Beyond Words: How Research Transformed My Life
Why I Love Research More Than Writing
I love to research more than writing. I love to write. Most people who post on the internet have some level of passion for writing or they wouldn’t be doing it. However, I gotta admit, I’m one of those weirdos who loves doing research more than drafting a story or article. There’s just something thrilling about diving into books, and articles, or watching documentaries, movies, and tv shows, to find new information.
It’s funny, even though my great-aunt was a librarian, and my great-grandma was an English teacher, I never thought about becoming a librarian myself. But when I was out of a job and homeless for a bit, I did end up volunteering at a middle school library, and it was pretty cool.
It’s fascinating how one simple question can lead you down a never-ending rabbit hole. I was trying to figure out whether my great-aunt had her library at a middle or high school, and suddenly I found myself tumbling down the White Rabbit’s Hole to Wonderland looking for the answer.
Down the Rabbit Hole
Of course, the downside to loving research is that I easily get lost in all the different directions it can take me. That’s the thing about research, it can be addicting and overwhelming all at once. I must confess that I have begun countless narratives that I never completed due to losing my concentration on the assignment, all because of a fascinating fact or notion that caught my attention along the pathway.
But when it comes to writing blogs, it’s a different story. I love having a clear beginning, middle, and end in just 2-3 thousand words. As someone who loves to read and write, having a concise piece to work on is always refreshing.
Crafting a blog post from beginning to end is definitely easier than crafting a novel. But I must admit, some prolific writers like Nora Roberts and the Queen of Romance, Barbara Cartland, would disagree and say “Pish-posh, it’s a piece of cake!” They’d tell me that if I can write a sensible article with 2-3,000 words, I can easily pen a 2–300-page novel.
However, truth be told, I have a hard time finishing even a sentence without wanting to research something I’ve said. (By the way, “pish posh” means nonsense.) I guess that is why blog writing has been so appealing to me. I can research anything I want to write about that can be found on the internet now!
Ancient Times: Before the Internet was a Thing
I was a child of the ’80s when personal computers like the Commodore 64 were gaining popularity. Although the internet existed back then, accessing it was not easy, and dial-up modems were expensive. Also, if someone in your home needed to use the phone, you couldn’t go online. Furthermore, having the phone number of the location you wanted to dial was essential. Whenever I needed to do some online research, it was like a scene from the movie Wargames (1983) in my house. So, I often had to go to the library instead.
As a child, I frequently found myself overwhelmed by the sheer number of options in the libraries I frequented. Thankfully, the Dewey Decimal System was a reliable guide. However, as books became digitized, I had to adapt to new ways of searching. The card catalog at the Library of Congress is still a labyrinth of tiny boxes filled with all those small, printed cards – I was astounded when I stumbled upon a particular section! And to think, each section has its own card catalog. It was truly mind-boggling!
What Got Me Started
I’m so excited to see what kind of research projects I’ll get to work on down the road. It’s ironic to think that my brother and I got to dive into the Apollo 11 moon landing back in fifth grade – that’s what really got me interested in exploring and digging deeper into things! And honestly, that curiosity hasn’t gone away yet.
One of the authors who inspired me to keep doing research was Barbara Cartland. Barbara Cartland was a prolific romance novelist who wrote over 720 books, many of which were historical romances. Her books were popular worldwide and have sold over 1 billion copies. She also holds the Guinness World Record for the most novels written in one year. I read many of her books in middle school and high school, and they inspired me to learn more about the Restoration and Regency periods. While I was in high school, I applied the knowledge I gained to write my own novella.
College Papers
I loved researching for my stories, but it also took time away from my studies. In college, my research skills helped me a lot, but they also made me a target for my classmates who needed help with their papers. My research started weeks in advance so I could have more time to write.
During my senior year of college, I wrote a 10-page paper on Pygmalion that I am particularly proud of. I spent countless hours researching, taking notes, and immersing myself in the material. Although I could have easily written a much longer paper, I found that I enjoyed the research process more than the actual writing. To prepare, I read the play, watched the 1938 film, and even rewatched one of my favorite musicals, My Fair Lady. Despite the intensity of the project, I managed to finish the paper in less than 24 hours. This experience taught me the importance of proper preparation and research in order to produce high-quality work. Preparation is key!
Throughout my time in college and beyond, I have initiated and abandoned more than 100 storylines. A portion of them have centered around original characters while the good bulk have been fan fiction. For those unfamiliar with the term, Archive of Our Own (AO3) is a great site to explore and discover fan fiction works.
Fan Fiction
Fan fiction has been the way I have been able to complete a lot of my writing. Much like blogs, most fanfics are 2-3000 words or sometimes longer. I often read fanfic stories that have over 50 chapters! Many of my stories are maybe 5-6 chapters of about 2,000 words each. But then, I started my epic Stargate SG-1 fic: You Can Call Me Sir. I started it in 2005 when Richard Dean Anderson (Jack O’Neill) left the show as a headliner. To this day, I am still working on it!
Part of my joy in fan fiction is (gasp) the research. I spend hours rewatching episodes of whichever show I am obsessed with at the time (Arrow, Sherlock, and Stargate, to name a few) and take copious notes on every little nuance the characters have, especially when it comes to my shipped characters (TomOllie, Johnlock, Jack/Sam). I can (and have) re-watched episodes from each show multiple times.
Genealogy
I am currently immersed in a research project that has rekindled my enthusiasm. Through my great-aunt’s spouse, who was our family’s genealogist, I have been able to trace our family’s lineage. While we initially intended to concentrate on my mother’s side, I became intrigued about my father’s ancestors. I am excited to reveal that I have uncovered an ancestor who sailed on the Mayflower and a direct connection to Alexander Graham Bell and Laura Ingalls Wilder. I cannot wait to see what other revelations my research will yield in the future.
Curiouser and Curiouser
I love to research more than writing. The feeling of discovery, of learning something new is thrilling. Piecing together the puzzle from the challenge of finding information excites me. And I love the satisfaction of finally understanding something that I didn’t before.
I know that I’m not the only one who feels this way. There are millions of people around the world who love research. We’re the ones who spend hours in the library, the ones who watch documentaries and read articles, and the ones who are always asking questions. We are the ones who are curious about the world, and we’re the ones who are driven to learn more.
Research is important. It helps us to understand the world around us. Conducting research helps us to make informed decisions. It helps us to solve problems. And it helps us to grow as individuals.
In addition to the benefits mentioned above, research can also be a lot of fun. It can be a great way to relax and unwind, and it can be a great way to connect with other people who share your interests.
If you’re not sure where to start, there are a few things you can do. First, ask yourself what you’re interested in. What are you curious about? What do you want to learn more about? Then, start looking for information once you know what you’re interested in. There are a lot of resources available, including books, articles, websites, and documentaries.
You can also find research opportunities in your community. Many libraries, schools, and community centers offer research programs. You can also find research opportunities online. There are a number of websites that connect researchers with research opportunities.
No matter how you choose to do it, get involved in research. It’s a great way to learn more about the world, and you never know what you’re going to find!
