Falling Down Research Rabbit Holes
What is the weather like in Cusco, Peru in late February?
This very simple question is an example of the kind of thing I asked of the interwebs while writing Tears of the Moon.
Five hours later, in addition to finding the answer, I’d added innumerable pages to my already chaotic research.
Why did one question take five hours? Because…
Research Matters to Me (and My Readers)
I’m not the first person to fall down research rabbit holes, and I won’t be the last. But truth be told, I love every moment of the research process. From the way my brain considers the information and continues diving deeper and deeper, to the way my creative side files things away that might be fun to add to the story later.
The thing is, I’m built for research. I have a history degree, and I was that kid in class who cheated the font down to 11-point and adjusted the spacing so I could get more information on the page.
I love explaining situations, histories, and culture; and giving it all context for my reader. Knowing the little details – like making sure my characters are eating one of the 3,000 varieties of potatoes that can be found in Peru while sitting at a campfire built by guides along the Inca trail – that’s how I immerse my readers in the moment.
That’s why research (and long rabbit holes) are one of the most important facets of my writing. And I think it’s safe to say it’s paid off:
“Her descriptions of my favorite locations were spot on…”
“When I read your books I can close my eyes and picture everything, even though I have never been to those places. As a reader, that is the type of thing that keeps me coming back for more!”
Researching Tears of the Moon
Here’s how things normally work out.
I look for the answer to one little question, but that leads me to videos of people exploring Cusco, Peru.
…which led to advice on where to stay in Cusco. (That’s how I found the hotel Renee would stay.) Which led to pretty pictures of rooms and culture. (And that’s how I found the perfect room for Nick and Harper to get tucked into.) Which led to day trips from Cusco. (I started mapping out distances to destinations and using Google maps to follow routes) Which led to car rental services… (you guessed it, I found the perfect junker for my character’s trip. You don’t always want your characters to have reliable transportation!) Which led to information on other forms of transportation, the most popular mode: motorbikes. Which led to a video of a couple taking a horseback ride through some spectacular country. (Yup, I might throw someone on a horse because it looked like fun.)
…Which led to videos of people riding mountain bikes along the Inca Trail (No thank you. Just, not the kind of thing I’d ever put on my bucket list. Even the video made me sick to my stomach) but, a stray comment and the scenery sparked an idea about explorers and treasure … which led to research in the history of the Inca Trail. Which led to two suggested documentaries. (I watched half of both.)
But it gave me an idea of the region, so it was back to maps and road upkeep and Department of Transportation rabbit holes in all directions from Cusco. Which directed me to some cool small towns, one in particular: Ollantaytambo (Where you can hop a train to Machu Picchu). Which led to Train schedules and videos for the Vistadome train and the Inca Rail. (Oh the views!) Which led to -an unknown to me – different option of reaching the popular wonder of the world that involved driving and parking before hiking a few miles into Machu Picchu. Which led me right back to the original query: What is the weather like in that area in late February.
And I used almost all of the information I gathered in one way or another throughout the book.
Behind the Scenes
There was a moment, in researching Tears of the Moon, I felt like I was doing some strange, in depth travel guide work. I researched a lot of hotels, hostels, camps, bed and breakfasts and rental properties within a hundred-mile radius of Cusco. As well as cafes, places to eat, stores, outdoor markets, and even gas stations.
Using Google maps, I followed roads as far and wide as I could. I wanted to be surrounded by as much life in Peru as I could. I even watched videos of people simply walking the streets or taking taxis to and from the airport in Cusco.
That’s how I found the little things. Did you know the area in and around Cusco has a large population of free-roaming dogs? And the streets of Cusco are very clean? Sure there’s graffiti, but the actual trash along the side of the road and on sidewalks was nonexistent. That’s something I always notice about European cities as well, and it’s due to the employment of daily street cleaners.
If I was hard pressed to pick one strange little piece of information that shocked me, it would have to be “cuy” (pronounced “kwee”). A delicacy in the Andean highlands, also known as guinea pig. 5,000 years ago, they domesticated the guinea pig for their meat. Guinea pigs are still raised and sold for food, but these days, because it’s rather costly, cuy is reserved for holidays, birthdays, and other celebrations. But, the second Friday of October, there is a National Day of Cuy in Peru. So if you find yourself in the area at that time…
How Do I Research Without Losing My Mind
I don’t.
I’d like to say I have some color coded, well-filed system. But it’s just pages and pages of copy and pasted notes, pictures, and links.
Hell, I’d even love to tell you that each book has one dedicated file folder for all the notes I make.
That doesn’t even happen.
As easy as it sounds to be able to copy and paste into the same page (which I could keep open at all times) I don’t.
My notes are jotted down on receipts at stoplights, in the original first copy of the book as I edit, and in various sticky notes on my computer. Eventually, when I’m down to my final copy edit before any book goes to my editor for the first read, I put all my notes in one document on Drive which is a messy, long, tumultuous list of information.
There is even distraction within the mess of distraction of research notes. For example, when I was looking over my notes for Tears of the Moon to write this blog, I found a 1920 street map of Florence and information on a ceramic pattern called ‘Raffaellesco’ that features intricate, grotesque-style figures and foliage, inspired by Raphael’s designs.
Why is it there?
I honestly don’t remember.
People always comment: “I don’t know how you keep everything straight in your head.”
I never had a good answer to that, until recently I started just accepting that maybe, I like the mess.
Because I am a pantser, I write by the seat of my pants, the research I do helps me organize things, unwind the tangled web. I can’t have someone jump off a plane in Cusco and feel great. The city is 11,200 feet above sea level. If someone is dehydrated they’ll get headaches. If they’re not in the best shape of their life, just walking is going to cause problems. Those factual discoveries: temperatures, altitude, sights and sounds … add depth to my characters. For example, I know my characters are in danger, and they don’t know where things are and it’s raining and muddy; how they react and try to handle the situation within the confines of their surroundings only makes them more relatable to the reader and gives them more depth.
But you know, I wonder if it’s my love for my hectic mind that leads to my perpetual need for my house and surroundings to always be so clean and ordered. Hmmm.
Down the Rabbit Hole Again
With the holidays safely tucked away behind us, I’m back at work on the next book in the Secrets of the Moon Trilogy: Shadows of the Moon. Just trying to figure out a fun, unexpected, ridiculous way to get my characters from Northern California to Peru. Deciding which area of the country would be the perfect place to lay low, or accidentally find oneself embroiled in the continuing, unraveling drama of this series.
Which, if I know my characters, will absolutely NOT go according to plan.
