Today’s episode is about how I've used research to inform the content and themes of my play. What’s been useful to research - and the tools and exercises I've used - have been different from draft to draft. So in today’s episode I speak about how it’s played a different role in Draft 1, Draft 2 and Draft 3. I cover:
Draft 1
Letting the themes guide the content I was consuming (audiobooks, podcasts, radio interviews etc) and letting them be on in the background during my day-to-day life.
Consciously curating a thematic container.
Journaling on the themes as I was writing.
'Writing under the influence' of what you let in.
Draft 2
Imposter syndrome.
Letting content guide the research - knowing the difference between details that the narrative hinges on versus details that become the backdrop for a more human/universal moment or scene to take place.
My process for using brackets in the text to flag the details you need to research later.
In the middle of a writing session is not the time to research a small detail.
Draft 3
Asking people who live and breathe the world of the play to note any red flags.
Making sure all the small details are cohesive and speak to the heart of the story.
'Furnishing' the play in a way that's well-researched. This can be so fun and satisfying if you do it at the end of the process. If I did this in Draft 1 it would be way too overwhelming and feel like a test.
This episode was originally recorded in September 2021. You can watch the video diary here: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CT6HtOblSxl/
You can learn more about my work on my About page or say hi and ask me a question via @emilysheehan__ on Instagram.