Every compelling short story, no matter how wild it gets, needs to feel real. And that feeling of reality, that solid ground your story stands on, comes from research. But I know, the word “research” can totally make you cringe. You probably picture endless hours lost down internet rabbit holes, deadlines flying by, and your awesome story just kinda… never getting written. That fear of getting stuck, of turning your creative passion into some boring homework assignment, it’s a real thing.
This guide? It’s your escape hatch. We’re going to transform research from this heavy chore into something that actually helps your story, like a strong current pushing it forward, not a muddy swamp that traps you. My aim here is precision, efficiency, and getting you just enough understanding to serve your narrative, without drowning in information.
The Tyranny of the Blank Page: Why Research Matters (and Why Less is Often More)
First off, let’s ditch the old ideas about research. It’s not about becoming an expert in some random field. It’s about getting just enough information to make your story ring true. Think about it like painting a picture. You don’t need a biology degree to paint a tree, but you do need to know its basic shape, how sunlight hits its leaves, maybe its typical colors. All the super tiny details about what happens inside its cells? Totally irrelevant. Same goes for your short story – you need the juicy, resonant details, not enough information to write an encyclopedia.
That terrifying blank page, it often makes us want to just fill it with anything. And research, if you use it wrong, can actually become a way to procrastinate, a big shield protecting you from actually writing. Your characters don’t need a huge, dense report on their job history; they need believable quirks, the way they talk, and a solid sense of their world that you, the author, just get. We’re aiming for authenticity, not exhaustive accuracy. That’s a super important distinction.
Strategic Inquiry: Defining Your Research Needs Before You Dive In
The best way to avoid getting stuck is to not just jump in blindly. You need to pick your targets.
1. Identify Core Ignorance vs. Ancillary Detail:
Before you even open a single web page, ask yourself: What do I absolutely have to know for this story to make sense? What are the things I cannot skip? Everything else is secondary.
- Example: Let’s say your character is a deep-sea diver. You must understand the basics of decompression sickness, what kind of gear they use, and what extreme conditions they face. You don’t necessarily need to know every single detail about the history of deep-sea diving technology or the exact chemical makeup of every metal in their dive suit. The first part? That’s your core ignorance. The second? That’s ancillary detail.
2. The “What If” Test for Necessity:
Play a quick little mental game. “What if I didn’t know this? How would it affect my story?” If the answer is “a lot,” then you absolutely need to research it. If the answer is “not at all, or very little,” then just skip it or push it off.
- Example: Your story’s big finish involves a super rare astronomical event. “What if I didn’t know the specific details of this event?” – Your climax would fall flat, it wouldn’t feel earned. Research is key here. “What if I didn’t know the exact history of the observatory where they see it?” – Probably wouldn’t affect the main story much at all.
3. Character-Driven vs. Plot-Driven Research:
A lot of the time, what you need to research comes directly from your characters or your plot.
- Character-Driven: What do your characters do for a living? What are their hobbies, their weird quirks? How do they talk? What are their cultural backgrounds? Research here is all about making them feel real and consistent.
- Example: A character who’s an antique restorer. You’d need to look up materials, common ways to restore things, maybe some items from specific time periods, and the special words they use in that business. You don’t need to become an expert restorer yourself, but you need to sound like you know their world.
- Plot-Driven: What are the tough logistical problems, historical settings, scientific ideas, or places that are pushing your story forward?
- Example: A story set during the Prohibition era will need research into speakeasies, how police worked back then, social rules, and maybe some specific slang. This isn’t about the character’s background as much as building the world where the story happens.
The Sniper Approach: Targeted Research Methods
Now that you know what you need, let’s get it with super precise accuracy. Forget broad searches. Think specific, think immediate, think easy to understand.
1. The “First Answer is Usually Enough” Rule:
You don’t need five different websites to confirm how fast a peregrine falcon flies. The first reliable source (like National Geographic or a well-regarded nature site) is usually perfectly fine. Checking too many sources is just a waste of time.
2. Keyword Precision: Be Specific, Not General:
Instead of just “ancient Rome,” try “Roman gladiator training,” or “Roman plumbing technology first century AD.” The more exact your keywords are, the more relevant results you’ll get.
3. Leverage Wikipedia (Strategically, and Then Move On):
Wikipedia is incredible for getting a general idea of things and finding key terms or people. But it’s rarely the final stop. Use its summary sections, check its “References” or “External links” for more official sources, and then just close the tab. Don’t get sucked into clicking on every related article.
- Example: Say you need to know the basic parts of a medieval castle. Start with “medieval castle architecture Wikipedia.” Just skim the “Overview” and “Elements” sections. Write down key terms like “keep,” “bailey,” “moat,” “curtain wall.” Maybe click one promising link in its references for a quick, but still brief, deeper look.
4. Google Images, Maps, and YouTube for Visual/Sensory Details:
Sometimes, a picture genuinely says more than a thousand words – and it saves you hours of writing descriptions.
- Google Images: If you’re trying to describe a certain kind of plant, animal, building style, or old costume, seeing it is priceless.
- Example: Your character lives in a specific type of 19th-century apartment building. A quick image search for “19th century New York tenement interior” immediately gives you a feel for the size, the light, how cluttered it might be, and the general vibe. You don’t need to read a whole book on architectural history.
- Google Maps/Street View: Absolutely essential for getting geography right and feeling like you’re actually there. Take your characters on a virtual walk through a street.
- Example: Your scene happens in a specific part of London. Use Street View to look at the kinds of buildings, the street signs, how wide the sidewalks are, if there are trees or parks. This adds instant reality.
- YouTube: Powerful for understanding how things work, sounds, or movements. Watch short documentaries or how-to videos.
- Example: A character is a professional chef. Watch a short video of a chef making a specific dish. Notice their knife skills, how they stand, how they move around the kitchen, the sounds they make. You don’t need to learn to cook the dish, just observe their actions.
5. Forums, Reddit, and Niche Online Communities (with Discernment):
These can be absolute treasures for insider language, subtle details, and genuine perspectives from people who actually do or are into a specific thing. Be careful about bad information, but often, the most illuminating details come from people who live it.
- Example: You need to understand how people interact within a specific competitive gaming community. Search Reddit for subreddits dedicated to that game. Read comments, watch discussions. You’ll quickly pick up on unique slang, common complaints, and the general atmosphere without having to become a gamer yourself.
6. “How-To” Guides and Manuals:
For practical or technical information, these are incredibly useful. They get straight to the point.
- Example: Your character needs to hotwire a car. Searching “how to hotwire a car quickly” might give you a simplified guide (obviously just for your story!). This tells you the absolute minimum steps and tools. You don’t need to become a car mechanic.
The Research Log: Your Safeguard Against the Rabbit Hole
Even with the most precise methods, it’s easy to get sidetracked. A simple research log, whether digital or on paper, is your anchor.
1. Column Structure:
* Date: When you did the research.
* Topic/Query: What you were looking for (e.g., “1920s jazz club architecture”, “how long can a human survive without water”).