Research is like good make-up. It should make you look better, without drawing attention to itself.
As a writer, you have to do far more research than you’ll every use in your book. But once you’ve done it, you’re tempted to show it off. Resist the temptation.
The concept of “showing” rather than “telling” is pretty much accepted. But in numerous writing workshops, it’s become clear that people may accept the concept, but they’re often unsure how to to put it into practice.
It never harms to think more visually and the more you learn to use detail effectively, the more powerful your writing will be.
Quick hints that will lift a plain or dreary dialogue and give it dynamism.
