“I do a great deal of research – particularly in the apartments of tall blondes” ~Raymond Chandler
Q: Dear Julie,
Do you do research for topics that you don’t know much about, or do you just steer clear of subject matter than you have no (or little) prior knowledge of?
Thanks,
Not a writer
A: Dear Not A Writer,
Thanks for your question. It’s a good one and well written for someone who’s not a writer. I didn’t have to make any corrections to it. Are you sure you’re not a writer?
I’m always researching. I’m curious. The problem is that I’m also lazy. Really, I couldn’t be happier that I’m living in a world that has research access at my fingertips 24/7. Oh, and the joy of being able to follow my fleeting interests and make use of everything I learn. It’s probably one of the biggest reasons I became a writer. I wanted to make all of the random bits of information I gathered useful. Plus, I couldn’t ever decide what I wanted to do with my life. I was interested in too many things. So, I thought writing about my interests would give me variety and satisfaction without suffering the consequences of a long-term commitment to any one path … except for the writing path, of course.
I have to do research because, getting a glimpse at what there is to know, I recognize that I have very little knowledge about anything. In the scheme of things, I know almost nothing. It’s upsetting, really.
Given all there is to learn, I’d say I direct most of my research efforts into the study of human behavior and interpersonal interactions.
- What motivates people?
- Why do they do what they do?
- How are strong opinions developed?
- What do different people do in similar situations and why?
- Who wants what and what will they do to get it?
- Why do people believe what they believe?
- Why do people tolerate what they tolerate?
- How do people understand and communicate their needs?
- What are people most afraid of and what do they most desire?
- What will they do to avoid what they fear and get what they want?
I’m excited just typing these questions. My sister Sarah and I were similarly interested in human behavior. However, Sarah saw what people were doing and thought, “I can help, if I get to them early enough.” And she became a school psychologist. I looked at what people were doing and I thought, “that’s interesting.” I don’t really want to help. I just want to know for the sake of knowing. (My sister’s a better person than I.)
Also, I love to monkey around with ideas and conduct thought experiments. I prefer a discussion about what superpower you’d like to have over talk about the ramifications of the cold war on modern Russian society. I prefer to think about the road to addiction than the Road to Guantanamo. I don’t have much of a yen for straight history or politics. I never have. I like history or politics when it involves an analysis of personality. And I like them when they include the art that comes from a period of time. This is because I think the art that’s created and consumed tells me about the collective consciousness of a period of time better than any timeline narrative. But I think I’m off topic.
To answer your question in another way:
- I research to know more about what I care about and enhance what I know
- I research to explore new worlds I know nothing about aside from that they exist and intrigue me
- And then I integrate my research so it doesn’t seem like I’m writing about things I don’t know about first-hand by talking about it endlessly and turning the new ideas over in my head
I do this by reading, talking, interviewing, living, traveling, asking, wondering, and imagining. I read books, blogs, threads, magazines, interviews, Q&As, police blotters, obits, comics, newspapers, studies, essays, papers, stories, novels, poems, notes, comments, emails. I watch movies and documentaries. I ask questions then I shut my mouth and listen. I watch. I guess. I conjecture. I seek new experiences. By hook or by crook.
But, I tend to write what I know in terms of setting, culture, and time. So, I do steer clear of subject matter I don’t know much about. It helps that I prefer character-driven yarns. I also prefer a modern setting. I think some basic human struggles transcend time and place. The struggle to know more, for example. I can related to that. Maybe I’ll write a book about it.
Whew, that really was a good question, Not a Writer. Thanks for being part of A Writing Life series.
Best,
Julie Luongo
If you have a question for Julie Luongo about writing or whatever else, I guess, within reason, (and don’t expect an immediate answer) email her at: juluongo@yahoo.com
