Researching the real world

I like to use a little bit of the real world in my novels every now and again. Not only does it give my stories a little bit of authenticity, it also allows me to plan in a way that’s almost impossible using only my mind.

For example if I’m planning a scene where someone is escaping the clutches of an evil panda/giraffe/cyborg-ninja created by a well-meaning scientist, then I’ll obviously want to add lots of twists and turns, leaping out of windows, darting down alleyways, and driving through conveniently placed cardboard boxes. If I sit and close my eyes and plan this out in my head, aside from giggling at a panda/giraffe/cyborg-ninja driving a car or trying to look menacing, I’ll probably subconsciously pick things from old movies I’ve watched or books I’ve read. The MC will fake down an alleyway but veer off at the last second and take a running leap through the window of the nearest Chinese restaurant, he’ll burst through the kitchen, angering the chefs who will wave cutlery in a threatening but ultimately futile gesture, then he’ll probably lunge out of the back door take a running leap at what looks like a short flight of stairs, but turns out to be huge drop, and (god willing) land in a handily placed pile of rubbish that seems to consist of only cardboard boxes, newspapers, and a few old mattresses (free of pee-stains, of course).

It’s safe, it’s convenient…it’s predictable.

So instead of sitting and closing my eyes, I walk and breathe in the real world (cough, cough, big mistake if you live in a city). I’ll either visit somewhere I think will fit my novel or just pick a direction at random and head that way until inspiration strikes. Of course you won’t always find somewhere that fits your plot, if the majority of your novel happens to take place in the hollowed out base of a volcano, or at the bottom of the sea, or even in the busy streets ofParisthen you might think you can’t easily find an appropriate location for inspiration. But you might be closer to a suitable setting than you think.

If you really want to add a touch of realism to your ‘wild’ settings, then why not visit the closest things you can find?

Instead of a volcano, how about a walk through some ofBritain’s cave systems? Or take the urban exploration route and explore some abandoned buildings to get a feel for dank, enclosed, rotting spaces?

Don’t fancy deep sea diving? What about a short walk along the canal or the docks to peruse old rusted chains, barnacles, aquatic life forms? Anything to immerse yourself in the environment.

Can’t afford tickets to France? Try a French themed café for Parisian practicality?

The reason I like to use the real world for inspiration isn’t because it’s any easier than the internet. It’s because it’s harder…

If you just rely on making everything up then you might be tempted to take the easy route. Throw in a shortcut for the good guy, or a conveniently placed car, phone box, etc. But if you force yourself to use the real world then you encounter problems that people come across on a daily basis. You add conflict that the reader can relate with. You add believability to your storyline.

Of course another reason I include chunks of the real worlds is because I like the idea of a reader walking down the street one day and suddenly realising…”that ladder over there? Isn’t that the ladder John McFiction used to escape the zombie horde at the end of that book? Holy crap, you can follow his entire escape route right down to the government building he took refuge in”…ok, maybe only über book/zombie geeks would be that sad/observant/bothered, but I still want people to be able to immerse themselves in the ‘world’ of the novel, completely and utterly.

Right, I’m off for a walk in the real world.