I thought I didn't do much research before writing my first draft,just looking up things as needed. My story ideas ferment slowly in my head before I commit them to paper. I am researching elements without realising. Now I want to do it with purpose too.
Why research?
You are less likely to jolt a reader our of the story if you understand simple facts and rules.
Military tactics for battle scenes , deployment of troops etc
Animals - care of / under stress / natural reactions.
City politics - a few details here can keep the reader believing.
Royal protocol - invent your own but make it real.
Folklore - if you know this you can avoid cliches
Culture - especially if you are creating a different race.
Chain reactions - if your magic involves chemicals you do not need to be a scientist but a little knowledge helps.
Weather- if you wish to create a magic related to weather its best to know how weather systems work and the consequences of messing with them.
Weapons - you need to know how a weapon works before you can customise it with magic.
Descriptions - often worth looking up pictures to get a few details well described. If you get a couple of small details right the reader believes you know it all!
But not too much.
You are not writing a textbook - use your research in a practical way.
The character may not know what to do, they can ask someone else to take care of the engine / animal etc.
You can use past experience.
Choose which issues need to be researched.
Your character can use common sense, they may get it wrong but that adds to the story.
Enjoy your research, Most of what you learn you will not use, but the knowledge creates a foundation for your story.
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