When it comes to cooking, a little prep work beforehand can make life in the kitchen much easier. Chefs learn to lay out their cooking implements and measure and chop their ingredients before they make a dish. This process, known as mise en place, means “everything in place.”
And so it is with writing. We all have our favorite writing tools – an Oxford dictionary, perhaps, or a pen and a blank pad of paper, or the blank screen on our laptop – that enable us to start writing. (Personally, I like to look at pictures of my characters plastered on the wall in front of my desk. It gives me a valid excuse to ogle Matthew McConaghey or Alexander Skarsgärd when my mind goes blank. Which, thankfully, happens a lot.)
Then there’s the prep work for the story itself. Even if you’re a “pantser” who writes on the fly and scorns outlines, at the very least, you’ll probably want to write down the names and descriptions of your characters beforehand, or choose your story’s setting, or maybe do some world building.
Before I begin writing, I buy a notebook – either spiral, or a three-ring binder – into which all my notes, plots, subplots, character sketches, and reference notes go. This notebook becomes my bible throughout the writing process. My notebook tells me why the heroine has a deep-seated fear of horses… why the hero finds commitment impossible… and gives me background information on everything from narrowboats to fashion shows, or whatever specific topics my storyline might require.
Research is important as well. If I know my hero fires a Glock 17 at some point in the story, I go to the nearest shooting range and ask the instructor questions. People are usually more than happy to provide information – and often times, the information they provide is stuff that can’t be found in Wikipedia.
Google is another invaluable source of information. Recently I needed to know how a chase scene would play out on Brighton Pier. I couldn’t travel to the UK. Instead, I found a YouTube video showing hand-held footage from the Victorian entrance all the way through to the end of the pier. I not only saw the surroundings; I heard the noise, as well – a cacophony of music, conversation, and the non-stop barrage of arcade games.
It was the next best thing to being there. And it really brought my chase scene to life.
Google Maps is another useful research tool. If you need to put a character at a particular place, Google maps will put you there. You can see what the street looks like, if it’s residential or commercial, whether it’s a two-lane road or a major highway, etc. If you need a character name, baby name sites offer plenty of ideas. If you want to understand another country’s popular culture, buy a few of their magazines. It’s a quick, colorful window into a foreign landscape.
So try to make like a chef and do a little prep work before you write. Your dish – er, story – will be the better for it.
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