13 August 2009
A happy accident brought me to a wonderful and timely article in Glimmer Train about the novelist’s research process, and the relationship between research and imagination. Here’s how it happened…
I recently listened to Maureen Corrigan’s review on NPR of George Scialabba’s book What Are Intellectuals Good For? I’d made a note in (the sieve that is) my mind to investigate.
Then, in the Glimmer Train newsletter, I saw that there was an article written by George Rabasa. I thought, Oh, I’ve been meaning to read his book, I should check out his article. So I saved the email for about two weeks in my inbox.
Then, of course, I came to discover my mistake. But was glad to discover Rabasa, and his wisdom on researching for fiction. I especially liked his Ten Exhortations for the Literary Researcher:
- Go where no writer has gone before.
- Don’t feel you have to use everything you’ve learned.
- You don’t even have to use anything you’ve learned.
- Keep in mind that someone out there reading your book knows more about your subject than you do.
- Don’t worry too much about that person.
- Don’t confuse facts with details. Facts are stones. Details are wings. The astute researcher sniffs out the telling detail like a pig rooting after truffles.
- Hang on to notes, clippings, book titles, photos, souvenirs, post cards, road maps, hotel receipts, (good for taxes, if you ever make any money).
- Whenever you don’t know something when you’re writing, make it up. You’ll be surprised how true it is when you check later.
- Don’t forget to check later.
- Research does not make the story. The story makes the story.
Click here for the full Rabasa article.
(Click here for the Scialabba piece on NPR.)
It’s all good.