Research. DO IT.

                Writing is a great pass time, we can all agree. We can let our imaginations flow and even make up new words. Our worlds know no bounds... In our minds. If you’re going to write to get published, or even for other people to read, you want to make sure you’re not saying something that you don't mean. This is where research comes in.

                Research can be as simple as looking up a word in the dictionary to find the spelling or definition of it. Want to include some weird animal? Describe it onto the mighty power that is Google, and see what comes up. That weird animal you were cooking up in your mind may actually exist!

                Next up is your plot. It’s 2 AM and you've just figured out how you’re going to twist your plot to keep readers hooked. You write it without a single hitch and it goes along perfectly. Sounds ideal right? Well, tough news. If it was that easy, someone has likely already done it. In fact, it’s highly likely that, even if it wasn't done before, it’s not nearly as good as you thought it was. Always make sure that you’re not copying from other people’s ideas. If you draw motivation from multiple sources, that’s fine and dandy, but you need to be careful that you don’t turn your work of art into a compilation of other people’s work.

                Research doesn't just mean to look up definitions and make sure you’re not copying though. Something I hear very few people ever mention is researching your own work. If something worked for one of your other pieces, you may be tempted to do it again. Don’t do this if you can help it though. A twist or grip only works so long, and people who enjoy your work will easily spot laziness. Proofreading your own work could even be considered research too. Hunt for contradictions in your work, and gut them before they ever make it to the editor. It saves you embarrassment, and your editor trouble.

                I can tell you with confidence that I've only touched on some of the things an author should research before writing. Senses such as smell and sight are important to understand, the emotion behind a scene is also important to understand. There is a ton of material to understand before one can really understand their own writing. Make sure you know what you’re doing, before you publish.