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How much do you research when trying to beef out your plot? I ask because, as someone who has never enjoyed research of any kind, I have just discovered that I could not enjoy learning about the universe more than I am now.

It's like a new world has opened up to me that I never knew before.

Let me take a step back. I'm writing a Science Fiction that deals heavily with space travel, and my first outline and chapters were lacking the visual description I needed to make it realistic enough. My problem was that I knew absolutely nothing about space except that it looked cool in pictures and movies, and, you know, when you look up at night. sweatdrop

So one day I walk into borders for my daily 'lets-pick-another-book-up-to-fill-my-already-500+-selection,' when I immediately see a GIANT book (in caps, too! It was HUGE) entitled 'Cosmos.' I was entranced by the cover, and even more entranced by the pictures inside. So I bought it, thinking that looking over the pictures would be enough (I hate to study, always have, always will).

But it wasn't enough. I started reading the information in it, and it wasn't enough, and I needed to know more. So then I picked up a book called 'Universe', and I've been reading like crazy ever since. I'm amazed at how interested I am in it, and my detail is so much better because I actually kind of know what I'm talking about.

So this, after my extensive explanation, is the question: Do you enjoy researching about the information you should know to make your book more detailed, or do you find it a chore like I have in the past? How much do you research, and how important do you find it to you story as a whole?

That really depends on what it is. If it is supernatural, I enjoy looking it up. If it is more modern or technical, I force myself through it.

I have done "accidental" research, though: researched something for fun, and ended using it in a story.

Its actually very encouraging to hear you say you enjoyed that research, cause my book takes place in the late 1800's, and I know NOTHING about that time. I don't even know exactly what they wore.
I just know it was before machine guns, which is key to my story.
I've been procrastinating, but now I wish I was somewhere near a library so I could go pick something up about that time period.

Bring on your torture, your bullets, your pains

As much as I can. Honestly, with the Raiden series I am writing (for those who read my last post somewhere else, it's the one I'm writing with my best bud) I researched everything from monumental places in Chicago to the make and bullets of the guns he was using, to basic witchcraft for the female character. It's a strange story, but open to a wide audience for maximum impact. But I am constantly googling something or other for the plot, even though I've been at it for a while now. I still don't have the plot down, I go with the flow for the more part.

And in my heart, things aren't the same.

I use my beloved Google. I used to hate researching but it's become so addictive for me, especially when I write a mythology fiction. Really, I love finding out new things smile

I love researching and I guess my impatience has wilted a little...just a little. The library is fantastic, ours is four storey's with a basement full of magazine, articles and archives. I sit in there picking up books all the time, and definitely learn more from books smile

I'm always in my University library now. Recently I have an obsession with dystopia's and J.G.Ballard. Also having a lot of assignments in Literature, it's just a bonus learning about their techniques.

Research is a key thing for me. Again, my partner being a writer has its ups and downs. He is primarily Literary, high-flying fiction only. He doesn't believe in research and gets frustrated when I plan for days and weeks. So, I just start and the project is abandoned. Then I explained in simple terms: How can you write about a place you've never been too efficiently? How can you write a series on mythology without researching myths?