by Katherine Reay, @Katherine_Reay
We do a lot of research for our novels. I have spent days observing insurance company employed art restorers, interior decorators, bookshop owners; I’ve talked with lawyers, the police (it took a few minutes to convince on detective that I hadn’t perpetrated a crime), the FBI, doctors, nurses, cancer patients and foster kids; I’ve read countless books on a variety of subjects too broad to mention; I’ve visited cities, countries, libraries, shops, group homes, hospitals — and even the Vatican Restoration Labs (That was amazing, by the way).
And I hope readers never know about it.
This is a short post — on purpose — because little should be said about our research.
Readers should never know how much work we do.
I liken research to an iceberg. They say the average iceberg is 10 percent above the water line and 90 percent below. In doing your research, dig deep. You must know 100 percent of your subject. You must be an expert as you translate through your voice into your character’s head and heart or into your scenes — which are characters too.
But, in doing so, make sure you only share about 10 percent of what you’ve learned. I have found that amount melds into a story organically — any more and I jeopardize the story in trying to dump information. That said, I’ve also found that it’s the 90 percent that doesn’t get shared, that is withheld, that creates the real magic. The 90 percent foundation allows your character to know/say/do just enough to be truly authentic without spoon-feeding or overwhelming your reader. The 90 percent foundation wields incredible power in good story telling.
So have fun with your research — it can be a wonderful adventure in and of itself.
But — always — share it judiciously.
Enjoy!
Katherine
The Printed Letter Bookshop
Love, friendship, and family find a home at the Printed Letter Bookshop.
Katherine Reay is a national bestselling and award-winning author of several novels, including Dear Mr. Knightley and the upcoming The Printed Letter Bookshop. She has enjoyed a lifelong affair with books and brings that love to her contemporary stories. Her first full-length nonfiction work will release in December 2019. Katherine holds a BA and MS from Northwestern University. She currently writes full time and lives outside Chicago, IL with her husband and three children. You can meet Katherine at www.katherinereay.com or on Facebook: KatherineReayBooks, Twitter: @katherine_reay and Instagram: @katherinereay.