Hello, writers. Last week we talked about research (admittedly not the most fascinating topic), and this week I want to wrap it up by talking about stopping and dropping your research. Though you of course can talk about whatever you want.
Drop
I came across this quote in a movie review this week:
It reminded me of the many scenes in Gran Torino where Clint Eastwood learns about Hmong culture... every other line of dialogue that comes out of Eastwood’s mouth [is] something to the effect of "Tell me more about these colorful robes and garments used in Hmong ceremonies. I’d like to learn more about the history of your native land and its unique traditions and holidays."
Nathan Rabin
Yes! I haven't seen Gran Torino, but I've read the book, or at least similar books, where the author wants to make sure you know all this fascinating stuff he found out about blacksmithing/Henry VIII/the life cycle of swallows. Thing is, anybody can find that stuff out if they're interested. What they want from you is a story.
Once you've done your research, there's a limit to how much you want to let it creep into the story. The limit is, simply, the point where it ceases to serve the story. People should be fascinated by the authenticity of what your character is holding in her hands, wearing on her feet, hearing and smelling, but only secondarily to the story... and there shouldn't be any scenes (at least in the final draft) that are there just because you want your character to have a chance to observe how telephones worked in 1899*.
You can say a whole lot about Napoleon if he's actually in the story, but not if he's just up to his shenanigans somewhere offstage while your heroine is trying to win the icy heart of the cruel Duke of Muckwinster. Some writers actually do their research after they've written, in order to cut down on the risk of overexposing their research.
*I always end up writing a lot of these scenes.
Stop
This is just a minor point, but if you do your research before you write (and most writers do) at some point you've got to stop. It's true that there are more resources out there that you haven't read yet, and that there are some fascinating points of disagreement among scholars (that's how scholars stay in business). But it's also true that writers* will look for any excuse to avoid writing, and needing to do more research is one.
*most writers. Not you and me, of course.
Roll
That's what you should do if you catch fire. But you knew that.
Write On! will be a regular Thursday feature (8 pm ET) until it isn't. Be sure to check out other great lit'ry diaries like:
sarahnity's books by kossacks on Tuesdays
plf515's What Are You Reading? on Wednesday mornings.
cfk's bookflurries on Wednesday nights.
Your happy writing links for the week:
If you missed NaNoWriMo, there's always Write Your @ss Off Day.
That amazon contest I keep going on about is now open for submissions.
Publishers Weekly announces the 2009 Cuffies. Kinda cute.
Heh. Okay. Do not do this in your query letter.
How to edit your novel manuscript to take out all the boring parts.
How to end your book. Also, all about point of view.
In death-of-the-bookstore news: I see that their outfit don't like to serve cowboys.
The LA Times issues a plea for poets not to kill themselves. Seconded.
What an agent's query pool looks like-- always interesting if it interests you. I try to steer clear of that last genre.
And lastly, writers are liberal. But also more conservative than bartenders: everyone is.
A thought for the day:
"There is a marvelous peace in not publishing. It’s peaceful. Still. Publishing is a terrible invasion of my privacy. I like to write. I love to write. But I write just for myself and my own pleasure."--J.D. Salinger, 1919-2010
Never, ever sign anything with any agent or publisher whom you haven't checked out at Writer Beware or Preditors and Editors.