by Susan Lovett | Jul 13, 2021 | A Writer's Life, Reference, Research |
Studying is an eternal state of being for writers. It’s our lifeblood–how we hone our craft and add depth to our work. As Gary Paulson says, “If you want to be a good writer, you’ve got to read like a wolf eats.” I believe that applies to studying too.
by Susan Lovett | Feb 16, 2021 | Blog, Reference, Research |
One of the first steps in pre-production, after developing a treatment and writing the screenplay, is figuring out where you can shoot the script. Where can you get those beautiful establishing shots and find sets to bring the story to life? Where in the world can you find places that look like what’s described in the screenplay or novel it is based upon?
by Susan Lovett | Feb 9, 2021 | Blog, Reference, Research |
Research should reveal more than simple fact. It can offer insights into a time period, an event, a moment. It can reveal hidden depths. The trick is to use these insights to create more textured and layered characters.
by Susan Lovett | Feb 2, 2021 | Blog, Reference, Research |
The following is an excerpt from my upcoming book on Research for Writers:
There are different levels of research: cursory understanding, basic competence, proficiency and mastery.
by Susan Lovett | Apr 14, 2020 | A Writer's Life, Blog, Links, Reference |
Never before has the Internet been so important. Heaven help us if wifi goes down. We might not make it.
Sequestered in our homes, it’s books, movies, and streaming content that keeps us going. That is, when we’re not working out, cooking or obsessing about flour, yeast or paper products. But even YouTube can let us down now and then. Our feeds get gunked up with cat videos and before we know it, we’re down the rabbit hole never to be seen again.
Well, here are some links to help you stay on track, even if you are still sitting on the couch:
by Susan Lovett | Mar 10, 2020 | A Writer's Life, Blog, Motivation, Writing Books |
There’s so much info available about writing—blogs, videos, classes, lectures, workshops, conferences, books. It’s easier now than ever to learn more about the craft and that’s amazing. It’s essential to work on your skills, to learn how grammar, structure and mechanics work in writing, and how to improve the other elements of good fiction and creative nonfiction.
But (there had to be a but, right?)…
by Susan Lovett | Dec 11, 2018 | Blog, Book Love |
There is nothing better in December (for me) than curling up with a good Christmas book or watching a classic movie. It reminds me to be more positive and embrace the joy of the season.
I don’t often make lists of books or movies I recommend, but I have decided to make an exception. Here is my list for the holidays that is sure to make you smile.
What does this have to do with writing? Everything. Stories inspire us—those we read and those we watch. I love classic and modern movies. I am addicted to books. Whenever I can share those passions, I will. This seemed a great opportunity.
by Susan Lovett | Nov 27, 2018 | Blog, Reference, Research |
Lately I have moved from writing to research. I am in the process of pitching my novel and using the waiting period between pitching and the inevitable edits to dive into a new story. I have a rough idea of what I want to write, including the prologue and opening scene, but I also have huge, gaping holes in my knowledge. This explains the huge stacks of books lining my desk and the hours I’ve spent learning everything from creation myths to Jungian psychology to black holes. I am diving down rabbit holes in search of my story.
by Susan Lovett | Aug 21, 2018 | Blog, Reference, Research |
The past few weeks I’ve posted four articles on research techniques. They included planning your research, , taking notes and organizing your research. Now I’d like to add a quick list of abbreviations I use to take faster notes.
by Susan Lovett | Aug 14, 2018 | Blog, Reference, Research, Writing |
Research is a key part of writing. It forms the foundation for story. In this series on research, we’ve covered how to plan your research, offered tips for conducting effective research and discussed how to take good notes. Now we’ll tackle how to organize your research.
by Susan Lovett | Aug 7, 2018 | Blog, Reference, Research, Writing |
In the previous two articles, we covered how to plan your research and tips for conducting effective research. Now it’s time to begin, which means tackling the best way to take notes. Like everything, there are options. Your best bet is to choose the method that makes sense to you.
by Susan Lovett | Jul 31, 2018 | Blog, Reference, Research, Writing |
In the last blog, we covered when to conduct research. You can read it here. This week we’re going to look at some ways to make your research time more effective for you.
Here are my best tips for conducting research: