What random rabbit holes have you gone down while researching?

[JLiana]

I was researching medieval medicine and painkillers, and then all of a sudden I'm learning about dunnocks.

Did you know that they're part of a genus of birds that are endemic to the palearctic region, which is the biggest biogeographic realm on Earth? Yeah, me neither, until about 5 minutes ago.

Then I told my twin some fun facts because she's a bird enthusiast, and she told me some more fun facts about dunnocks.

And I still haven't learnt much about medieval painkillers!

Wikipedia is a dangerous place when you have the attention span of a gnat.

 

[Karlin]

I was researching medieval medicine and painkillers, and then all of a sudden I'm learning about dunnocks.

Did you know that they're part of a genus of birds that are endemic to the palearctic region, which is the biggest biogeographic realm on Earth? Yeah, me neither, until about 5 minutes ago.

Then I told my twin some fun facts because she's a bird enthusiast, and she told me some more fun facts about dunnocks.

And I still haven't learnt much about medieval painkillers!

Wikipedia is a dangerous place when you have the attention span of a gnat.

I wonder... what is the attention span of a gnat? or of any insect?

 

[Mad Swede]

No, I don't go diving down rabbit holes like that. For me, research is like anything else we do connected to our writing. It needs self-discipline, you have to stay focused so that you get the information you need. That's especially true when you're on contract with a publisher (as I am), because those contract deadlines matter and if you're going to meet them you need to stay focused on delivering the story by the due date. In that sense there is no time to go diving down a rabbit hole.

I'm helped by the fact that I have a research degree, so I know how to do research effectively. I'm also helped by my earlier military career, where getting orders and reports out on time required the ability to focus on writing what is needed no matter how I was feeling. That self-discipline has proven very useful in my writing career.

 

[JLiana]

No, I don't go diving down rabbit holes like that. For me, research is like anything else we do connected to our writing. It needs self-discipline, you have to stay focused so that you get the information you need. That's especially true when you're on contract with a publisher (as I am), because those contract deadlines matter and if you're going to meet them you need to stay focused on delivering the story by the due date. In that sense there is no time to go diving down a rabbit hole.

I'm helped by the fact that I have a research degree, so I know how to do research effectively. I'm also helped by my earlier military career, where getting orders and reports out on time required the ability to focus on writing what is needed no matter how I was feeling. That self-discipline has proven very useful in my writing career.

Makes sense, I'm very new to the craft (and I have no formal training in research) so I have a lot to learn still.

Any tips on doing effective research?

 

[JLiana]

I wonder... what is the attention span of a gnat? or of any insect?

Very....small?

 

[Karlin]

No, I don't go diving down rabbit holes like that. For me, research is like anything else we do connected to our writing. It needs self-discipline, you have to stay focused so that you get the information you need. That's especially true when you're on contract with a publisher (as I am), because those contract deadlines matter and if you're going to meet them you need to stay focused on delivering the story by the due date. In that sense there is no time to go diving down a rabbit hole.

I'm helped by the fact that I have a research degree, so I know how to do research effectively. I'm also helped by my earlier military career, where getting orders and reports out on time required the ability to focus on writing what is needed no matter how I was feeling. That self-discipline has proven very useful in my writing career.

You are describing writing as a discipline. As sticking to a contract. Almost as a form of employment. For me, writing is an adventure. This despite my research degree and (rather limited )military experience. As a pantser, it is not even clear what research will pay off. I'm almost tempted to say "there is no such thing as a rabbit hole", but I wouldn't go that far.

 

[Mad Swede]

You are describing writing as a discipline. As sticking to a contract. Almost as a form of employment. For me, writing is an adventure. This despite my research degree and (rather limited )military experience. As a pantser, it is not even clear what research will pay off. I'm almost tempted to say "there is no such thing as a rabbit hole", but I wouldn't go that far.

Yes, I am. And if you get a publishing contract, or if you self-publish and promise a book to your readers by a certain date, then you need discipline in your writing. There's no other way to meet a deadline.

I'm tempted to be a lot harder than that too. To me, this is also about how serious you are as a writer. Finishing a story, especially a novel, takes self-discipline and dedication. If you're going to finish a story and get it it into a state where people want to read it then you need to work. It takes self-discipline and it takes time.

 

[Karlin]

Some of us don't have deadlines, and finish and publish novels.

 

[Mad Swede]

Some of us don't have deadlines, and finish and publish novels.

That's not the point. The point is that you need self-discipline to finish anything you do, espcecially if you're not being forced to do whatever it is that needs finishing.

 

[Naruzeldamaster]

You are describing writing as a discipline. As sticking to a contract. Almost as a form of employment. For me, writing is an adventure. This despite my research degree and (rather limited )military experience. As a pantser, it is not even clear what research will pay off. I'm almost tempted to say "there is no such thing as a rabbit hole", but I wouldn't go that far.

I am similar to you, I try to only do the research that is required to make the story work though.
My Stories features a couple of Alcohol Connoisseurs: Do I need to know everything about every drink ever made to make that happen?
Some might argue yes, but I'd rather spend that time writing the character. That's not to say I don't 'skirt by' with minimal research, if I aim to finish the rough draft this year. I gotta put a stop to the researching and get to putting words on (digital) paper.

One of those Connoisseurs is a blacksmith, and also a swordsman, there is simply way too much to know about either of those professions for me to research it all in order to 'properly' write the character. If something relevant comes up in the story I'll research it, but yeah, more time needed to write.

 

[CupofJoe]

I write for fun [and therapy]. I like world and scene building.
And I like a good rabbit hole.
For a tale I wanted to know how many horses and how long it would take to trek across something like The Rockies.
I spent most of the afternoon reading about endurance horse riding and famous horses.
Time well spent. [At least for me]

 

[JLiana]

I write for fun [and therapy]. I like world and scene building.
And I like a good rabbit hole.
For a tale I wanted to know how many horses and how long it would take to trek across something like The Rockies.
I spent most of the afternoon reading about endurance horse riding and famous horses.
Time well spent. [At least for me]

I love learning new things, even if they weren't the things I intended to learn lol. It's always time well spent!

 

[Karlin]

That's not the point. The point is that you need self-discipline to finish anything you do, espcecially if you're not being forced to do whatever it is that needs finishing.

Of course you need self discipline. But not all writers are the same. An ocassional rabbit hole is a bonus for some of us. Perhaps having some attention deficit is connected. I don't know.

 

[pmmg]

I wonder... what is the attention span of a gnat? or of any insect?

I'd like to answer, says the gnat, but...Hey, what is that?

Any tips on doing effective research?

Yes, stay away forever from TV Tropes. Participate in forums, but only if you are able to do so and still get your writing done.

(I mean it, forever)

One discipline that may help, is writing it ugly. Which means, get it on paper first, worry about if its right later. You can just write they used some magic herb to fix a wound, and later go look it up and find out what it was.


True Story, since I am always researching stuff, especially, the medicinal value of plants. I went to a historical battle sight near my home. George Washington VS Cornwallis. We visited the camp, and in particular the medical tent. The tour guide showed us the medicines and instruments and all that. At one point, she brought out a root, which was called in the camp "Dragon Root," which was used to stop bleeding. Well, I took copious mental notes, and was like, I am going to use that for sure. Later, when I was home and went looking for it on the internet, I can find no reference to it at all. I have been up and down Washington's medical stuff, and plants of Appalachia and all that. I feel it must not have been true. I want to go back and see it again just to make sure.

I have dragon cedar in my book, which comes from that encounter, but... I wanted it to be actual.

 

[JLiana]

I'd like to answer, says the gnat, but...Hey, what is that?



Yes, stay away forever from TV Tropes. Participate in forums, but only if you are able to do so and still get your writing done.

(I mean it, forever)

One discipline that may help, is writing it ugly. Which means, get it on paper first, worry about if its right later. You can just write they used some magic herb to fix a wound, and later go look it up and find out what it was.


True Story, since I am always researching stuff, especially, the medicinal value of plants. I went to a historical battle sight near my home. George Washington VS Cornwallis. We visited the camp, and in particular the medical tent. The tour guide showed us the medicines and instruments and all that. At one point, she brought out a root, which was called in the camp "Dragon Root," which was used to stop bleeding. Well, I took copious mental notes, and was like, I am going to use that for sure. Later, when I was home and went looking for it on the internet, I can find no reference to it at all. I have been up and down Washington's medical stuff, and plants of Appalachia and all that. I feel it must not have been true. I want to go back and see it again just to make sure.

I have dragon cedar in my book, which comes from that encounter, but... I wanted it to be actual.

Ah, poetry.

That makes sense to be fair— sometimes I do more googling than I need to, especially because I'm only on a first draft. Dragon root sounds awesome, I wish it were real too!

I really need someone to beat "ugly writing is ok" into my brain. I am a chronic over-editor.

 

[pmmg]

I could steer you to: Goldie's Words of Wisdom for quick pithy advice

 

[ThrillhoBaggins]

Many, many things.

Most recently, I have been learning quite a bit more about mice. For example, mice in the home can tell you a lot about the environment around you and the way you keep your home. If you are seeing mice, but not cockroaches, then the conditions of your home are not dirty or food issues that attract these pests, but instead a structural issue, such as gaps that mice can squeeze through providing easy access to shelter.

 

[JLiana]

Many, many things.

Most recently, I have been learning quite a bit more about mice. For example, mice in the home can tell you a lot about the environment around you and the way you keep your home. If you are seeing mice, but not cockroaches, then the conditions of your home are not dirty or food issues that attract these pests, but instead a structural issue, such as gaps that mice can squeeze through providing easy access to shelter.

That's actually really interesting!

 

[pmmg]

If Mice would eat silver fish, I would let them in for a while.

 

[ThrillhoBaggins]

Mice can eat silver fish, but it would only be a small part of their diet.

Mice are omnivores. They prefer seeds, grains, and human food scraps, but they will eat insects if they are easy to catch. However, mice are not fast enough to hunt silverfish actively; they only eat them by chance.

If ridding yourself of silver fish is your goal, then you may be willing to keep spiders and house centipedes roaming around should you find them.