As a new writer, you may have heard the phrase: “write what you know.” But what if you’re crafting fictional worlds filled with dragons, spaceships, or Victorian-era detectives? Even the most imaginative fiction needs a solid foundation in reality to feel authentic to readers.
Many writers assume that because they’re writing fiction, they can make everything up. Sure, your characters might only exist in your imagination, but what happens when one of them needs to navigate a real city you’ve never visited? Or when your protagonist is dealing with a medical condition you know nothing about? That’s where research becomes important and necessary.
Fiction still lives in the real world
Research isn’t just for non-fiction writers. Even fantasy and science fiction, genres that seem to have complete creative freedom, rely heavily on research to create believable worlds. J.R.R. Tolkien didn’t just dream up Middle-earth; he spent years studying languages, mythology, and medieval history to build his fictional universe.
Think about it this way: readers bring their real-world knowledge to everything they read. If you write about a character using a smartphone in a story set in 1995, someone’s going to notice. If your detective protagonist follows procedures that make no sense to anyone who’s watched a single episode of Law & Order, you’ll lose credibility fast.
Research gives your fiction the authenticity it needs to transport readers into your story. It’s the difference between a story that feels real and one that feels like the author is making things up as they go along.
Research builds reader trust
Good research creates an invisible bond of trust between you and your readers. When readers sense that you understand your subject matter, they’re more willing to follow you into fictional territory. They trust that you won’t lead them astray with obvious errors or lazy shortcuts.
This trust is especially important in our internet age, where readers can fact-check your work in seconds. Get something obviously wrong, and you’ll hear about it in reviews and social media posts.
What kind of research does fiction need?
The scope of research depends on your story, but here are some common areas where fiction writers need to dig deeper:
Setting and location research
Even if you’re writing about a fictional town, understanding how real places work helps you create believable geography, weather patterns, and local culture. If your story takes place in Seattle, you’d better know about the coffee culture, the rain, and the layout of the neighbourhoods.
Professional and career details
Characters need jobs, and those jobs come with specific knowledge, vocabulary, and daily routines. If your protagonist is a maritime lawyer (yes, that’s a real specialty), their personality, speech patterns, and worldview will be shaped by their profession. You don’t need a law degree to write this character, but you need enough knowledge to make them convincing.
Medical and scientific information
Writing a character with diabetes? You need to understand blood sugar management, insulin types, and the daily reality of living with this condition. Readers who have diabetes, or know someone who does, will spot inaccuracies immediately.
Historical context
Historical fiction requires obvious research, but contemporary fiction often needs historical context too. Maybe your character is dealing with the lasting effects of a historical event, or maybe they’re part of a family with deep generational traditions.
Genre-specific research needs
Different genres have different research demands, but none get a free pass:
Mystery and crime fiction
These genres require understanding of legal procedures, police protocols, forensics, and criminal justice systems. Readers of crime fiction are often well-versed in these areas and won’t forgive sloppy research.
Science fiction
Even hypothetical future scenarios need grounding in current scientific understanding. If you’re writing about climate change in 2075, you need to understand current climate science to extrapolate believably.
Fantasy
Fantasy writers often research mythology, medieval history, warfare, and social structures to create believable fictional societies. Even magic systems need internal logic that readers can follow.
Research methods that actually work
The internet has revolutionized research for fiction writers, but it’s not your only option:
Online research
Search engines and YouTube can give you incredible access to information and experiences. You can virtually walk through a foreign city, watch medical procedures, or listen to people describe their experiences with almost anything.
Interviews and oral research
Nothing beats talking to someone who’s actually lived through what you’re writing about. A cancer survivor can give you insights that no medical textbook can provide. A former police officer can tell you what it really feels like to make an arrest.
Library research
Libraries still offer resources you can’t find online, especially for historical research. Plus, librarians are research wizards who can point you toward sources you’d never find on your own.
Field research
Sometimes you need to experience things first-hand. Visit the locations you’re writing about if possible. Take that cooking class if your character is a chef. Attend that support group meeting if it’s relevant to your story.
When should you research?
There’s no single right answer to this question, and honestly, it depends on your writing process:
Before writing
Some writers prefer to research extensively before starting their first draft. This approach gives you confidence as you write and can prevent major plot holes. The downside? You might spend so much time researching that you never actually start writing (hello, procrastination).
After the first draft
Other writers prefer to get the story down first, then research during revisions. This approach keeps you focused on storytelling and ensures you only research what’s actually relevant to your finished story.
Research as you go
Many writers research as needed during the drafting process. Hit a scene that requires specific knowledge? Stop and research it. This method can interrupt your writing flow but ensures accuracy as you write.
Find what works for you, but here’s my advice: don’t let research become an excuse to avoid the hard work of actually writing your novel.
The balance between research and storytelling
Research should enhance your story, not overwhelm it. I’ve read manuscripts where the author clearly spent months researching price of a particular company’s shares in the stock market in 1985, then felt compelled to include every single detail they learned. The result? Paragraphs that read like Wikipedia entries instead of compelling fiction.
Remember, you’re not writing a textbook. Your job is to tell a compelling story with believable details, not to prove how much research you’ve done. Use the iceberg principle: let readers see the tip of your research while the bulk of it stays hidden, supporting your story from beneath the surface.
Sometimes you’ll research something fascinating that doesn’t fit your story. That’s okay: save it for another project. Your story comes first; research serves the story, not the other way around.
The bottom line
Research isn’t the enemy of creativity: it’s creativity’s friend. The more you understand about the real world, the more convincingly you can bend, twist, or completely reinvent it in your fiction. Your imaginary worlds become more vivid, your characters more believable, and your stories more engaging.
No fiction writer can completely escape reality. Even the most fantastical stories need anchoring details that readers can relate to and believe in. Research provides those anchors.
So the next time someone tells you that fiction writers don’t need to research, feel free to disagree. Then get back to the work of creating believable, engaging stories that transport readers into worlds they’ll never want to leave.
Ready to take your fiction writing to the next level? At Accomplish Press, we offer comprehensive support for writers at every stage of their journey. Whether you need book coaching to guide your manuscript preparation, want to join our creative writing course, or are looking for a self-publishing course to help you navigate your steps to becoming published, we’re here to help. Get in touch and let’s help you create the authentic, engaging stories your readers are waiting for.
I totally agree. Perhaps your protagonist lives in a city you have never visited. In order to make your setting more realistic you must know about where your story is set. Readers will find mistakes and it may hurt your credibility. Make sure to do that research. Hone your skills and pay attention to detail.
Jade K