RESEARCH – Making Stories Believable

Even fiction must ring true

Research is a necessary part of every writer’s process. At least, it should be. Even when writing about one’s own personal experience, aspects of a story likely need to be buttressed with factual information to make the tale relatable.

When my blind daughter was in high school, we co-wrote and published a book entitled “See It My Way,” a first-person perspective on her experiences as a visually impaired person for the first seventeen years of her life. What made the story compelling were the scientific facts related to blindness, both biologically and socially, that helped the reader understand and feel the challenges and victories more acutely.

Research is just as necessary when writing fiction. The genre I dabble in is science fiction, which might seem like an arena where the author can “just make up stuff.”  Nothing could be further from the truth. If a story is to be engaging it must be believable. The technology of a super-advanced alien civilization, or a far-in-the-future human society must still adhere to the laws of nature, or it comes across as nothing but magic. If readers are more interested in magic, then they explore the Fantasy genre, which should not be associated with Science Fiction, in my opinion (the operative word here being “Science”). But that is a post for another day.

The best example in my opinion of why research is so important in fiction, is the success of Michael Crichton, best known for the book “Jurassic Park,” although he wrote many other bestsellers. The key element in every one of his stories is that they are all based on true science. Every aspect of his stories is believable because the science in the stories is backed up by knowledge we already have. And he takes the time to explain the science in an entertaining way that keeps the narrative moving. If you’ve seen the movie, you’ll remember the scene where a cartoon character explains the DNA recovery and cloning process used to create the dinosaurs.

My latest novel, “Revision,” deals with both genetics and astrophysics. Although I have a basic understanding of both biology and astronomy, I have spent many hours doing research to ensure that the story is believable.  The main characters are scientists, and therefore it is imperative that the science behind the story is solid for the story to ring true.

I urge very writer of fiction to do appropriate research. It may take a little time, but it will make your story more believable, compelling and enjoyable to read.