Writer’s Blocks – Paralysis by Analysis

I love to learn new things, so research is pretty fun for me. It can play a big part in prepping information for your story. Historical Fiction – What types of fashions were in vogue during a certain year? Mystery – What procedures would a detective work through at a crime scene? Fantasy – What type of armor was used for knights and their mounts?

The Research Rabbit Hole

As fun as research can be, I found it doesn’t work to my advantage when I’m trying to get words written. For example, in the city where my urban fantasy takes place, there are a lot of churches. I’m loosely basing the city on one I’m familiar with, except I couldn’t remember just how many churches were located there. So of course I do a quick internet search for the number. Except, I don’t stop there because there are actually not one, but two cathedrals located in the city! Is that a detail I’ll need in my story? When were they built? What? One had burned and was rebuilt on a different location? That’s really interesting. When did that happen?

And so thirty minutes pass before I know it. Not only have I went down the research rabbit hole, but I’ve let searching for details bring my writing to a screeching halt. After all of that, I decided to use just one cathedral in my fictional city. I won’t even be using the information I found on the history of the second cathedral! Believe it or not, this is an improvement for me. In the past, I wouldn’t even begin writing until I had detailed notes on every subject I thought would be included in the story.

Don’t Let Details Delay You

I can’t be the only person who fears beginning a writing project without a research security blanket. It has always hindered more than helped me. This past year when I let go of having all the answers before starting to write, it was a pretty freeing experience. The words flowed much more easily onto the page. I could get into a smooth writing rhythm instead of feeling like I was constantly flipping my brain between tasks.

I’m not saying I was able to wing it from the first word to “the end”. No way. I followed a loose outline for the book’s plot I’d created beforehand. However, when I was writing a scene in a tattoo parlor, I simply added the note [info on tattoo process here] to return to and flesh out at a later time. That allowed me to stay present and write through the conversation taking place between characters at the parlor.

Perfection and Progress

With this new approach, I found I was much more productive during my writing sessions. I began to wonder “why”. Why had I been doing this to myself for so long?! It didn’t take long to realize the answer. I did not want to start a story before having all the answers because I wanted the story to be perfect. Ridiculous, right? Insecurities and self doubt are seldom rational though.

I saved the first draft of my book. I thought it would be fun to look back and see how much the story has evolved from its first rendering to hopefully, one day, a printed copy. It is also proof to myself I could just let go of those pesky details, those stumbling blocks, and be free to just write.