Whether you love it or hate it, researching a novel is no easy task.

The good news is that the research process doesn't have to be a pluck-out-your-own-eyeballs kind of event. By getting savvy in our research techniques and creating an epic plan of attack, we can say goodbye to the endless web-surfing cycle of doom and hello to focused, intentional, and highly effective research — and it doesn't even have to be a bore!

But where in the world do we begin in tackling such a task? And how can we apply the research we've done to our stories? I'll break down everything you need to know in today's article, writer.

Like any industry or creative hobby, the writing world comes with its fair share of lingo.

When I first began learning more about the craft of writing, I came across a bevy of words and phrases whose definitions left me feeling clueless. Pantsers versus plotters? Deus ex machina? Exposition, epilogue, epigraph? It took me far too long to feel in-the-know as a new writer. If you find yourself in a similar position now, let’s take some time today to define the popular literary lingo you need to know!