The very best stories tend to have their roots in some amount of real-world inspiration, and capturing these real-life events requires research. Whether it’s a sweeping historical saga or a futuristic sci-fi thriller, audiences know when the world doesn’t make sense – and any cracks in the realism can haul them right out of your story. That’s why knowing how to research a novel is one of the most valuable skills a fiction writer can develop. Today at What We Writing, we’re walking you through the best ways to research your book – from sourcing background details and interviewing experts to knowing how to utilise your findings. We’re also sharing our favourite tools, real author examples, and tips on balancing creativity with accuracy, ensuring your fiction feels vivid, grounded, and totally immersive.
Why Do Writers Research Their Stories?
Whether you’re writing about something you know or stepping into a completely new genre, fiction writing research is a vital part of the storywriting process. What you uncover during your research will allow you to fully immerse your audience in your setting. It will guide you in developing both the characters and the plot.
Novel research adds to every layer of your storytelling. It helps you write dialogue that sounds real, describe professions with accuracy, and construct settings that readers can see, taste, and feel. Think of authors like Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall, where meticulous historical detail is vital for bringing Tudor England to life. Or, Donna Tartt’s The Secret History, where academic accuracy lends the novel its eerie realism. One of the biggest reasons why these writers’ stories are so compelling is that every detail feels earned.
3 Ways Good Research Improves a Story
- Authenticity: Readers trust your world when the details match reality.
- Confidence: When you know what you’re writing, your words flow more naturally.
- Depth: Research uncovers nuances that make characters and settings richer.
In short, research is what grounds imagination, providing stories that have both soul and credibility.
Types Of Research For Your Novel
When it comes to research for fiction writers, there isn’t a single one-size-fits-all method. The sort of research you’ll need all depends on the story you want to write – its setting, time period, and the lives your characters live. Identifying the main types of novel research can be instrumental in helping you hone your efforts and gather the details that really take your writing to the next level.
1. Background Research
This is where most authors begin. Background research features learning about the culture, history, geography, and professions included in your story. If your story takes place in eighteenth-century France or a small fishing village in Thailand, background research ensures your details – from the clothing to the customs – are both accurate and immersive.
2. Experiential Research
Some insights can only come from stepping inside your characters’ worlds. Experiential research involves travel, observation, and interviews. Visit the locations you’re writing about, interact with the people who share your characters’ experiences, or spend a day in a similar environment. The sounds, smells, and sensations you pick up firsthand will translate beautifully onto the page.
3. Technical Research
If your story involves a skill, a profession, or a specific industry, technical research helps you get the facts right. From learning the proper order of proceedings in a courtroom to how a surgeon conducts an operation, technical accuracy prevents distracting mistakes and builds trust with the audience.
4. Emotional and Psychological Research
Not all research is external. Sometimes, you need to delve into the inner worlds of your characters – their motivations, fears, and emotional states. Reading memoirs, studying psychology, or speaking with individuals who’ve shared similar experiences can all help in building authenticity and empathy.
Tip: If you’re writing a legal thriller, shadow a courthouse or consult legal blogs. Building an epic high fantasy novel? Try interviewing a historian or reading about a real-world myth that you can incorporate into your worldbuilding. The aim here isn’t to mimic reality, but to ground your imagination in truth.
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How To Research A Novel (Step-By-Step)
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the prospect of starting to research a novel. That’s where knowing how to research a novel is about working smarter, not harder. Here’s a simple, structured method to guide you from idea to confident writing.
Step 1: Begin with Your Story Questions
Before you start diving headfirst into sources, list what it is you need to know. What details may make or break your story’s believability? Perhaps it’s the layout of a 1920s speakeasy or the way police officers communicate during a callout. Focusing on specific questions means you’ll be researching with purpose.
Step 2: Start with Broad Exploration
Do a surface-level sweep to find your bearings. Browse online articles, watch documentaries, or read short overviews. Wikipedia makes for a good launching point – just make sure you verify any information elsewhere. At this point, you’re still mapping the terrain, not digging the trenches just yet.
Step 3: Dive into Credible Sources
Once you’ve identified key areas, go deeper. Look for reliable materials such as books, academic journals, historical archives, or firsthand accounts. Local libraries, museum collections, and online databases (Google Scholar is your best friend here!) are absolute goldmines for trustworthy sources.
Step 4: Talk to Real People
Interviews provide a level of insight no article ever could. Speak to professionals, hobbyists, or anyone with more experience in the subject than you. Most people are happy to share their expertise and passions, especially when they discover it’s for a creative purpose. You may even discover anecdotes or phrases that mould your characters further.
Step 5: Organise and Store Your Findings
Good research is only useful if you know how to find it later. Keep notes in digital tools such as Notion, Evernote, or Scrivener. Alternatively, you could go it old-school with a binder or index cards. Categorise by theme – setting, character, or historical detail – so it’s easy to reference as you write.
Step 6: Know When to Stop and Start Writing
Researching can be addictive. However, at some point, you need to close your tabs and open your draft. Once you’ve answered your key questions (Step 1), it’s time to move forward – you can always circle back for fact-checking during your revision process.
Pro Tip: Give yourself a deadline for your research phase. A week or two of focused digging often yields better results than months of endless browsing.
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Balancing Creativity And Research
Undoubtedly, one of the hardest aspects of novel research isn’t to do with finding the information – it’s knowing when to stop. Believe us, we’ve been there. Writers often wonder how much research is enough for a novel, and the truth is, there’s no perfect formula. Too little, and your story may feel shallow or unrealistic. Too much, and you run the risk of drowning your creativity in endless facts.
The key is naturally all about balance. Research is meant to serve your story, not take it over. Instead of trying to master every historical detail or technical process, hone your attention on what immediately shapes your plot and characters. Audiences care far less about the exact make of a ship’s rigging in a time period and more about how it feels for your protagonist to be caught in a deadly storm.
To avoid research rabbit holes, set some boundaries. Give yourself a time limit for every topic or scene. Ask, “Will this detail push the story alone, or just show off what I’ve learned?” If it’s the latter, cut it back. Great fiction often works because of what is implied, not explained.
When you weave research into a story, aim for subtlety. Allow your discovers to paint the background – the way a room smells, how a character casually uses slang, or how they react under pressure. The best research never announces itself; it simply makes the world feel alive.
As Ernest Hemingway famously claimed, “You should write the tip of the iceberg. The rest should be beneath the surface.” The same applies to research. Know more than you show – but show just enough for readers to trust that you know it.
Bonus: Real Examples Of Brilliantly Researched Books
Sometimes, the best way to see the power of good research is to see it in effect. These examples of novel research show exactly how different writers use accuracy, empathy, and imagination to conjure worlds that feel utterly real – no matter how far they stretch from our own.
1. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Mantel’s Tudor-era masterpiece is a model of historical novel research done well. She spent years studying letters, court records, and biographies to recreate the political intrigue surrounding Thomas Cromwell. Her meticulous attention to language, social customs, and politics of the time makes every page reverberate with authenticity – without ever feeling academic.
2. The Martian by Andy Weir
Weir’s blend of fiction and hard science demonstrates precisely how technical research can power a compelling narrative. Before writing, he ran calculations, cross-checked NASA data, and consulted real scientists to ensure the survival scenarios on Mars made sense. The end result? A novel that isn’t just entertaining but also scientifically convincing.
3. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Hannah’s World War II novel demonstrates how emotional and historical research work in tandem. She read firsthand accounts, memoirs, and resistance diaries to understand how ordinary French women risked everything during the occupation. That emotional truth – constructed from real voices – is what makes the story unforgettable.
4. The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Set in an elite New England college, Tartt’s novel captures the insular, obsessive world of academia with startling precision. Her background research into classical studies and elite university life lends a chilling realism to the book’s psychological unravelling. It feels like a campus you could step into – and desperately want to step out of.
5. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
Whitehead blends historical research with speculative imagination, reading accounts from slaves and historical records to ground his story in truth. By weaving realism with magical elements, he honours the lived experience while reimagining history through a fresh, emotionally resonant lens.
Each of these writers demonstrates how research isn’t about piling facts together – it’s about finding the truth that breathes life into fiction. Whether you’re crafting historical dramas or speculative adventures, thoughtful, well-applied research is what convinces readers to invest in your world.
Wrap Up
We get it, research doesn’t always sound like the most creative part of writing fiction – but it is that secret ingredient that can make all the difference in ensuring your story feels alive. When you understand how to research a novel effectively, you aren’t just collecting facts; you’re laying the groundwork that allows your imagination to soar.
Good research lends your story credibility, your character depth, and your world texture. However, the real magic happens when you weave that research seamlessly into your storytelling – so readers feel the truth of it without ever noticing the work behind the scenes.
Remember: you don’t need to know everything before you begin. Research what matters most, stay curious, and allow discovery to fuel your creativity, rather than halt it. Whether you’re penning the next great historical epic or a modern crime mystery, a little knowledge – applied well – can upgrade your fiction from interesting to unforgettable.
Your next step: Try making a “novel research checklist” for your current project. You’ll be amazed at how much clarity and confidence it grants your writing process.
James has been passionate about storytelling ever since he could hold a pen. Inspired by the epic fantasy and historical dramas he devoured in his youth, his work now centers on dark, psychological tales featuring intense, introspective characters and atmospheric, gothic undertones. In 2025, he founded What We Writing to share his creative journey and the lessons he’s learned along the way with fellow writers and passionate storytellers.
