How far do you go to do your research?
Google? Wiki? BBC News? CNN or Fox News? (Yeah, ok I put those in to see if you were paying attention...)
So far, I haven't really had to do much actual, factual research because I write fiction - I make just about everything up.
I research historical fact because I like to weave my stories into historical events. The War of the Roses, Jack The Ripper, The Battle of Blore Heath, they were all intensively researched. I have walked battlefields on a few occasions - Blore Heath has stuck in my mind since and I dare say I'll return to that one.
A hog-faced helmet, replica of Henry 8th's battle helm and a Hand and a Half 'Bastard' sword - BEST. BIRTHDAY. PRESENTS. EVER!
I suppose it's because I adore history.
I digress!
Now I have an idea for a story that's current. It has a lot of background and more detail than I'm used to.
Do I go at it like a bull at a gate and just write?
Do I keep with popular myth and legend and throw random interesting snippets of my imagination in there for added colour, or do I immerse myself in research - library, wiki, google, books, papers, documents?
I suppose you'll just have to wait and see...
No, I'm not telling you what the story is about. I'll keep you guessing... I may not finish it today. I may not even finish it this week...
AND, I may not even tell you whether it's part-fact, part-fiction...
You see, I'm a little bit evil like that.
I can give you just enough to get you interested and then leave you hanging...
Was that a clue?... Who knows...
Keep watching.