Are there good reasons for venturing down the writing rabbit hole? As one of the reigning queens of rabbit hole wanderings, the answer is a resounding yes. Though the navigation can be a delicate dance between inspiration and productivity, if done with focus can become a valuable asset for all of our writing journeys. At other times, without that focus, it can turn into an exercise in procrastination, though often a fascinating one.
For me at least, entering that rabbit hole often begins with a simple innocent thought: I just need to do quick bit of research to make this scene authentic. I sit down, convinced I’ll find the answer in minutes and then dive right back into the chapter I swore I’d finish before the day’s end. But before long, I’m tumbling through layers of information, each one more captivating than the last.
At first, it feels productive, like I’m gathering exactly what my story needs. I begin with a specific query: what underclothes did women wear in in the western highlands of fourteenth-century Scotland? Or, how accurate were those dueling pistols in Regency, England. One search leads to another, and suddenly I’m immersed in the daily lives of nineteenth-century Londoners. I can almost hear the clatter of horse-drawn carriages and smell the coal smoke thick in the air. Each new discovery feels like a rare treasure found enriching my story with deeper texture and authenticity. My question about underwear in Scotland somehow led me to guns, to dueling pistols. Did I mention that the Regency period is the setting for my next book, not the one I’m currently working on?
Then before I know it the rabbit hole widens. An article on Victorian drapery links to a discussion on the socioeconomic implications of textile manufacturing which leads to a biography of a little-known industrialist. All of a sudden, I’m lost in the reading about the evolution of trade unions. Hours pass unnoticed, and the original intent of my research is buried beneath layers of marginally related knowledge.
It doesn’t matter though, at least not in that moment or the many after. The journey is as exhilarating as it is bewildering. Each click and scroll pulls me further from my writing, yet it’s easy for me to rationalize: Some of this, somehow could inform my protagonist’s backstory, add depth to a subplot, or simply give me a richer sense of the world I’m creating that is when I get myself back to researching the correct time period and topic I began my descent with.
Then comes the reckoning. As the day slips away, I realize little of this newfound information will actually make it into my work. The writing itself remains untouched, my daily word count unmoved. I emerge with a head full of trivia and a lingering sense of disorientation wondering where the time went.
On a positive note, it’s not all for nothing. Despite the occasional frustration, these rabbit holes can be a vital part of the writing process. They remind us of the vastness of the worlds we’re trying to capture, whether present-day or long ago and far away. They reveal connections between ideas we might never have seen otherwise. And they fuel curiosity, expand horizons and sometimes gift us with unexpected gems even if upon occasion lead the best of us astray. My particular foray into what women wore for undergarments led me to tales about a woman who did live in fourteenth century Scotland, (the actual timeframe my story takes place) who was a healer whom possessed more than a few progressive opinions for her time and was not afraid to express them which lent a great deal of depth to my protagonist, which in turn deepened the overall story itself.
The key is balance. Research is meant to light the creative fire. We just need to know when to pull back, refocus, and get words on the page. Embracing the occasion plunge down the rabbit hole can bring surprising inspiration and deeper understanding, and yes, it can also be plain damn fun. One last quick tip. A timed trip down the rabbit hole can spark the story, just don’t move in there.
Happy Writing!
Thank you, Bobbi. That is valuable advice to all of us. I know I am easily distracted. Laughs. Here is some info about Bobbi!
Bobbi Lerman first began crafting short stories in her early teens and has since developed a passion for writing that spans multiple genres. Her current work includes travel and personal essays, as well as historical romance with a touch of the paranormal. Bobbi is the founder of Scribbler’s Ink, an active online community and website that offers author interviews, writing tips, daily prompts, and workshops for writers at all levels. She lives in a small town north of Boston with her husband and their cat, Skye.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/351022088275863
Website: www.scribblersink.com
Heroic Care: https://www.amazon.com/Heroic-Care-Writers-Artists-Means-ebook/dp/B08Z4F135M/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2089V5CSWUV8F&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.L3hZ8hzXNFKwWUq
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https://scribblersink.com/published-work
All the best always,
Sue
Susan Hanniford Crowley, Founder of Nights of Passion Blog, SFWA, RWA-PAN
susanhannifordcrowley.com
David & Laura: A Vampire Christmas Story: Arnhem Knights Special Edition: is available on Kindle and Amazon Paperback
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EverWarm for ages 13-113 is available on Kindle and Amazon Paperback.
Lady Fallon’s Dragons for ages 13-113 is available on Kindle and Amazon Paperback, Nook, Kobo, BAM online bookstore sells the paperback, Scribd,
The Vampire with a Blanket of Stars, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 3 is available in Amazon Print and Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Apple, Walmart ebooks
Vampire King of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 1 now on Kindle and Print! Walmart Bookstore Online
Vampire in the Basement, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 4 is available on Kindle.
Poseidon’s Catch(mythology romance) is available on Kindle.
Mrs. Bright’s Tea Room (steampunk romance) is available on Kindle.
A Vampire for Christmas, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 3 is available on Kindle.
The Stormy Love Life of Laura Cordelais, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 2 available on Kindle and Print and Barnes and Noble Print
When Love Survives, Vampires in Manhattan Book 1 is available on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and iBooks (on Apple devices)
Nights of Passion 