Writing takes research. Even fiction writing. For some writers, that's the fun part. I know some historical fiction authors who love diving into research, learning all they can about a certain time, person, or event in the past. Mystery and fictional crime authors have to know the forensic and legal procedures. But what could there possibly be to research for romance and women's fiction?
Well, lots apparently. So maybe the romance part can be completely construed, but it still helps to have some knowledge on relationship dynamics whether through real-life experiences or reading-for-research/pleasure. But to write a complex novel with round characters, they need to have developed careers, hobbies, interests, and more.
While I'm not the most enthusiastic researcher, I will do it for the story. For Another Dance, I spent most of my time researching the dance moves and jargon associated with ballroom dance. As Annie learns the dance steps, I needed it to be realistic that the instructor would use the proper terms, and I also needed to be able to describe the moves visually. I spent a lot of time watching instructional dance videos on YouTube, pausing to study and capture the body movement. I also researched military basics, nurse procedures and training, group therapy, and the effects of pharmaceutical drugs. It was all interesting to learn about, and I'm happy with how I was able to weave my newfound knowledge into my story, but I discovered a much more enjoyable type of research for my upcoming novel Road Maps.
For Road Maps, I had the real life experience of dealing with the sudden death of my estranged father, so no need for research there. But I did have to use my best Googling skills to learn about filmmaking, screenplay writing, and movie production. (I'm sure my rendition might break some rules, but it's also fiction, so a few broken rules won't hurt anyone). However, the best part of research was actually visiting roadside attractions in Iowa in order to properly describe the feeling of being there. My family joined me on this adventure, and we had an amazing time exploring our home state. Places we visited include the following:
- Squirrel Cage Jail in Council Bluffs
- Blue Bunny ice cream parlor in Le Mars
- carousel in Story City
- Buddy Holly memorial in Clear Lake
- Field of Dreams movie set in Dyersville
- Fenelon Elevator in Dubuque
- Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend
- American Gothic House in Eldon
- and more!
