Do Your Research to Get Published, by Nina Munteanu

You might be saying: well, that's all well and good for a historical-mystery set in Budapest or a science fiction thriller set in the Vega system. But you don't need to do research because you're writing a fantasy or a memoir. Neither of these, on the face of it, appears to require research: the fantasy is based on a totally made up world, after all, and the memoir is all about you. So, why bother? As a matter of fact, they both need research. Most books do, particularly nowadays for our multiplex, intelligent and discerning readership. Readers of any fiction enjoy learning something when they read, particularly when it's seamless and made easy through a compelling story. It's a real bonus.

To return to the fantasy, you will find very quickly that in order to build a consistent world (even if it's mostly from your own imagination), you will need to draw upon something real to anchor your imaginary world upon. Whether this reflects a powerful myth or forms an alternative version of a real society, you will still need to apply some "rules" to follow, so you don't lose your reader.

With respect to the memoir, the need for research lies in placing your story in context with either some event, idea, theme or place of interest to attract readership. Unless you're a world unto yourself (e.g., you're a celebrity of some kind with an established following), your story will require this larger element within which to place your personal story. That's where research comes in.