No matter what you write, research is important. But beyond knowing background about the people, places and things of your story, it’s good to be able to know what has already been written about your subject.
Just how many histories of crocheting already exist? What else has been written about sparkling vampires or robotic lawmen?
One place that can help with that research is the American Library Association’s Booklist magazine and website.
Paean to pretending
Meanwhile, back at the keyboard, these writers claim they’ve been inspired — even trained — in their craft by role playing games like Dungeons and Dragons.
Then there are the rare few who have made their careers in role playing games. Take Matt Forbeck, for one, who has D&D among his credits.
Really, though, who can argue that a childhood spent imagining and pretending isn’t a childhood fit for a writer?
A Game as Literary Tutorial – NYTimes.com
Be my baby
Which of your likeable character’s needs a “signature” behavior? Which of your “nasties” needs to seem so nice? Here are a few traits to think about using.
Body-Language Tricks to Make Anyone Instantly Like You | Entrepreneur.com
Know more
Write what you know. We’ve all heard it.
I’ve always believed that meant every job I ever had would give more to write about. So the summers in vegetable packing plants and weeks going door-to-door collecting information for a local census were just writing research.
Any job you have is background to draw on.
That’s what Kathleen Rooney used when she wrote O, Democracy!, a novel based on time she spent working on an Illinois political campaign. Here are some others who worked unusual jobs, some of which they wrote about.
6 Famous Writers Who Worked Odd Jobs – Writer’s Circle
http://writerscircle.com/2013/09/odd-jobs-of-famous-authors.html
Read me
Elizabeth Law’s list is meant for people who write for children and young adults. I think it’s full of gems for any writer.
Ten Things That Make an Editor Stop Reading Your Manuscript — Elizabeth Law Reads
sharon p. lynn 