For the traditional fantasies, a lot more of my research comes from reading rather than doing. I like my worlds to feel real, so I do a lot of world building research.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I have to do more close research and fact checking for the science fiction. This is not however to say that writing good fantasy does not involve doing good research.
I tend to research as I write so that the narrative can take priority, which is important for a piece of fiction, I think, finding out facts as and when I need to.
When I really want to learn about something, I write a book on it. Then the real research begins, as I begin to hear people's stories, and huge amounts of information begins to comes straight to my doorstep. Then I can write an even better book the next time!
Once I engage in something, I really engage in it, and I love the process of reading and researching because I come from an academic background.
What I've tried to do is combine both my personal experiences with scientific research. I like to cross the divide between the personal world and the scientific world.
I'm big on research. I love research, so I tend to do a lot of reading.
I have always focused on basic research, motivated by a desire to understand the world.
How much research I have to do depends on the nature of the story. For fantasy, none at all.
I love research so much that I do an enormous amount; it helps put off the moment of starting to write the story.
Sometimes I'm asked if I do research for my stories. The answer is yes and no. No, in the sense that I seldom plow through books at the library to gather material. Yes, in the sense that the first fifteen years of my life turned out to be one big research project.