12 Dos and Don’ts of Research Travel for Writing
Authors are called to invest a great deal into their own careers, from mailing expenses to advertising. Some investments have been worthwhile, while many have proven disappointing. The one investment I’ve never regretted is traveling for research. I’ve found that it lends greatly to the authenticity of my books and allows me to draw forth a flavor in my prose that I wouldn’t be able to otherwise.
While I caution many authors to be frugal with spending on their careers, I endorse travel with reckless abandon. Even if it means living on ramen and salad for a few months, it’s always a smart use of funds. My most recent research trip was a weeklong trip to Paris, and these are some tips I gleaned from the experience.
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Do: Follow the usual smart travel norms: Book well in advance for the best prices and check for warehouse store and credit card discounts everywhere. Don’t: Go without checking when things are open. Even in high season in major sites, museums and attractions are often closed 1-2 days per week. And keep an eye on the news for strikes and disturbances in places like France which are known for them. Do: Try to use the trip for the benefit of more than one project. When I was in Paris, I used my time to shoot promotional videos and photos for A Bakery in Paris, which was complete, but several months from release. I took an ARC with me and took hundreds of photos everywhere that was important to the plot of the book or generally pretty. I was also researching and drafting Mademoiselle Eiffel, the story of Claire, the daughter of Gustave Eiffel, who built a certain tower we all know. I split my time between the two projects (mostly focusing on the research) but got a lot of mileage out of one trip. Don’t: Plan a trip before you know what your research needs are. Going too early in development may result in time wasted chasing resources you won’t need. Conversely, going too late in the process may result in not using your findings or causing substantial re-writes. I think going after you have a very detailed outline is a great phase, and even after the first draft can be useful, especially if you leave yourself the time to incorporate your findings. Do: Look into accommodations on a variety of sites… Some of the quirkier options may be the most fun. Don’t be afraid to see if one of the short-term rental sites has a room for rent in an area pertinent to your book. Rooms were available in two places that are featured in A Bakery in Paris and those experiences could have really enhanced my writing if I were in the drafting phase. As I was focused on another project, I opted for a standard hotel near the museum where I’d be working. Don’t: Use frequent flyer miles and credit card points if you can avoid it. These expenses may not be tax deductible and you’d be better off saving those points for leisure travel. Also to note, if you’re travelling internationally, the rules for tax deductions become far more stringent. Read up. If you bring a spouse or child along, you may have to convince the IRS that your trip was business related. Do: Contact key research institutions well in advance. Some archives have very limited space and are still (thankfully) enforcing some Covid protocols which may limit visitation even further. If you wait to the last minute, you may be out of luck. I was fortunate enough to secure a spot in the archives at the Musée d’Orsay for my aforementioned upcoming historical Mademoiselle Eiffel and secured my place in the archives before booking plane tickets and a hotel room.
Don’t: Assume that things are the way they were in 2019 and before. Many of the most popular sites now have timed entry tickets. I very nearly missed the opportunity to go to the top of Eiffel Tower, which was a rather important part of my reason for going to Paris, given the topic of my book. I was able to finagle a ticket through my credit card travel rewards. It cost more because I had to be on a tour, but it was worth ensuring I was able to visit for the first time in over 20 years. Do: Plan meals thoughtfully. Make sure to take advantage of the local cuisine, and if you can eat in establishments that were in business when your characters were alive (if you write historical) or that they would love (if you write contemporary), you’re making the experience that much more immersive. I ate tons of baked goods for photo opportunities for A Bakery in Paris and had authentic French Onion Soup with the original recipe from the Café de la Paix that Claire Eiffel might have enjoyed before an opera at the Palais Garnier. Remember, calories are tax deductible when you’re traveling for research. Don’t: Overload your itinerary so much that you exhaust yourself for the remaining days of your trip. Take public transport if you’re getting weary and plan time for a bit of rest. I used some downtime to organize my notes and photos back at the hotel, and it was a smart use of time. Do: Be flexible. Travel conditions can be unpredictable, so always have a Plan B ready so that when the unexpected happens (and it will!) you can adjust without losing precious research time. Case in point, I was asked to change my research days at the Musée d’Orsay while I was already in Paris, and because I’d made a detailed plan for my time, I was able to shift things around without difficulty. Do: Enjoy every moment and remember to savor the magic of travel and marvel at the opportunity to see the world through the eyes of our characters.
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