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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/36717
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Research is an essential part in the path of an author. Be it fictional or non-fictional writing.

In fictional writing, you can't do "Das Rad neu erfinden" (german for "Reinventing the wheel"). It means: You can't always create new stuff about things, that already exists. So in that case, you have to research. If you want to create a magic System, it is clear, that you have to research real magic. Try to get a grasp for the laws of the magic, think about what suits your story the most, combine things. But the most important part of work in that case is: Research.

The same case is with fictional creatures. I spent a whole month just researching mythical and fantasy creatures, just to write one character. For people, that (roughly said) live in fantasy books and worlds, it feels more authentic and comfortable, if you researched your topic and based even little changes on your research. Heck, for one draft I even researched gods and their powers, family ties, and so on.

You see, even for fictional writers, research is a basic part of their work. Without it, it would also be a bit boring.

Original score: 3