Sometimes I lock into the research side of things and lose sight of writing. Even the most seemingly trivial of facts warrants a quick check, then I’m following a trail, like breadcrumbs in reverse, seeking the origin.

Are authors chronic researchers who like to write on the side? Does it give purpose to amount of reading done, which far outweighs the word count produced in a manuscript. Of course, I chose to write a story that requires the ‘background’ reading and research. It does make we wonder if there is a genre where you can truly write blind with no quick reference check or Googling to find the time it takes to drive from A to B, because I want that degree of realism to blend with my fiction.

Be it crime with the forensics, or history with the dates and costumes, or science fiction and the improbable, but not impossible ideas – sometimes you wonder, am I taking my ideas too far, the realism too extreme. Where is the fantasy in writing? What matters to the reader? Am I writing to meet their expectations of facts or am I distracting myself with unnecessary details?

To be honest. I enjoy digging around amongst the details, it’s educating and even if a large proportion never makes it into the book, I’m having fun finding it.