Magazine issue 3 completed

Page 13

research different areas of New York. There is not only language, what about travel? How do people get from one place to another in New York?

have all of the relevant information then you print it out and work through your research.

How should you use your research?

There are lots of ways to organise your research and again it depends on what exactly you are researching. The most important thing is to find the most effective way of organising your research in relation to your task.

If you are researching for the purpose of writing fiction then you should research certain details as much as possible. For instance, if you wrote a novel based in New York, and you haven’t been to New York, the novel might seem very unnatural to the reader. You should use So, what method of American fiction, the internet, the news, and even Newspapers to organising your get a feel of what life is like in research suits you? New York. You might also look at a map of the area you are Here you should think about what thinking of describing. For ininformation you will be stance it’s no good describing collecting and how you want to suburban parts of New York access the research. when you are in the city, so you need to know your way and have If you need to read a lot of some idea of where you are. printed information then it’s usually best to photocopy the You also have mannerisms and piece, write down the reference, language to consider too. For and store it in a file. If the instance, different dialects, information is short and snappy, different beliefs and ways of life, (just a couple of lines) you can different aspects, and people with type it up into a document. If different experiences. It takes a your answer is simple, one or two lot of research if you want to words, or even a number write about a place that you are reference, then you can store this not familiar with. That doesn’t information into a spreadsheet. mean it can’t be done but you do need to make sure you gather a If we consider quotes, some lot of information to help you people might like to cut these out ensure authenticity. and write the reference on the back. Then when writing they You might watch TV shows have a collection of quotes or based in New York, and type or important points to work from. acquire scripts for the shows to Sometimes the quotes may need help you get to grips with the sorting further, into areas or language and some location. You relevance. might search Google maps and

13

Remember, research is important and should be used to create atmosphere, but it should be used to help you focus your ideas on particular areas. It’s certainly important when creating a realistic article or an atmospheric story. Research is often the basis of your writing work so make sure you use it to draw on authenticity, as well as it being a foundation for your own ideas. It can really help you to develop your ideas and can kick-start motivation!

Research is often the basis of your writing work so make sure you use it to draw on authenticity, as well as it being a foundation for your own ideas. Love it or hate it, research is an important part of the life of a writer so it’s best to come to terms with that and make the best of the resources available to us. It’s certainly worth persevering with in the longer term, and it also means you are developing yourself too!


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.