Someone asked me recently how I do the research for my stories. I know every author/writer has their different methods, but, aside from wikipedia, the best way to get the research is to go out there and hunt out the information first hand.

First Hand Experience

Looking for a wooded place to set your story in? Somewhere in the woods? Sometimes a series of pictures, even ones you take yourself, thrown together, can provide inspiration.

Take these pictures below for example.

Just because these four pictures are from different places – the scenery around where I live is pretty good – doesn’t mean that the reader of your story knows this. Use things you know and see every day to inspire your writing. You can write more and more detailed descriptions of things you know in detail and that’s the best way to start.

The same thing works for experiences. If you are writing about something that has happened to you – like a wedding off the top of my head – then it’s easier to write as you have first hand experience and know what happens! On that note; I have never been to a wedding, so if I ever wrote about one, my descriptions of the ceremony would be extremely limited unless…

Research

It always comes back to research.

Youtube is a great way to find research if you’re looking for visual learning and you’re good at avoiding distraction.

Wikipedia, too, it you don’t mind looking up how to catch a fish and ended up on the origin of spoons.

Books and Libraries work if you’re brave enough to ask the librarian or saunter around looking through the reference sections. And google is your friend! ;)

I will share a little secret with you however! A good site for learning about black market dealings vis-a-vis guns, weapons, and other such things without googling down a strange and worrying path,  Havoscope is a good reference site. :)

I hope this helped!

~Shan