Blogger: Michelle Ule
Location: Books & Such main office, Santa Rosa
“I typically go overboard when I research new projects.”
In 2000, after five years of hard work, I realized I could spend the rest of my life researching my family history and never write it down. As each rabbit trail narrowed to dust, as I pulled the final book off the shelf of Virginia counties, as my husband asked if I’d ever be done, I’d wonder, “What if?”
What if I missed some fact?
What if I found another tiny piece that opened the story up like a field in the game Minesweeper?
What if Abraham Lincoln really did carry around a piece of paper in his pocket that said, “This is the list of all my relatives, particularly my descendants leading to Michelle?”
How could I risk it?
It came to an end in the Mecca of genealogical research: The LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. I spent ten hours the first day, eight the second. My husband pulled me babbling out of the stacks that last day, and I knew I had crossed the line. The research was done.
I stopped checking “one more fact” on September 1, 2000. I then finished writing the book.
The project I’m currently investigating has an overwhelming number of items to review and books to read. I have to steep myself in language, items, culture, religion and even a war. I could easily spend the rest of my life researching.
But I have other things to do and the book is begging to be written. I could let myself be bogged down in searching out one more interesting fact, but the story–the point–would never be told. There will come a time when I declare the fact-finding finished.
Of course I’ll continue to read and examine leads as they turn up. Google will remain my constant friend and fact-checker, but enough. I need to write.
Research is fun. Tools can be exasperating or thrilling. Odd facts spark the imagination. Stories intrigue and of the making of books, there is no end.
But then, of course, there’s still real life to live. You owe it to your family. 🙂
How do you know when you’ve researched enough? When do you decide you’re ready to write? What’s your favorite part of the researching process?
Lori Benton
I’ve decided that I’ll never stop researching, because I’ve become addicted to learning American history. Most of it is for the novels I’m writing, but at this point (I began in 2004) some of it is merely for the sake of feeding my curiosity about the 18th and early 19th centuries.
The most fun I’ve had lately in researching was coming across mention of a distant relative of mine, who (unbeknownst to me until his name leapt at me from the page) lived in the place and at the time of the novel I’m currently writing. He’s a second cousin six times removed, and because of my research I know a lot more about what his life was like and what part he took in that bit of our nation’s history.
Cheryl Malandrinos
Like Lori, I’m addicted to American history, so ending research is always a challenge. What I’ve found works for me, however, is to agree to start my writing project on a certain date, despite what research may remain undone. Then I write until I can’t write any more, and then more research. What I’ve also found helpful is to be willing to fill in the blanks. In my current historical, I wasn’t certain what a particular item was called, so I wrote down what I thought it was called in parentheses and hightlighted it, so I would remember to check it later.
Since I love all aspects of research, I’ve truly enjoyed your posts this week, Michelle. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and methods.
Lynn Dean
I LOVE research! I was one of those kids who looked forward to research papers and begged for extra length, but all good things must come to an end.
I know I’ve gathered enough background when the questions begin to diminish and the story takes center stage in my mind. At some point, it has to be told!
Of course, I inevitably come up with more questions as I write. Some of these send me scrambling for the sake of accuracy, but often these factoids can be included in an afterword or become insider information for a future blog post or interview. And if I DO find that one tiny piece that opens up a whole new field? Well, that’s a whole new STORY, and I can write it next!
David Todd
Ah, the wonderful Family History Library. I almost covet business trips to SLC so I can spend evenings there. The genealogist’s rally cry: Just one more generation!
I don’t think research is ever done. You just run out of budget and hit a deadline.
I love the information age, which puts research at your fingertips. Yes, it would be better if I could visit Wrigley Field and Yankee Stadium to write my baseball novel, but the amount of information available on the computer/in the press about these two venues makes including scenes in them possible without spending thousands of dollars for travel. I can find out all about saddles in Bible times, so that when a critique parnter asks, “Did they have saddles in Bible times?” I can answer the question.
What an age we live in!
Loree Huebner
My husband and I love early American history – particularly the years of the Civil War. We write articles and novels in this time period. One of my favorite ways to research is the “living history” – My husband and I are Civil War re-enactors in the Union army.
This is one of the best ways to research and learn about that time period in American history. By doing events, such as re-enactments or the living history, we learn about the life of the CW soldier or civilian of that era.
We also make great connections with people who love the same era as we do. Always something new to learn.
Peter DeHaan
When conducting research, it seems as if each new discovery leads to one more possibility that is just too important to ignore. At some point, you need to say enough — but knowing when to stop is a challenge.
What I do know is that it is better to research for too long than to stop too soon.
jenny
I’m writing long after the post, but I’m glad some of you know there is a stopping point. My mom has been researching family history since I was little and I’m now 41 years old. We don’t have a relationship even though we see each other because that’s all she talks about. It’s either about finding a new long lost relative, a gravesite, a story. The sad part is some of the stories are incredibly interesting, but I don’t care anymore because she cares more about the dead than the living. Like you said, “there’s still real life to live. You owe it to your family.” I do love history, but I love to hear about my kids day at school even more.
Janet Grant
Very sorry to hear about your experience, Jenny, but I’ve seen the same thing and tried hard to avoid that temptation myself. You can also get so distracted by the lure of research you never get around to writing your project. I suspect we all need the reminder to draw the line. Thanks for sharing.