Writing a book is no easy task. Regardless of how much you know about what you have chosen to write, a myriad of other elements still have to come together to make the book a masterpiece – or even just good enough. The best way to pull all the elements you require for your book is through research. Research refers to the creative and systematic work that is carried out for the purpose of increasing one’s stock of knowledge on a subject matter. It is what ensures that you know all that is required before commencing the writing process. Whether your book is a work of fiction, an anthology, a subject based book, a business book, or an inspirational piece amongst others, there are three core types of research that have to be embarked on.
Functional Research
Functional Research is the extraction of factual information from credible sources. It involves surfing the internet, visiting libraries, searching through databases and so on. It also involves obtaining first-hand information by visiting places and conducting interviews. The goal is to obtain facts; most people believe this is all there is to carrying out research.
Inspirational Research
Inspirational research is as simple as reading a few pieces of poetry from some of your best poets before writing your own poem. The goal of inspirational research is to help the writer uncover and discover. It involves listening to music, reading, taking in the scenery of a beautiful place, and so on. This is what stirs your appetite to want to write in the first place because you need inspiration to create something amazing. Inspirational research opens your mind and sets you in that mood.
Imaginative Research
While inspirational research involves you pulling creativity from external sources, imaginative research takes you into the recess of your mind. It helps you spend time getting to know more of your book and your story. It is what helps you plan what the book is supposed to look like because you generally have the best idea of how you want your book to come out. In fiction, for example, imaginative research is extremely crucial as it is what helps you envision the world you intend to create for the reader. If you can’t see it, chances are that your reader would not either.
With these elements in place, you would have all the materials required to take your book from an idea to a masterpiece. At Cyno, we do not just focus on getting raw data, we brainstorm with you and go through all stages of the research process with you or for you. Have a story idea? Share it with us today!