I always admired Sarah Dessen’s honesty that she tries to pick story ideas that keep her from doing a lot of research. I never thought I’d be the kind of writer to pick ideas that require much research, either, and I thought I was keeping that stuff at bay with the story idea I picked out four years ago. However, as the story has developed over the years, I find that there’s a lot of research that needs to be done and I have know idea where to start! It’s both exciting and maddening, and just a little daunting. The research required of this book is this:
1. Court procedure in murder trials (involving lawyers, judges, and the jury).
2. What it is like to live without a hand, and then what it is like to live with a hand transplant (involving physical therapy and daily life).
3. How a person functions with schizophrenia before and after treatment, and what it is like for a schizophrenic to quit treatment.
4. Procedures following the release of a convict who’s conviction has been overturned.
The list seems short, but it is heavy with information that must be learned and recorded. I won’t lie, the biggest reason I wanted to be in South Carolina’s MFA program is to use the resources of a university in order to do research for what I would’ve used as my thesis. In that sense, not getting in was a big letdown, but at the same time it makes me wonder if that was also one of the reasons why I didn’t get in. Regardless, I now have to use different tactics, and if any of you know where I can find information on these bullets I would really appreciate any sources you can point me to.
I’m going to keep going with my writing, though, and collect information as I go. I’ve decided to give myself a writing goal of AT LEAST 300 words a day, but preferably 500. 500 will actually be my goal, but 300 will be what I settle for if I just can’t get to 500. I know it’s not a lot, but I feel that 300-500 words a day is an attainable goal, and it’s not so much that I’ll feel dissuaded from sitting down to work everyday.
Just out of curiosity, do you end up choosing ideas that require a lot of research or little to none? Also, what’s your word goal each day?
