Some people would not use creativity and research in the same sentence. Yet they do go together, and quite well. In fact, research is essential for good creative projects. I am currently doing research for 2 books. One is a novel I am writing (get a preview at CarensaHolt.com), one is a novel somebody else is writing and where I got called in because of my expertise.

My novel is about Carensa Holt, a college coed traveling Europe with her backpack in the summer of 1976. Doing that, she joins a myriad of others (Americans and from around the world). Since her travels are by train, I spend a lot of time constructing her travel schedules, referring to timetables from the years 1975, 1976 and 1977. When you eventually read the novel, you will only rarely see an actual departure or arrival time, but the flow of time and story will be correct. Likewise, I spend much time sifting out what places looked like back then. Some places in the story have changed very little, other places, such as Monaco have had their harbor totally rebuilt, the train line rerouted and a totally new station built. But Carensa was there when the old harbor, the old train station and the old rail line were there.

The story about Carensa takes place in Europe, but the story makes it clear that she is from Lancaster County, PA, and this spring while in that area, I made sure to take time for research. I got a better understanding of what the farm she grew up on would be like and what it is like to live there. Eventually this will work its way into the story, mostly as little details here and there or in casual remarks.

For the other novel, I am researching culture and food customs of northern Europe from several hundred years ago. There are common ideas of what people there ate and drank in the 1600s, but are they right? And what if the story calls for casual details of daily life? That is where the research comes in.

But what about a corporate video? Or a website? Do they need research? Absolutely. For the video I created for Southwest Power Pool recently, even though the client brought in a rough script, I spent time researching the history and key points to make sure everything was presented and visualized correctly. Archival images were found for historical scenes and specific footage shot to show items that are talked about.

In fiction and in narratives, good research not only helps build a stronger story, but also helps us visualize that story better. It’s just a bonus that I am naturally curious and so eager to do research needed for a project.

Claes

posted in video, web design, writing

both comments and pings are currently closed.