If you’ve published in the past, use the feedback you received.If you’re unsure of how to best meet reader expectations, try the following: Readers of historical war fiction expect to find the correct weapons from that time period. Readers of the Left Behind series expect accurate use of Biblical prophecy. Achieve this by gaining a solid understanding of your readers’ expectations. The time you can dedicate to research is probably limited, so spend that time in the most focused and fruitful way possible. If you’ve ever found yourself going off on tangents and opening new tabs while browsing the web, you know exactly how easy it is to get distracted by the sheer amount of information out there.

It’s important to understand what your readers expect from your work before you conduct your research.Īfter all, information about almost any subject on Earth is readily available. Know Your Reader, Your Questions, and Your Sources Need help writing your novel? Click here to download Jerry's ultimate 12-step guide. Read on to discover three research tips you can use on your novel-from hugely successful authors. Thankfully, there is no need to reinvent the wheel. It can be difficult to know the right way to go about it. So how do you carry out the same quality of research for your own work? After all, not all writers are researchers. The reviewer in the above image gave the maximum five-star rating to the novel as a direct result of “remarkable research.” The importance of research for reader enjoyment and, consequently, author reputation can be seen in the following review of Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye’s novel Kingdom Come. Research is the key to creating an immersive environment to be enjoyed and savored.Ĭonversely, a badly researched novel can shatter the suspension of disbelief, causing your reader to lose patience with your book and even leave a negative review. When readers choose your book, they expect to be transported into a believable and engrossing world.

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