Essential Research Practices for the Modern Storyteller

Note: This is a passage from our book "Storytelling Fundamentals".

Summary: Learn the importance of research and understand the simple methods available to find accurate information for your story.

Just like world-building or character design, research can be a rabbit hole that consumes you. It can be hard to pull yourself away from the origin of a myth or the deep lore of a small town, but too much research just becomes procrastination. To prevent you from burning out before you begin, here are some pro research tips that you can use to keep research simple.

Minimum Viable Research (MVR)

Minimum Viable Research (MVR) is when you focus on what is essential to the story through tight constraints. You skim the surface of a topic rather than getting lost in everything it has to offer. Skimming the surface doesn’t mean that you read one article on the subject and call it a day. It’s about understanding the essential details of the topic before moving on. Limit yourself to three strong, diverse sources per research topic, and you’ll have a broad understanding of what you’ll need for your story.

Aim to have at least one of each per topic:

• Reliable Academic Source (books, articles, essays, newspapers, etc)

• Photographic Reference (2-3 photos)

• Secondary Source (peer reviews, videos on social media, screenshots, etc.)

Discernment in Diverse Sourcing

We live in the age of technology, where life moves at breakneck speed, and information is abundant. But not all information is reliable. Fact-checking has become critical in this era of AI. Everything on the internet is subjective, but there are some tricks we’ve come up with to discern if the information we have found is worth believing.

Give it the Good Ol’ C.R.A.A.P. Test

• Currency: How recently was the information published or updated? Is it still relevant to your topic?

• Relevance: Does the information directly answer your question or suit your specific needs, and is the audience appropriate?

• Authority: Who wrote it? Do they have verifiable credentials, degrees, or recognized expertise in the subject area?

• Accuracy: Where does the information come from? Are claims backed by citations, data, or peer review, and is the writing free of major errors?

• Purpose: Why was the source created? Is the author trying to educate, entertain, or sell you something? Be on the lookout for hidden agendas or strong biases.

If the information is outdated, heavily opinionated, or “is a scam”, the signs will become obvious. On the flipside of this ideology, understand that some information might be very hard to come by. Ancient myths, lost cultures, and forgotten traditions may take more time to discern at first glance. Everyone has a perspective on this world. It’s your job to figure out the truth.

Converse with an Expert

If you are telling someone else's story, especially if it is non-fiction, it is highly recommended that you do a few interviews with experts in the field. Even a quick email or phone call can give you clarity on important details that other research methods cannot compare. The most important thing to remember when conducting an interview with a professional is to keep your questions concise to the topic. You may have a follow-up question here and there if something within the interview provokes it, but you also need to respect the time of your expert.

If you aren’t able to find an expert in your area or are too shy to ask, take to the forums of the internet and pop into a group expressing interest in the topic. Most of the time, people are willing to provide information if they see you’re trying to use it to highlight them in a proactive manner. No one wants to share their precious heritage with someone whose main goal is to make fun of it.

Be respectful when exploring topics you don’t know. Even if you think you know something, it’s still better to ask the experts. And no, AI is not an expert. They are the conglomerate of human knowledge and should be used as a last-ditch effort to answer residual questions. Do the legwork. Don’t be lazy.

Create a Story Bible

In the spirit of staying organized, we encourage you to create a story bible to hold all your information. This is one mega-document that has all the details of your story from research to outline. You can use other websites and apps that make the process more palatable, but it all depends on the story you’re telling.

As you go through these chapters, you’ll be able to add more details that will make your story come to life. Research is the foundation of the truth that your story is built on. Keep it organized and understand that you may not need everything you find in your research journey.

Topics to Keep In the Research Tab of Your Story Bible

• Character profiles (traits, speech patterns)

• Setting and locations (architecture, weather, geography)

• Technical details (equipment, historical dates, cultural norms)

If you want to learn more about the Fundamentals of Storytelling, check out some of the resources that we have on-planet!