Stuff You’ve Had to Research for a Story

Uhhh… you know, I never know how to start these things.

So, writers research stuff for stories all the time. But every writer I’ve met always has this one incredibly specific / dumb thing they had to research (usually just for a passing line). So, tell me, YWSers, what’s the funniest /randomist thing you had to research for a story?

Goes without saying but keep it PG

I’ll go first:

—The history of 24 hour challenges, and whether they are real or not
—Types of carnival rides
—Lots of stuff about demon folklore
—what is the opposite of lasagna
—cartoon logic superpowers

What *is* the opposite of lasagna? :0

My most recent search was something along the lines of 'what if the sun was a different shape'. I'm sure there were other weird ones in the past, but I don't quite remember them at the moment!

-1800s style dresses
-When was TV made
-When was there electricity
-When was the first TV made
-The first circus
-Old English names for girls
-Old english names for boys
-Gothic names
-Carnival names
-Cute names

And many more, but this is what I remember.

@Liminality

Sadly I never figured out what the opposite of lasagna was

-Random name generator
-Random place generator
-Random generator

- monochromatic pictures
- robot anatomy

-Mentality of a school shooter
-Names that start with V that means fire
-What does ____(insert flower)____ symbolize?
-Things like "what's the chain weapon with the sticks called," cuz I forgot they were called nunchucks

@Gengarisbestboy

I googled the opposite of lasagna and according to Reddit, the opposite of lasagna is pesto pizza with no cheese and chicken and vegetables.

Reddit probably isn’t a reliable source, but it’s something.

I’m gonna add more to this

—How long does it take to pass out from oxygen loss
—How to calm someone from a panic attack if you cant talk
—There was this one specific line in a youtube series that I wanted to use, but i couldn’t remember what episode it was in, and it was a rather obscure series so I knew nobody would’ve re-uploaded the clip. so I spent about 10 minutes speeding through every episode trying to find the scene, and when I finally found it, it turns out the line wasn’t as cool as I remembered it. Now I’m mad.
—Crow symbolism
—Color symbolism
—what are expensive couches made of

Oh...I gotta list...Let's go!
--Third degree burns, symptoms, treatment, etc.
--Native American names
--Quechua (I know, you don't know what that means. Go on, google it!)
--Rehenowa (To make sure its original )
--Hidden cameras
--Indian "whistles" (still researching for precise name)
--Leo name meaning
etc. etc. etc.

@GengarIsBestBoy
That last list was so random it made me laugh. Sounds like you've got some misery planned for your characters.

I’m just gonna drop in here again because yes

—angel hierarchy
—what do angels wear
—how do people fake their death (I’ve never actually searched up “how to fake your death” but I’ve been using more indirect searches, like “people who faked their death”)
—urban exploration (exploring abandoned buildings), and whether or not its legal
—undertale character names
—what actually is the illuminati?
—Secret societies

Definitions of words that I was pretty sure I knew the meaning of, but wanted to be certain so as not to embarrass myself hehe

@WinnyWriter

I feel this 😭

uh i dont really know how this works but here are some things i had to research

- When flip phones were normal to have
- Oregon birds
- choreography of gaga ball
- what people from Oregon are called (oregonians)
- whether or not certain movies and songs had released prior to 2003
- Sacramento neighborhoods (Folsom, El Dorado, Orangvale, Coloma)
- if snapping turtles are native to Oregon
- where princeton university is located
- italian pasta (ideas for a last name)