Research is essential for writers to help them develop the world of their novel and to create captivating characters and an intricate plot. Your best source is your own experience. It can be using your hometown in your setting or personal and work experience to create your characters or plot. Describing these details offers writers an incredible opportunity to use the 'show, don't tell' principle to develop their story.

But if you are a prolific author or plan to write many books, you will need to research topics unfamiliar to you at some stage.

What is the best way to research topics for your novel?

Be organized

When you start to research for your novel, you can collect a massive amount of information. But none of this will be helpful to you if you can't find vital details when you need them. Thus it is essential to develop a way to store and organize your data. 

A notebook and paper are a good option when you are out and about since not all of us are comfortable typing on our phones. But storing and organizing vast amounts of information is often more efficient when done digitally. 

Writers can record voice notes and use transcription apps and services to convert these notes to text. Text, video, and images can easily be stored and organized in applications like Evernote, OneNote, and many others. 

These apps allow you to manage your content in tabs or notebooks. When you tag your content with keywords like plot, characters, setting, etc., it makes it simple to find relevant information for creating your setting, plot, or characters. 

Use reading material

Your first avenue for research on any topic is reading material. Use your local library for books on the subject, or search online. Since anyone can start a blog these days, you need to check the authority of a website and validate its content. A good way is to use a domain authority checker and cross-check your information using various sources. Although many people use Wikipedia, its information is not always reliable since it has many contributors. Also, read other novels dealing with the subject. It can inspire you to a different perspective to make your book stand out.

Other media for research

To gain credible information about nature, animals, locations, etc., look at documentaries from credible producers like National Geographic or get hold of their magazine. Visual mediums like videos and images can often convey information in ways the written medium can't. 

It is also good to listen to podcasts on your topic from influencers in the field. There is also excellent video content on platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, etc. Once again, check the authority of the producer of the video.

But since personal experience is still best, make it practical by following your interests. A hobby like photography will lead you to new places and meet many interesting people, each with their unique perspectives, giving you plenty of enticing details to use in your novel.

Sources:

How to Research a Novel: Tips for Fiction Writing Research

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-research-a-novel#how-to-research-topics-when-you-dont-have-firsthand-experience

Top 7 Tips For Researching Your Novel

https://writersedit.com/fiction-writing/top-7-tips-researching-novel/