So, I've pretty well been wandering aimlessly with this whole research business. Up to this point, that's been okay, because there's just been so much to learn and virtually everything is useful to know (if not exactly relevant).
However...in the interest of finishing this book within my lifetime, and to maximize efficiency (as my loving father would put it), I'm going to come up with some specific research questions.
GENERAL
- Develop a map of the area I'll be writing about.
- Spend 1hr/day on language (studying, practicing or developing).
- Try to level the playing field in terms of battle & scientific development - as is appropriate per culture.
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THE QUORIAN EMPIRE (~3 weeks/45 hrs)
Politics, justice, and class
- Who has power in the Empire? What person, what group of people? What kind of power do they have, with what limits, and who puts them in power?
- How is the political system structured? The judicial system?
- What are the Empire's views on women? Other races? How do Quorians feel about sexuality?
- What are the Empire's social classes?
- How do these things impact my main characters, and what other characters do I need to flesh out because of them?
- What is the basic unit of community in Quorina? How are families structured? What is their importance?
Economics, livelihood, survival
- How does the Empire make money? With whom does it trade?
- How do individuals make a living within different classes? What sorts of jobs are there in different parts of the Empire and how are the lives (and wages) of the people who hold them?
Religion & magic
- What is the Quorian religion like? How do they view other religions?
- Religion vs. magic? What's their take on magic and how does it relate to religion?
- What are their major dieties, theologies and practices?
Language & geography
(- Learn Latin, and develop Quorian. This is the first language I'm taking a stab at because it's equivalent to English in the novel: most of the names in the books will be Quorian/Quorinized, but you'll see very little straight-out translation. (Also, it's an easy language to learn).)
(- Develop the geography of, and around, all important areas in the novel:)
--- Quorina
--- Cova
--- Alcara
...and I'll continue to build the list as I plot. (This means maps.)
- What is travel like in different areas of the Empire? How is communication affected?
Science & the arts
- Who is literate in the Empire? Of what importance is the written word?
- What languages doe(s) the average Quorian speak?
- What sort of scientific development does the Empire have? What is their approach to science and how does it differ from the modern day?
(- What is their calendar like?)
(- Of what importance are the arts (music, sculpture, performing arts, visual arts, literature, etc.) and who is involved with them?)
Military
- How do the Quorians wage war -- what is their general approach? Are they stronger on land? In the sea? In the air?
- How is their military structured? - What weapons do they use? Transportation? What are their uniforms like?
- Common tactics/strategies?
History
- How did Quorina come to control an empire?
- Legendary history of the city? Where does it blend into factual history?
- Important historical figures/events? - as relevant
Misc. culture & daily life
- How does the average Quorian see the world? What is most important?
- How do Quorians spend their leisure time? What sort of leisure time do they have?
- What do people wear? Eat? What do their houses look like?
-
ALCARAN PROVINCE (~2 weeks/30 hrs)
Politics, justice, and class
- Who has power in Alcara? Who do they report to?
- How does the political system differ from the rest of the Empire's? Their class system? Their views of women, sexuality & minorities?
- What is the basic unit of community in Alcara? How are families structured? What is their importance?
- Where does Kieran fit in to all this?
Economics, livelihood, survival
- How does Alcara benefit the Empire? What use is it economically? (Politically?)
- How do individuals make a living within different classes? What sorts of jobs are there in different parts of the province and how are the lives (and wages) of the people who hold them?
Religion & magic
- How does the Alcaran take on religion differ from the rest of the Empire's? Magic?
(- What are their major deities, theologies and practices (if different from the rest of the Empire)?)
Language & geography
(- Learn a bit of Arabic, if the opportunity arises, for place-naming. Or maybe Coptic.)
(- Develop the geography of, and around, the city of Alcara and the river that feeds it.)
- What is travel like in Alcara? How is communication affected? How do they get from Quorina to Alcara?
Science & the arts
- Who is literate in the Alcara? Of what importance is the written word?
- What languages does the average Alcaran speak - is Quorian or their native language more prevalent?
(- Do they have any scientific or artistic advances that are further (or simply different) from Quorina's?)
(- Of what importance are the arts (music, sculpture, performing arts, visual arts, literature, etc.) and who is involved with them?)
Military
(- Do the Alcarans have a different approach to Quorina in war? How so, and is it more or less effective?)
(- Do they have their own military?)
(- What weapons do they use? Transportation? What are their uniforms like?)
(- Common tactics/strategies?)
History
- Who ruled Alcara before it came to belong to Quorina? Do the people remember the ancient rulers fondly or do they prefer the Quorians?
- How did the Quorians come to possess Alcara? (That is a fun story.)
(- Legendary history of the city/territory? Where does it blend into factual history?)
(- Important historical figures/events? - as relevant)
Misc. culture & daily life
- How does the average Alcaran see the world? What is most important?
(- How do Alcarans spend their leisure time? What sort of leisure time do they have?)
- What do people wear? Eat? What do their houses look like?
-
THE NOMADS (~2 weeks/30 hrs)
Politics, justice, and class
- Who has power among the nomads? What person, what group of people? What kind of power do they have, with what limits, and who puts them in power?
- How is the political system structured? The judicial system?
- What are the nomads' views on women and sexuality? Other races?
- What are the nomads' social classes (if existent)?
- How do these things impact Kieran, and what other characters do I need to flesh out because of them?
- What is the basic unit of community among the nomads? How are families structured? What is their importance?
Economics, livelihood, survival
- How do the nomads make a living? Do they have money? Barter? Do they trade with people of other nationalities (i.e. the Alcarans)?
- How do they survive in the desert? How has their lifestyle developed because of it?
Religion & magic
- What is the nomadic religion like? How do they view other religions?
- Religion vs. magic? What's their take on magic and how does it relate to religion?
- What are their major deities, theologies and practices?
Language & geography
(- Learn a bit of Arabic...or at least about Arabic...for naming purposes. /wince)
(- Develop maps, if it is relevant.)
- How do the nomads travel? How often? How do they keep in touch?
Science & the arts
- Do the nomads have a written language or are they a primarily oral culture? What is the importance of the written word, and of memorization/stories/histories?
- What languages does the average nomad speak?
- What sort of scientific development do the nomads have? What is their approach to science and how does it differ from the modern day?
- What is their calendar like?
- Of what importance are the arts (music, sculpture, performing arts, visual arts, literature, etc.) and who is involved with them?
Military
- How do the nomads wage war -- what is their general approach? How does this work to their advantage, or disadvantage -- especially when fighting the Quorians/Alcarans?
- How is their military structured, inasmuch as it is a military?
- What weapons do they use? Transportation? Do they have uniforms?
- Common tactics/strategies?
History
- What are their legends? Their histories? Where do the two blur? As relevant.
Misc. culture & daily life
- How does the average nomad see the world? What is most important?
- How do the nomads spend their leisure time? What sort of leisure time do they have?
- What do people wear? Eat? What do their houses look like?
-
THE KILINGR (~3 weeks/45 hrs)
Politics, justice, and class
- Who has power among the Kilingr? What person, what group of people? What kind of power do they have, with what limits, and who puts them in power?
- How is the political system structured, if it is extensively? The judicial system?
- What are the Kilingr's views on women? Sexuality? Other races?
- What are the Kilingr's social classes?
- How does Erika fit in with all this?
- What is the basic unit of community among the Kilingr? How are families structured? What is their importance?
Economics, livelihood, survival
(- How do the Kilingr make money? Is there a national economy or is it each his own? With whom do they trade?)
- How do individuals make a living within different classes? What sorts of jobs are there in different parts of the Empire and how are the lives (and wages) of the people who hold them?
Religion & magic
- What is the Kilingr religion like? How do they view other religions?
- Religion vs. magic? What's their take on magic and how does it relate to religion?
- What are their major dieties, theologies and practices?
Language & geography
(- Learn Old Norse. /groan It's kind of important to the story, though.)
- Develop the geography of, and around, all important areas in the novel:
--- where Lucian is taken when enslaved
--- Erika's homestead
--- any cities of political importance
...and I'll continue to build the list as I plot. (This means maps.)
- What is travel like in different areas among the Kilingr? How is communication affected?
Science & the arts
- Who is literate among the Kilingr? Of what importance is the written word?
- What languages does the average Kilingr speak?
(- What sort of scientific development do the Kilingrs have? What is their approach to science and how does it differ from the modern day?)
- What is their calendar like?
(- Of what importance are the arts (music, sculpture, performing arts, visual arts, literature, etc.) and who is involved with them?)
Military
- How do the Kilingr wage war -- what is their general approach? Are they stronger on land? In the sea? In the air?
- How is their military structured, if they have one organized?
- What weapons do they use? Transportation? What are their uniforms like?
- Common tactics/strategies?
History
- What are the legends among the Kilingr? Where do they blend with history, if at all?
- Important historical figures/events? - as relevant
Misc. culture & daily life
- How does the average Kilingr see the world? What is most important?
- How do the Kilingr spend their leisure time? What sort of leisure time do they have?
- What do people wear? Eat? What do their houses look like?
-
ERIKA'S PEOPLE (~5 weeks/75 hrs)
Politics, justice, and class
- Who has power among Erika's people? What person, what group of people? What kind of power do they have, with what limits, and who puts them in power?
- How is the political system structured? The judicial system?
- What are their views on women? Sexuality? Other races?
- What are their social classes?
- Where does Erika fit in?
- What is the basic unit of community? How are families structured? What is their importance?
Economics, livelihood, survival
- How do they make money, individually or as a civilization? With whom do they trade?
- How do individuals make a living within different classes? What sorts of jobs are there and how are the lives (and wages) of the people who hold them?
Religion & magic
- What is their religion like? How do they view other religions?
- Religion vs. magic? What's their take on magic and how does it relate to religion?
- What are their major dieties, theologies and practices?
Language & geography
(- Language - god, I don't even know...)
- Develop the geography.
- What is travel like? How is communication affected?
Science & the arts
- Who is literate? Of what importance is the written word?
- What languages does the average person speak?
(- What sort of scientific development do they have? What is their approach to science and how does it differ from the modern day?)
- What is their calendar like?
(- Of what importance are the arts (music, sculpture, performing arts, visual arts, literature, etc.) and who is involved with them?)
War
- How do they wage war -- what is their general approach? Are they stronger on land? In the sea? In the air?
- How is their military structured, if they have one organized?
- What weapons do they use? Transportation? What are their uniforms like?
- Common tactics/strategies?
History
- Legendary history? Where does it blend into factual history?
- Important historical figures/events? - as relevant
Misc. culture & daily life
- How does the average person see the world?
- How do they spend their leisure time? What sort of leisure time do they have?
- What do people wear? Eat? What do their houses look like?
-
...leaving about a week for miscellaneous research/falling-behind time. And you know, that's just some general stuff for starters. I'm sure I could come up with a dozen more questions for each of them with a bit of thought.
