The thing about research is that there's no end. You constantly have this fear that an expert who knows more than you will call you out on some detail in your book.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
Research to me is as important or more important than the writing. It is the foundation upon which the book is built.
I enjoy research; in fact research is so engaging that it would be easy to go on for years, and never write the novel at all.
I've always looked upon research as an opportunity to satisfy my curiosity. But the other side of the coin is one must not be so caught up in it that one never gets the book written.
So research is a terribly imperfect science, and you learn an awful lot more after you've published a book, because people keep writing to you and saying, 'Oh, gosh, I was related to such and such a character and I have a letter in my possession.'
Research is not an obstacle, something to be frightened of. It can be one of the real joys of writing.
In much of society, research means to investigate something you do not know or understand.
I love research so much that I do an enormous amount; it helps put off the moment of starting to write the story.
Research for fiction is a funny thing: you go looking for one piece of information, and find something altogether different.
When you're working well, you don't do research. Whatever you need comes to you.
There's an awful temptation to just keep on researching. There comes a point where you just have to stop, and start writing.