Brock's Book Blog

One of the most interesting aspects of writing fiction is conducting  research.  The current book I am writing involves an  early WWI H class submarine.  I had only a vague notion of what one of these craft looked like, let alone how she functioned, or what the daily routine within her cylindrical walls might be, when I began the project.  Extensive queries led me down an exploratory path which was fascinating and inspirational.  Many elements of my story evolved while I spent time doing research.   The same might be said all aspects of story telling.  Get the facts, and get them straight. 

Whether you are sitting in the cramped galley/battery storage compartment area of an old H class submarine, or ascending the hand carved, patina stained mahogany staircase of a Victorian mansion,  nothing enhances a story more than a bit of detail.  It helps your reader mentally engage into the scene.  Once you have them there, you can spin the tale, to thrill, horrify, or intrigue them.  The only way to achieve this  is to describe key points about your immediate surroundings. If done properly, the reader’s imagination fills in the blanks, and they share the moment with you.   To do this effectively you must buckle down and research.