person who lived through the nazi occupation does not necessarily know what nazis were doing in secret laboratories.

[@rockbandny]

Im writing about 1960s texas, im from britain btw. Ive had so much fun just learning about it. And ive watched a load of movies, i know, but from the 60s, made and set in texas for the speech and astetic. And having so much fun. I have started my proper research now into lgbtq in the 1960s and the prejudiuced they faced.

[@ParaplegicKeanuReeves]

Yeecaw!

[@BatmanFan2.0]

Not me binge watching true crime for hours for a murder in my novel, and calling it "research." 😭👋

[@e_the_real]

But it is !

[@GrumpaBaggins]

One of my favorite parts of the research process is networking, which is very odd since I am a diehard introvert!

[@user-zu4ve3de5j]

Hi Abbie. I am currently researching nanotechnology for nanobots, and biomedical/bioengineering science. Additionally, I have been researching ASI (artificial superintelligence). These feature in my current WIP (my second fiction novel), which is set in the second half on our 21st century. ASI doesn't exist yet in 2024 - and according to some experts/scholars - may never be achieved, but it is an important plot feature, as are nanobots. What my nanobots and ASI do in my WIP is not possible as of 2024, however there are many companies in the world trying to achieve the results that will form part of the storyline in my WIP. My point is this: Whilst the technology may not yet exist or function the way my story needs it to, there are scientists and engineers trying to achieve these same results now, so my plot lines MUST be plausible at the very least, based on current technology, whether it be biomedical science or artificial intelligence. Thanks for your research tips, Abbie. I, for one, tend to get lost in the rabbit hole of "over-researching"...lol, and it does my head in.

[@jacindaellison3363]

Your number 1 advice really helps me. I heard your similar thoughts on yours and KA podcast. It takes a lot of pressure off of what needs to be researched NOW vs you can do it later. I also write a list of things that have already been researched so I don't get confused of what I looked up. If I' not sure if something is crucial or not, I can just put it in another list probably call it "the wait list"

[@dominopanda8614]

This is the video I've been waiting for! Can't wait for the live training! Currently, I'm researching the afterlife for one book I'm working on. So many different views and this helps immensely.

[@jaytoons_]

honestly had no idea i could research something incorrectly can’t wait to be proven wrong

[@AuroraRose_Andromeda]

Thank you Abbie! I'm signed up and I cannot wait for Sat Live Training. This will help immensely for my current WIP and past ones I want to revise. I've found Canva AI and I hope to be able to create my own book covers since I cannot draw. Plus I hope it works as it will save me a bit on money till I get going and able to hire a book cover designer in the future. See you Sat!!

[@erinhastings6679]

Love this video!! Alot of research can be overwhelming at times. I like to google my research and if comes out with a simple answer I use that information and I write it down in my Microsoft document. However currently due to me writing a short story collection that takes place today but in the urban fantasy genre. I haven't been researching a whole of information. But currently I am researching about certain stuff for the fictional workplace that my characters in my short story collection they work at.

[@shakeebaqueen]

Yes I have been going thru researching over and over and over, for the past 3-5 years, since I started back writing. It’s like I’m looking for more material for my books. Thank-you for your input, it means a lot Abbie Emmons! Now I hope your info frees me of wanting to be perfect! Yet, keeps me focused on getting this material out for the world 🌍 to view….❤

[@ehdrake]

Thank you for covering historical - I was overwhelmed by this.

[@nourfourti6029]

Thank you so much, Abbie! I've been waiting for a video like this from you! ❤

[@JustClaude13]

Learning about new places is fun. My new project works best if it's set in Wisconsin, but I've never been closer than southern Missouri. So I found a specific setting and did a deep dive in the region. What are the laws in the chosen city, what are the surrounding towns like and what are the available entertainment venues? The main characters commute by bicycle, so what are the laws about riding and what bike infrastructure do they have? Down to a level of when individual stores are open or closed. I've decided that I'm not going to mention the name of the city, but the locals should recognize it.

[@kitdubhran2968]

The silliest thing can pop up as a huge piece of important research. Character design from high school, guy who wears black. Problem: technology vaguely medieval. Black is hard to get. Personal interest: fibercrafting. So, now, I have a multi-year event that the character attends, where he visits the wool sellers and buys all their black wool for a better price than anyone who would have paid for it. Takes it to the dye witches to dye it blacker, and pays them well. Then takes it to spinners and weavers. And so on. Yes he has money. Yes he uses a bunch of it to have black clothes. He’s extra that way. But it’s helped me expand the culture, the clothes, the economy, and the people. Just background in most of the stories. But really important to the character’s personality. Sometimes little things become important for a really weird reason.

[@0mnicorn]

5:43 "Imagine how convoluted our information would become if we all took our ques from different stories. It would be like this neverending game of telephone where as we go information just gets less and less realistic and more inaccurate." You just perfectly described AI writing + AI art!

[@cosmicprison9819]

User: “AI, give me a plot summary of Star Wars: A New Hope.” AI: *writes “The Force Awakens”*

[@ryanhollist3950]

Don't rely on AI. That's some very good advice. A professor (I don't remember what university) did an experiment with his students where he had them use AI to write a paper. While it was expected that there would be some artifacts (false information), both the professor and students were shocked that every paper had these false artifacts, and many papers were up to 60% false artifacts. AI may be improving all the time in many ways, but it is NOT a search engine or repository of factual information.

[@stevefritz5182]

I once asked my high school-aged son to give me the plot of the book for which he was to write a report. My other son and I read the book before asking. He started off okay and then just went off to who knows where. My other son and I cracked up laughing. I had to give him credit for creativity. Thankfully, today, his two daughters are much better students. Better readers but are also pretty creative themselves. Love your work, Abbie. I haven't been on in a while. I'm soaking up the sun in Mexico and not online as much. I miss you the most and need to start converting time to writing again.

[@elizabethmcglothlin5406]

Rabbit holes are my delight and demise. Many years ago I belonged to a fairly large SF & F writers group and had mentioned a blunderbuss in a historical fantasy. One of the pedants challenged that. No guns yet. I did a bit of research and confirmed yes, guns, and had a date. In the process, I fell down a rabbit hole and found myself reading about French werewolves about 2 hours later. Won my argument, never finished that story, and while I did have a werewolf in a later story, he was nothing like the Beast. It was a waste of time but a most enjoyable rabbit hole! Also, avoid the "I did my research and now you have to suffer!"

[@maryammidoria4620]

I just find your channel and it's so helpful thank you ❤

[@Alexindiegamedev]

Thank you Abbie for all your lessons btw

[@RosenRotInk]

Saved my Spot and will be on the training live for the first time. Looking forward to it. :D I definitely will have to reach out for informations such as "how a music lable works" and "How do I crash a helicopter?" XD The good thing is: many of my friends work in nursing or in hospitals. So as far as medical matters go, I'm covered. Also the psychological. My MC has post-traumatic stress disorder. I think I'll ask my old therapist about this. :D But I'm definitely one of those people who don't want to impose themselves. So I think the most important thing I need is the right Midneset. :D Greetings from Germany. ❤

[@BobbyMoore2-mp8wb]

Thanks for the info ℹ️

[@andeeharry]

I love research, it helps a lot and I have discovered a lot of stuff I made up turned out to be true, so I am expanding on stuff

[@ahhhhhhhh8228]

Currently writing a sort of cosmic horror set in 1930’s UK. Been doing a lot of research for a few things, the time period, geographical locations, and one that's prob been the most fun to research was Gnosticism which helped me figure out my mythology greatly, occult books helped a lot. And no I'm not doing anything with tenticles that's one thing I've been very adamant about doing when it comes to any type of monster or even god descriptions. I've had a lot of fun so far but it has been tedious at times.

[@Yatukih_001]

Thanks for your video, best wishes from Iceland!!

[@theperfectbotsteve4916]

honestly this is just how i am i do this constantly without needing to with no other goal then to keep asking untill i cannot be supplied with more and as someone with no job or significant deadlines its actually not that bad. 2:16

[@maureendeming]

On the whole Hollywood thing, a cool piece of advice I read was to Google "what Hollywood gets wrong about..." and insert your topic. I've found blog posts and articles by, and interviews with experts with this technique 😊

[@armedandgenerous9369]

Re: your first point - big fan of the textbook method. You know how there's a portion at the beginning of each section with learning goals? Aka "By the end of this section, students should be able to answer the following" section? Make one of those and stick to it so your research doesn't become irrelevant to your writing!

[@bellarivea]

I'm actually working on 2 WIPS. One is at the stage of editing while the other is still in the outlining phase. That one is a werewolf story set in the US so I am trying to figure out how the US's development and creation would have changed if werewolves would have existed. So generally, I need to do research on both US history and Native American history specifically to figure out how this would have gone. The history itself isn't going to be in the story, but I want to have a general idea before writing so I can throw some breadcrumbs into it to give little pieces about the world. Hope this made sense. PS. love your videos!

[@TMscifiwrtr]

I have played the rabbit hole game for hours OMG! I currently have a side character that lost her parents. This prompted driving to cemeteries to research specific areas of location in a future chapter. A previous chapter has others sent to the year 9600 BC. I do Google 95% of my info.😅

[@edwardson-vq6wd]

Thank you very much!Researching native Americans of Eastern Canada in early 1800s (b4 Canada became a country) It's genealogical research. I recently found 8-10 towns / villages were buried in St.Lawrence River when Canada+US built damns+locks in 1950+60s. I may have to check Church Records next. Most r probably in Ottawa+ in French. I know a little.

[@artursandwich1974]

Why is it ok for a movie or a comic book to be out of whack with physics, but it's not ok for a book, even if it is a Cartlandesque romance, or a jungle action adventure type of thing? Right now I'm researching firearms and vehicles for an on-sea extraction operation as well as what shots for a sniper would be difficult and impressive yet still believable. Geography, languages and ethnics are already done.

[@geoffp1]

Thank you Abbie!

[@brettz5288]

You look really nice in this video. 🌹🔥 Loved this video. I've actually thought about doing something like this like trying to talk to people who have dealt with certain experiences or struggles, but I've never known who to ask exactly or how to even find them. I didn't want to just approach someone randomly I might not know super well and say hey could you tell me about this traumatic experience and how it affected you personally mentally? Do you have any advice on how to do that In a more gentle and approachable manner?

[@anjalisardesai4700]

Thank you so much for this video, Abbie! I'm currently researching things about military, and as you can guess, there is just SO MUCH to learn with ranks and units and base housing that I couldn't narrow it down. Your video is perfectly timed! Thanks!

[@shalinisharma4645]

Same here bro.

[@fatimazafar6787]

That's unrelated but i would like to see a video of yours how you read books, how much you read, when you dnf them. I know you aren't a book reviewer but a writer but still i watch lots of book reviewers and it kind of make me want to write a mainstream story or what i ahould be writing depending on what those specific booktubers are loving more. It affects both my reading and writing habits and mentality. I want to know how you deal with it.

[@GadzooksEugene]

I'm mostly having to research into certain fantasy tropes and a few sci-fi space and time things. We're doing spontaneous wormholes when significant energy is released in one point, combining magic with the sci-fi, because magic is just a super specialized form of radiation from magic crystals. The galactic empire has quarantined and restricted public access to certain star systems and other regions of space because star ships made from material embued with the magic crystals causes ghost ships if the crew gets killed. On my Dawson's Christian grindset.

[@boyboss3322]

I’m currently researching about Canada, living situations, architecture, cities and small towns to get my geography down. I want to touch on indigenous culture and history in my book but I’ve been a bit cautious. 😅 I fear being disrespectful

[@johntabler349]

One of the greatest examples of great research is in the works of CS Forester rather Hornblower, (sailing ships) African Queen (turn off the century river steamers) or Good Shepherd (WW2 convoy escort) he always created a smart technical narrative really emersed the reader in the world

[@Tjlasher]

Perfect timing for this video, currently researching for my new project. I've spent hours researching fighter jets for this already.

[@cindywutzke7862]

Not sure what you're writing, but might be easier to choose a time and research the planes available then.

[@Tjlasher]

@cindywutzke7862 It takes place around our time period but you have to research decade's of jets because some countries still fly jets from the beginning of the 60s

[@karlhauser893]

What's your story about?

[@Tjlasher]

@karlhauser893 it follows a machinist in an earth like world that feels trapped in his childhood town, but a massive war breaks out, and he gets drafted into the military with his coworker. There's a shortage of pilots after an attack, so the military opens up the requirements to become a fighter pilot, and the story follows his experience in the conflict with his coworker friend as his wingman.

[@karlhauser893]

@@Tjlasher that actually sounds pretty awesome. I'd love to read some if you wanted to share

[@CJSmith87DexJean23]

I did research on anatomy for foxes and ermines, because I have characters that are fox and ermine type fae, so I needed to know about there anatomy and how much of it I could fudge/tweak or had to be accurate. Though this lead me down a good rabbit whole because I ended up in other animal and creature anatomies like birds. Then there are the funny ones that have made their ways into my writings, like someone calling someone they love a tardigrade, with someone cooing about how they just called them indestructible {this was thanks to my children's curiosity and random questions}.

[@ebifuon6776]

I have severe adhd so the worse part is I keep coming up with new ideas while researching one cause my brain soaks up the information but I cant remember what I had for breakfast

[@ajosepi1976]

Be careful with "real world experts". I have a high degree of knowledge in a couple fields but don't consider myself an expert. I have run across a few in my field that are totally full of crap. Usually talking to three or four will show if any are B.S.ers. One time I had to fix a project that a so called expert messed up to a $50K loss.

[@Alexindiegamedev]

For one of my projects I found myself researching the LA riots, the gangs from the 80's cause was not born yet & guns which might put me on some kind of list due to needing research for my writing indie game project.

[@akeelahbruce1821]

I didn't finish watching your video. But, One of the things I was researching was orphanages in Osaka, Japan. •Where are they located. •What causes children to end up in the orphanage. •Do they have private orphanages. •What is the difference between an orphanage and a foster home. •What age should a child be before they CAN'T be adopted anymore. •Etc. All those were very important because they were a major part of my protagonist's backstory. However, I reached a point where something wasn't adding up. The ages a child cant be adopted anymore differed from what I assumed, which caused me a lot of pain cause I couldn't hastily make changes. In the end, I decided to change the age where children can't be adopted in Japan to 12 instead of the original age, And added a brief history (that probably won't ever be mentioned in the book - it's just there, so I won't be confused in the future) To keep it short, that law (rule) had a revised version when they became an influx of homeless kids after a certain age, with little orphanages to keep track of them. So the age was raised.

[@PerryVillanueva]

Abbie Emmons, I have just completed a realistic romance novel and believe it or not, I used all the techniques you described. However, I did use AI to define what a realistic romance novel is as compared to the traditional romance novel. The definition was legitimate and convincing to me so I used it. But you are correct in using it. I am very aware of that. Below is what AI answered for me. From Microsoft Bing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chat: As an AI language model, I can provide the following definition of a realistic romance story: A realistic romance story is a work of fiction that portrays a romantic relationship in a manner that is authentic and believable. Such stories often depict the ups and downs of a romantic relationship in a realistic manner, emphasizing the emotional complexity and challenges that are inherent in all relationships. Realistic romance stories avoid common clichés and are grounded in the complexities of modern life, depicting love as a complex journey rather than an idealized fantasy. The characters in these stories are flesh-and-blood people, with vices, virtues, and shortcomings, and the resolution of the story is often left open-ended, reflecting the unpredictable nature of real-life relationships.

[@LosAnggraito]

this just makes me wonder what writers used for research before the internet😂 i mean, books obviously, but i feel like our generation of writers is lucky that information is so easily accessible now

[@violetmusic4145]

But on a happier note, it sounds like I’m doing most of the right things

[@VideoGameRoom32]

I am doing research on one of my characters has a rare condition. This is the most difficult part to write in my book.

[@AdamKWatts]

I need context for things, and sometimes I have to do research to get that context. Twenty years of tech writing means I can ask/interview experts/SMEs to get data. It's a key aspect of research for my fiction.

[@user-yz5so6oj5j]

This is Sarah Q. I have a question. I’m writing a murder mystery and my protagonist wants to investigate her own mother’s murder that happened 9 years ago. The reason she is investigating 9 yrs later and not when it happened is all developed. Her desire is to find the killer, her fear is that the killer is out there hunting her, but I can’t figure out the misbelief???

[@DarkPegasus87]

Your mistake with AIs was to ask a subjective question. I use ChatGPT all the time, even for a fanfiction I am writing for My Hero Academia. One of the questions asked involved the history of the Hero Killer, Stain. The anime speaks of him when Iida's brother gets attacked, but it never mentions when he started. Frankly, the manga doesn't either. It only says he began before the events of the story. It also states Stain's first victim, Kirishima's idol Crimson Riot. You can ask an AI for objective details, but do not ask it to extrapolate a subjective scenario.

[@zachhecita]

I find a good place to start for research are explainer videos like TED-Ed, Vox, and Kurzgesagt.

[@violetmusic4145]

Honestly the main reason I don’t ask people pregnancy questions is because I absolutely hate myself for not being able to have a baby and anything that reminds me of that fact makes me want to curl up and die…hence why I can’t stop writing about it 🙃

[@ADoctorsDreams]

Right now, I’m currently researching shout Hawaiian mythology and personalities of the characters in my story! Mostly myths from Hawaii and their gods since they will be VERY important to the plot, episodes, etc… Anyways, the show horror mystery is about a prince named Nanlona who is in the tribe of Lono ( One of the main four Hawaiian gods. ) Recently, random “accidents” around Hawaii, Nanlona and his friend Tako to solve these mysteries and put an end to them. Doesn’t have a name rn btw Anyway tho, this video is gonna help me with researching not just the story I just mentioned, but any of the stories that I may come up with in the future. Thank you :^^^] ❤

[@randomfandoms8994]

Im watching this while drawing my character but im currently working on a story where the protagonist is a court jester (who were called court fools at the time) and they are trying to figure out what happened when they were younger (having flashback nightmares that get slightly closer to the truth). It’s going to be a comic

[@gregorykrug8034]

Thankfully, I need to do very little research as I write fiction with all of my stories based in the same fictional city. I take note of all mentions of my city so I avoid contradictions. My wife writes stories in "real" places, and she often gets bogged down in research.

[@queilef88]

With AI, a really good one is Perplexity. It gives you a rundown along with sources and citations.

[@Oreo_draws111]

If I’ve wrote a book on something that I am kind of familiar with or a place that I was native to do you think I need more research or do you think I’m good?

[@Just__Jamieg33k]

I'm currently researching existing mythology about hybrid elementals and what is believed to be their "powers" or properties when these elements mix.

[@patrickbuckley7259]

Another one, don't allow the first information you learn about a group of people or their beliefs to come from someone who has an Ax to grind against that group of people or their beliefs. Even if some acknowledge them as experts you are likely getting information thru a filter that is far more biased than even one that is written by a member of that group. Almost anyone can be considered an expert on a topic if their opinion conforms to enough peoples biases. Though you should be doing this anyways. It is always important to research counter claims, and not to blindly except any given opinion before accepting it as fact. Typically you want your initial bias to not be formed by someone with an Ax to grind, because we (I.E. Human being) have a natural negativity bias. In addition, we also have a bias towards the first information we hear on a topic, so what you want to do is to set those to biases against one another, rather than allow them to coordinate.

[@teeth716]

“Does the idea of-“ lemme stop you there ✋

[@MiaowMcDonald]

reach out to people in that field of research that you need. i’ve recently had to contact marine biologists across the world - learning about everything i needed for my story. they will be credited in my acknowledgements/thanks section. don’t be afraid to reach out. people will help you. just remember to perhaps send them a copy of your book when it’s out. ❤

[@Akwalotl]

Heya! I can’t find your livestream recording about more in-depth research advice… any help?

[@natashalong2277]

What time is the workshop?

[@DameiusLameocrates]

I researched cold fusion, still unsure if palladium 102 isotope can be used in nuclear weapons

[@90sNatalie]

What happens when you don't know anyone that could help you research? I you know a doctor, you can ask a doctor. If you know a lawyer, you can ask a lawyer, but what if you want to pick someone's brain regarding time travel, alternate universes and such?

[@fuyuisbest]

This is embarrassing but as someone who doesn't really have parental figures I always need to try and find good ways to write for parents how they react to stuff and how they are different then teachers, and friends. I have no idea how to sreach about parental writing ☹️☹️especially 'good' parents it's so confusing

[@hannahmetzger4880]

I _wish_ I could afford to save a spot for the research live on your Pinterest, Abbie...But I just don't have the money!! 😭😭.

[@kylegovender6211]

I bet I made all of them and then some

[@slillysisterstuff1922]

I literally just made a list of things I need to research for my novel earlier today. It's like she knows just what video we need when we need it!

[@JayDay04]

I've reasearched a lot about ocean animals in the past, specially cetaceans' behaviour, in order to create a mermaid species and their society. Now I love randomly searching facts about animals just for fun ahsuhsh

[@michaelhelms2378]

Is it too late to gain access to this research training class?

[@larssjostrom6565]

I do geographic research with google earth, it shows me the region my story takes place in in detail.

[@johnnyragadoo2414]

That comment about a game of telephone - sounds like AI to me! 🙂 The problem with AI for searching is that as awesome as it is for that, centrally controlled AI could also be a tool for cancelling or manipulating. I'm wary.

[@Shadow.Snow.Studios]

How do you salve creature lop holes. Like high fantasy and you haft to designs the cre's.

[@winterblue5219]

I've been trying to research different types of explosives and traps for a human/alien sci-fi novel that includes a prison escape... I'm afraid to continue for fear of being put on some kind of gov't watchlist 🤣 This won't be a young adult or teen book, this one is for more serious-minded people. Does anyone have any tips on researching dangerous things without being turned into law enforcement?

[@deidre_samuelswriter]

I had to research the laws on kidnapping for my writing project. But I think it would be smart since I'm Canadian, to look up the laws in my country concerning kidnapping.

[@MMStrademark]

What if you can’t do research for your book? Technically I have done some research & really found out some interesting things, but what if you’re writing a true story where when if it gets published & it doesn’t rot on the book store shelves, what if you have no proof this happened to you at all? What then?

[@LNRyen]

Your hair is fabulous

[@OrigamiJunkie]

This is actually the number one reason I don't write anymore.

[@dewaynesworld3414]

I love researching

[@RosheenQuynh]

My anxiety will make seeking assistance for my research difficult 😓

[@marleenstukkien5384]

"Don't get your facts from fiction"

[@Ruthie888]

"TK". Where's your TK or equivalent? TK written where you don't know the research helps a person so much in the flow not go down rabbit holes. Often, it helps me just keep going and then on the 1st edit, I realize I didn't need to know the rabbit's genius because now my main character is a squirrell! YOu get it. Teach about TK. That letter combo isn't in the English language and can be easily found in your document. TK!

[@Bauk22]

Abbie has nice make up. 👍Looks good; almost couldn´t watch the video :D