About my research method

How do you go about your research?

First, every document I consult is assigned a number. (See my Sun Court bibliographies here.)

I begin with recording facts — what happened when — to a timeline. Over the years I've evolved a fairly complex method, colour-coding and staggering the entries from the point-of-view of the main character: her personal timeline at the far left, then her family and friends, moving across the page with events in the world coming in on the far right. This way, on any day, I can see more or less what is happening to my character, her loved ones, her enemies, on the political front, etc. Here is a clip from a page:

On this page, the black type relates to Petite, the red to the King's cousin, La Grande Mademoiselle, the blue to the King. My own thoughts, questions, etc. are in grey type, and events of particular interest are highlighted in yellow. I reference each item by document number and page number.

The timeline for Mistress of the Sun grew to over 600 pages! There were times when I thought I was writing a timeline, not a novel.

For facts about daily life and individuals, I use Notebook, a Mac outlining software program, again referencing details with book and page number.

An outlining program such as this one is useful because I can search it easily. The important thing about a research method — any research method — is evolving a way to store facts so one can easily find what one needs to know.

And then, of course, there is what I call experiential research: the travel and other research (such as taking a Baroque dancing class, traveling on horseback, or spending a week in a silent monastary). I generally begin with the academic research; then, once I've written a draft and know what I need to know, I begin the travel and other research. I write many drafts, continuing to research as I go. If I hit a dry spell, research will invariably replenish me.

(Note: see also the research page on my website.)