How to Avoid the “Research Roadblock” When Writing Fiction

There’s a time to do research, and there’s a time to don’t. Doing research is a must for journalism, biographies, non-fiction and such, but what about fiction? Is there a thing as too much research? And what’s the “research roadblock,” you ask? Let me tell you.

Fiction occupies its own space when it comes to research. It all depends on the subject and how faithful you want to be. Are you writing a high fantasy novel with made-up places and magical laws? Then you’re the expert.

The Importance of Research

Are you writing historical fiction or a crime novel? That’s a different story. You might need to know the intricacies of historical events or what dosage of a certain drug could result in an overdose. Research is imperative to not only create a believable world but also to further your expertise as a writer.

For example, my first novel is set in California in 1969. Though it’s a time that I have a high affinity for and know quite a lot by heart, there are still many things that I had to look up in order to get right. On which street is that motel located in LA? When did Grateful Dead play at Fillmore East? And was Hair still playing at The Aquarium Theater that year? (Answers: La Cienega; the 11th of February; yes.)

Those might seem like inconsequential things, but getting that right satisfied my curious mind and informed the novel by enriching it with actual facts. It provides the novel with authenticity –  even if the characters and events are fictional.

A printed draft of my first novel, plus some of the notes and research that shaped it. Photo by Oscar Hjelmstedt.

Too Much, Too Soon

But there are times when research can get the better of you. There is indeed a thing as too much research, especially in early drafts. If you get hung up on the small details of your novel, you run the risk of ruining the momentum and hitting the dreaded “research roadblock.” (And yes, that’s a term I made up, but I think it accurately describes this phenomenon.)

During the first of second –  or hell, even the third – you’re better off not worrying about the details. That’s when you just want to get it out there. Get the words on the page. Get it out of your system.

Otherwise, you’ll be knee-deep in incongruous details that don’t further the plot an iota when you should focus on the story and the characters instead.

The Solution

But what should you do if you’re stuck at a particular point and get the urge to Google this or that? Just leave a comment or mark it in your document so that you can return to it in a later draft. That’s not for you to ponder on now. Leave that research to future you. Your job is to write, not research.

Read more: How a Muse Board Can Fuel Your Writing Project

In Conclusion

To summarize, the “research roadblock” is most definitely real. Getting too deep into research is in itself not a bad thing –  but it’s like crystal meth – you gotta know when to stop. (I’m kidding. Please don’t do crystal meth.)

Do you really need to look up the details now, or can you save it for later? The answer is usually the latter.

Keep on writing, and don’t get too hung up on the details!