Phobias, Goddesses and Other Odd Things I Call Research

Welcome to this week’s Marketing for Romance Writers (#MFRW) 52-week Blog Challenge entitled, “What I learned when researching my book.” Initially I felt my usual internal cringe when I thought about the word, research. The word often makes me envision historical writers, and others who write extensive, detailed scenes—that I must admit I often skim.

Then I realized, I do a little research for my books. It’s not the same as the unsavory image my mind seems to have created surrounding the word. Mostly because, methods of research have changed a lot since back in the day.

As a fantasy and paranormal writer, I do dabble a little in research, but it’s not what you might expect—or maybe it is if you’ve been hanging around here long.

The Dreaded Card Catalog

Excuse me as I set my chair to rocking as I lament to these young whipper-snappers who’ve never had to research with the use of a card catalog.

Thumbing through rows of faded, and sometimes almost illegible cards identifying the supposed location of the information I sought. All while under the watchful eye of the librarian who chastised potential folding of corners or removal of the card.

Research promised boring, mindless reading and endless efforts to cite sources correctly—all while using the dreaded card catalog. Any other time I loved to go to the library and choose books to read. The fun ones.

Not the massive, dusty tomes that weighed about twenty pounds promising a cure for any type of insomnia. They usually stealthily concealed the information I sought for my paper.

The rows of encyclopedias that my parents refused to buy (which I can now reflect was a wise choice) took up multiple shelves, and far too much of my time.

A Few Things I’ve Researched for Writing

Nowadays, multiple sources, and endless resources, can be produced within the comfort of your home. All with a few taps of your keyboard. Yet somehow, research still feels like an unsavory word, even though I’ve come to embrace it for several reasons. As a freelance writer, I enjoy keeping my mind sharp learning about the latest technology and trends in healthcare (mostly because of my love affair with words.)

Photographs help me to describe my settings and characters. I gather up unusual photographs, quotes and other information that might be relevant to my story and stick it on a Pinterest Board.

• DESTINY CALLING & The Enchantlings Series– For DESTINY CALLING and my 2 books in draft in the series (NOT A CHANCE is with my editor), I spent time researching the Goddess Hecate, odd phobias (I wrote about some of this here), old automobiles and unusual book coverings. I also consider time spent riding on the back of hubs motorcycle, walking and bicycling deep in the woods, playing the music of Gemini Syndrome and watching paranormal and supernatural television as research.

• EVIL SPEAKS SOFTLY – I read up, and visited, a few old graveyards and researched “ghost mother photography.”

• GRANDMA MUST DIE- Much of my “research” for GRANDMA MUST DIE was with photographs of churches and other old buildings, and small towns.

Check Out These Author’s Research Findings

So maybe my research isn’t always what one would expect, and perhaps research doesn’t leave as bad a taste in my mouth as it used to. Although I still cringe a bit at the mere mention of the word—old habits die hard.

I’m betting these other authors have some fabulous things they’ve discovered with their research.

What Do You Consider Research?

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