So! Research!

So I'm starting to work seriously on a couple of original fic ideas. One more seriously than the other, simply because it's better developed. This is all a bit tentative and scary for me, and I'm worried about all kinds of things. One of them is how much research to do before I start writing. Everyone, but everyone has different advice on this, and the only thing I can find that might be correct is "whatever works best for me". So I'm in the process of working out what that is. I'm not really desperate for advice on how to work that out, I'll get there.

One of the other things I'm worried about though, is where to get started with the things I do know that I need to research. Like finding out what kind of stuff a history nerd would do while on vacation in New York City. Or like finding out what a corporate solictor's day-to-day work is like. I have no idea.

I did go to university, and I love to read, and I love to find new ideas, but I never have any idea where to start with research topics.

Any generic writerly research tips would be greatly appreciated!

help

Sometimes I think I'm doing so well. Then I crash and crash hard. I think it's emotions I have that I don't want to feel, that's the problem. Emotions that I'm scared of like anger. And worse, I'm scared of examining the anger because I'm pretty sure that the reasons for the anger will make me a terrible person. In fact I've already decided that before I start, really.

There's ways to look at this. But it's weird, I'm finding it so hard to do that right now. I have another blog where I process stuff, so maybe I should write a post over there, or write something in my book of monsters when I get home tonight (today I'm not carrying it with me for some stupid reason).

I hate being so up and down. I hate feeling like there's nowhere I can turn when I feel like this, especially when it's not really true. But who could I really call when I feel like this? I can't think of anyone that I want to see me cry. I usually end up phoning my parents. Makes me feel non-functional and like a child.

Sigh.