Featured: How to Research Illnesses

Most of us enjoy a good story involving illness, whether mental or physical, which is why crops of illness-related stories find themselves on Mibba. There's nothing quite like reading a well-written story with a cleverly used illness as a plot device - but unfortunately there's nothing worse than seeing it used poorly. When illnesses are written realistically, they can really make a story stand out and make it more dynamic, but when they're used poorly, it can drag a story down fast.

One of the biggest things that hinder illness-related stories is the lack of research done by the writer, and it is a complaint that many readers have. A lot of people may have learned that they need to research illnesses before using them, but that can be easier said than done.

Here are some tips on how to research an illness to use in a fictional story.

Take Notes

Before you get started with your research, remind yourself that you need to take note of the information you learn. Researching is useless if you don't remember what you've researched, and it can be hard to memorize lots of information at once. It's best to take notes just to be on the safe side.

If you have time, try organizing your research as well. This will make it easier when it comes time for you to use the information, since you won't have to dig through pages and pages of research to find a paragraph about drug trials.

Learn the Basics

While some people do have simple knowledge of illnesses, such as cancer and depression, not everyone knows the basics. If you're one of these people, this is the best place to start. Before you can learn all the details of the illness you're researching, you need to understand the broader idea. Knowing that chemotherapy makes people's hair fall out is useless information if you don't know what chemotherapy is used for - which is why it's an excellent idea to know a little bit about the topic you're researching before you get down to the nitty gritty.

To learn the basics, a simple Wikipedia search will do. Despite what professors may have told you in school, Wikipedia can be great for getting started with research, because every Wikipedia article starts out with a brief description of the topic. This brief description may contain most of the information you need to get a broader idea of what your illness is all about.

Some big things you may want to take note of are the symptoms of the illness, how it is diagnosed, and some cures or treatments. Just noting some of these things will help you later, when you're getting down to the details.

Know the Ins and Outs

After you've done your broad research and learned some of the basics about your illness, it's time to get down to the tough stuff that will set your story apart from all the rest. Accuracy is important, so those minor details you've spent time researching will really help in the long run and ensure your readers appreciate your story that much more.

When it comes to this type of thing, some of the best researching tools are blogs and books written by people who have experienced or are experiencing the illness. Though they might not use as much medical terminology as a doctor or a textbook, they can give a personal insight that you won't find anywhere else. Search Google for a blogger with progeria or autism. Often times, their blogs tell about their everyday lives and the things they have to go through that you may not know otherwise. This personal touch will add more emotional depth to your story - provided you use the information correctly.

If you want to go the extra mile, check out some blogs written by people who have friends or family with the illness you're researching. These blogs can help show you what it's like for the people around them, adding that extra depth to your story.

Use Your Research

Using your research may seem simple, but there's no point learning a ton of information if you don't use it. Make sure when you're writing that you refer back to your notes when needed and always try to add that personal touch. Going the extra mile will only make your story better and both you and your readers will reap the benefits it in the long run.

Special thanks to dougie poynter; and Fandango for editing!