think you'll need to research later. For instance, you may need to research your characters' careers so you've got a clear idea of what's done and why -- both overall and on a day-to-day basis. You may need to interview people in a certain profession or area of expertise, or research the places your characters live in or travel to. You may need to research clothing for the time period your book is set in. If a character has a medical condition, or develops one during the course of the book, you'll need to research that. If your book is a mystery or suspense novel, you may need to research police procedures. You may need to research specific trees or animals indigenous to an area, historical events or laws. If you don't feel you know enough about a subject to write about it easily, it needs to go on your list.  This is an edited extract of First Draft in 30 Days (Writer's Digest Books) by Karen Wiesner. Wiesner has had 90 books published in the past 14 years, and been nominated for and/or won 124 awards. She is also the author of the bestselling writing reference book, From First Draft to Finished Novel: A Writer's Guide to Cohesive Story Building. Her latest title, Writing the Fiction Series, will be published by Writer's Digest Books in May 2013. firstdraftin30days.com Most popular on the Guardian Today in pictures After advising tourists against travel to the cities of Jammu and Srinagar