Marc_T

How much research should you do before embarking on a piece of writing. I've only ever written fantasy, so most of the stuff was from my head. Apart from reading other fantasy to gain insight into what fans like about this genre.

I've always wanted to write a screenplay about a particular famous person. Do you need to be an established writer to even thin about a biography? It's just the life of somebody I'd like to delve into without stalking them!

Johnna

As a fantasy writer myself, I did minimal research before starting to write. Most of my research has been during the editing process.

As for writing a biography... That sounds like quite a task. Whoever this person is that you're writing about, you should read everything you can find about them and maybe make an outline of their life before starting. Is the person still alive? If so, maybe try to contact him (or her). If not, find people who knew the person and speak with them. Other than that, I don't know; I've never tried anything quite so, well, difficult. Good luck, though.

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mammamaia

as much as whatever you're writing needs!... there's no set amount... some things you can write off the top of your head and others may take a year of research, before you're ready to start the ms...

...if you want to get their permission to write it, you should be... why would anyone famous want to give/sell the rights to their bio to a beginner?... and if they're alive and famous, you may have to pay up for the privilege, if others are standing in line... but if you've never written a screenplay, i can't see anyone letting you practice on them...

and first screenplays are next to never sold or made... 99.999% of them are junk, not even fit to be read by anyone in the business... it takes most beginners several years and 7-8 scripts to be good enough at it to write one with a chance of being optioned or sold...

...keep in mind that if you do an unauthorized bio and they don't like it, they can sue you for all you have and ever will have and you'll have to go in hock just to defend yourself in the suit...

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dwspig2

I found that when I need specific facts to make novel work well, I just write along and insert little notes to myself for later times. I put these notes inside of parentheses, and then I can't miss them. This way I can keep writing, and I only research what is absolutely necessary.

You don't have to use just books or internet to research either. You can call up different places and ask them about their work. For instance, I called up the police department and asked some questions about some equipment they use there. The officiers seemed more than happy to help me. Don't forget to think outside the "book."