Karen Essex: I researched almost five years before I wrote a word. Then, the research continued another five years, through the writing of both books and also the screenplay, which I have just completed for Warner Bros.
Glen David Gold: I keep researching even after I write. I find my life greatly enlivened by knowing a little about the history of the Transatlantic Cable.
Tayari Jones: After the research, it took me about two and half years to write the novel. I didn't do much research while I was writing, but if I somehow happened across a fact or detail that interested me, I would go ahead and include it.
Kevin Baker: The research is the bulk of the work --- but on both of my historical novels, I felt ready to write, bounded off in one direction, then had to backtrack, and do more research before I went on. Once the direction was firmly established, and the research was in hand, the writing went quickly.
Margaret George: I try to divide the time exactly in half --- half for research, half for writing. There's a temptation to go on and on with research, but I know from experience that that will rob the writing of its required time. Because I have deadlines and know when something is due, I have to be finished with the research before I begin the writing, or I won't be able to pace myself. The only way to guard against going off on a sidetrack for research and wrecking my schedule is to be sure all research is finished first and doesn't have any surprises for me.
Matthew Kneale: I find the most difficult part is not the research or the writing, but digesting the research and turning it from facts into stories that have their own life. That seems to take me a long time, and it's a frustrating time too, as it often doesn't seem to be getting anywhere. With English Passengers I spent about a year and half researching, more than two years in despair wondering what to do with all this, and then about three years excitedly writing the book, amazed that somehow it had all finally fallen into place.
Bernard Cornwell: Research never stops. I suppose the "big picture" is researched before you start writing. In Vagabond, for instance, I spent a month or so discovering all I could find about Brittany in 1347, but then you start writing and need to know a detail, so it's back to the bookshelves. A book takes me about five months.
Megan Chance: I do the research first, and then write the story. Occasionally, there will be some aspect that I have to research while I'm writing, but it's usually because I've decided to use something I didn't think I would use, or because the story takes a turn I didn't expect. Generally, once the research is done, the actual writing takes anywhere from ten months to a year.
