Research

I'm all deep into 1920's Texas Panhandle right now -- interesting...scary a little, but interesting... -- and thus I am thinking and yammering about research.  I have a little town there, or I will once I wrestle this novel into place again.  So, let's talk about the research: how much to do, when you need to do it -- that sort of thing.

1. I really have no idea -- I just wing it.
2. See #1.

I can't say I have spoken with too many other budding writers about this, and absolutely zero published writers, so my thoughts here are just me rambling in the middle of an empty room, like always.  Don't mistake me for someone who knows what she's doing. LOL  But if you're like me and you prefer to set your stories prior to yesterday, then chances are you and I are going to need to look some stuff up soon.

The question is, when does the balance tip from "verisimilitude" to "non-fiction treatise?"

I've been doing fairly well researching just enough to set the mood, and to make sure I have a handle on the world my characters live in.  Sometimes, that's easy: I had a late antiquity/early Dark Ages focus at University, and so I have enough of a background in that time that I only had to do some supplemental research for Robin's recent adventures.  The 12th century isn't all that far removed from the 9th, but it is enough to warrant my confirming several things, and thank goodness I did: nearly wrote in the wrong kind of motte and bailey for the city of York.  I think details like that matter, because they can change the nature of the action.  It can make a huge difference if Robin is running through a stone structure or a wooden one.  But, I didn't research the entire history of York's fortification nor did I research the construction of motte and bailey structures.  None of my characters were ever going to need this information, so I figured I didn't either. 

Conversely, I have a character whose family founded a town.  So I will need to know the history of this entire area, because he will also know it and draw his worldview from it.  He's proud of his heritage, even if he hates what the town has become.  This means the history of the area will be more important to him than it would be to the guy next to him at the diner, who only cares about getting paid so he can go drinking Saturday night.  That guy couldn't care less who originally owned the land underneath his feet, but my characters does, so both of us need to know that kind of thing. 

So I'm thinking research is one of those things that the characters dictate for me -- or the mystery I'm setting up should I get brave enough to tackle on -- and as long as I follow their lead I'll manage.  Now, having said that, I'm sure further experience will prove me wrong or at least modify what I think.  I'm by no means clued in on what I'm doing.  See #1.  But, you know, thoughts for the day and all.  :)

Anyone else have any thoughts?

xx mm