Why
Research is the Key to any Writing
John
R. Beyer
Walking beneath the rain forest canopy at midnight was
both a beautiful and simultaneously, a terrifying experience. There were the
deep barking sounds of the capybara
– the largest rodent in the world weighing up to nearly 150 pounds – as they
clambered across the forest floor or climbed up the massive trees for a bite of
fruit. Our flashlights picked up long lines of leaf cutter ants scurrying near
our hiking boots as they did their nightly duty of collecting whatever the
Queen had ordered. A slight movement on a low hanging branch revealed a
solitary assassin bug waiting patiently for its prey to come within range.
With the assistance of
a trained guide, we made our way through mile after mile of narrow paths cut
into the jungle itself. There are no paved roads here; only muddy foot paths
for visitors and residents alike. It’s not easy traveling, but then again,
nothing is easy within the Peruvian rain forest just steps from the ever-flowing
Amazon.
A four-hour boat trip
along the huge and muddy river in a fifty foot dugout was the only way to make
the journey to a mosquito netted jungle encampment. This would be our home as I
completed the research I needed for the novel ‘Iquitos, The Past Will Kill,’
and ending a month long adventure in the jungles of the Amazon. Alongside me
was my number one traveling companion, my wife Laureen, as well as our best
friend and cameraman, Paul Bakas.
I was once asked during
a radio interview what the most important thing to keep in mind about when
writing fiction?
My reply was simple and
to the point: You must write fiction as
though it is nonfiction.
Readers want to travel
to interesting locales, meet intriguing characters and be involved in
emotionally gripping plots. It is the job of the writer to deliver on those
desires. Research and more research is a must for any fictional storyteller to
enable them to create a story which feels real to the reader.
There is nothing worse
than staring at a page in a novel and knowing the words do not match reality. I
remember reading a novel by a famous author with Hollywood credentials behind
his name, about an assassin using a particular type of gun with a silencer. Of
course, being a former law enforcement officer, it didn’t ring true. I
researched and confirmed what I suspected: the type of weapon the author
described would never have worked for that purpose. It turned out the revolver
was much too loud for an assassin’s job. That might sound picky, but it ruined
the flow of the story of for me. These details are critical in making stories believable
for your readers. And, big Hollywood name or not, we can’t take such details
for granted. It’s the details that matter. The details that make an otherwise
good painting into a masterpiece. The details make a decent story into a great
or a not-so-great novel.
When writing any piece,
a novel or short story, I am always careful to ensure that what I type is as
accurate as it can be. I want my reader to feel confident that what they are
reading is so close to the truth that it becomes the truth – even for just the
moment. The fiction becomes the momentary reality. If I am going to write
something then I must do my best to experience what I am writing about. That is
the purpose of my research.
For a writer, in my
opinion, the research is the most critical aspect of any writing. A plot can be
strong and characters interesting, but if it sounds like fiction upon
completion then it wasn’t worth writing.
Another reason I
research is to travel. I love visiting foreign locales, meeting people and
experiencing new cultures. It is a side benefit to this world of writing!
Former street cop, training officer and member of SWAT John
Beyer has been writing most of his life. He’s traveled to at least 23 countries
(and was actually shot in the head in Spain in 2000 during a march between Neo
Nazis and Communists two days after running with the bulls in Pamplona). He was
caught in a hurricane off the coast of east Baja (Bahia de los Angeles) while
kayaking and lived to tell about it. Essentially, it’s hard to tell where
experience leaves off and fiction takes over. You’ll want to read his books.
Website URL: http://johnrobertbeyer.weebly.com/
Blog URL:
http://jandlresearchandexploration.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @Drjohnrbeyer
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-john-r-beyer
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