How do you know when to STOP researching? I keep going down rabbit holes in my currently WIP and some are worth while and beneficial but others just make me doubt my outline and plot.
That’s a great question! I don’t, haha. My first novel has reams and reams of notes and details that never made it in. I find it helps to first do just enough research to know the plot line. Once you know the plot and can start writing, you’ll see what other details you need to research. Maybe you don’t need to know anything about Renaissance alcohol because your MC doesn’t drin. Or maybe you’ll realize you need to learn something about shoeing a horse or repairing a carriage because yoru MC has to figure it out when they’re stranded. Those are details you wouldn’t find in a biography, but definitely exist somewhere.
How do you know when to STOP researching? I keep going down rabbit holes in my currently WIP and some are worth while and beneficial but others just make me doubt my outline and plot.
That’s a great question! I don’t, haha. My first novel has reams and reams of notes and details that never made it in. I find it helps to first do just enough research to know the plot line. Once you know the plot and can start writing, you’ll see what other details you need to research. Maybe you don’t need to know anything about Renaissance alcohol because your MC doesn’t drin. Or maybe you’ll realize you need to learn something about shoeing a horse or repairing a carriage because yoru MC has to figure it out when they’re stranded. Those are details you wouldn’t find in a biography, but definitely exist somewhere.