Dear Research. . .

Hi all! I hope your week has been splendid!
I spent my week discovering the reason penicillin was once called "The wonder drug." It really is. It works splendidly. I'm eternally grateful for the fact that I'm not allergic to it, like a couple of my siblings are. It works fast and I feel awesome! ;)
In other words, I have been down half the week with strep throat, and I once again have a healthy respect for antibiotics.

Anyway.

Research. It something that anyone and everyone who writes has to do. Yes, historical fiction needs the most research, but even genres like fantasy and sci-fi use it.
Basically, if you write, it's something you can't get very far without. But like everything else, it has its good and bad points.

My thoughts on the matter are varied. And what better way to try and explain them than a letter?

Dearest Research,

I know we've met a few times, but each time we part I feel as though you have personally tried your hand to emulate the methods of the Gestapo. 

Also, I believe you enjoy giving me the run-around. I decide to use you to find one thing I need, but instead, hours later, I have a notebook filled with random tidbits of information that might be useful. Herein lies the problem; I still have not yet found the information I was originally looking for. 

And then there's the hands-on work. I do declare, you enjoy laughing at me. I go to a museum with a mental list of questions that have been on my mind for months, but when I am finally able to get an actual real person in front of me, my mind goes blank. Every single question that I have ever had suddenly dissipates into thin air.

But I'm sure you already know that. Since you were there. 

Now, I must admit that though our relationship has been a bit strained, there have been many ways I have been able to benefit from our companionship. 

For one, I am convinced my arms are considerably stronger then they were before we met. Encyclopedias, maps, and 400+ page non-fiction books work better then weights, in my opinion. 

Another plus to our interesting relationship is the people I am able to meet. Granted, every question may leave me, but I do suppose that sometimes it's okay. The stories I'm able to hear and the information I gather (even though it may not be what I needed) never fail to give me more story ideas then I know what to do with. 

I'll close the letter with this. While there have been a few bumps in the road of our relationship, the day we met forever changed me. I can honestly say that I will never be the same. You insured that I would never again be ignorant of the world around me, and never again would I allow someone else to tell me what to believe. And of course, you go quite well with my favorite beverage, a glass of iced tea. All this to say, I look forward to many more late nights poring over your pages, and attempting to have my questions answered. 

Respectfully yours,

Jesseca Dawn 

P.S. The next time I am able to interview a WWII reenactor, please, do not wipe the questions out of my brain as if it were a slate to be erased. It's frustrating. 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!