#45: Exploring Another Culture — Research Tips to Get Started and to Avoid Pitfalls

As fiction authors, we’re natural explorers—we chase stories into new eras, new worlds, and yes, new cultures. But when you’re researching a culture that isn’t your own, it can feel like you’re holding a map written in a foreign language.

In this week’s episode of The Confident Fiction Author podcast, I share practical, no-drama tips for researching another culture with accuracy, respect, and confidence—so you can build story worlds readers trust (and love).

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Why accuracy builds trust (even in fantasy) and how it strengthens your confidence as an author
• Where to start: books, primary sources, oral histories, and works by members of the culture
• How to go “beneath the glass” at museums, archives, and cultural centers (and build real relationships)
• Bias checks & cross-checks: balancing sources inside and outside the culture

Want to go deeper specifically with Native American characters? My course Fiction Writing American Indians walks you step-by-step through authentic research and portrayal—without stereotypes or misrepresentation.

You don’t have to research alone—or feel lost. With the right approach, research will energize your writing and spark your best plot twists.

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Free resources for you:

The Confident Fiction Author Toolkit: fictioncourses.com/toolkit

Dictation + Scrivener Power Combo Mini Course: fictioncourses.com/dictation

Dictation for Authors: Tools and Tips of the Trade: fictioncourses.com/dictationguide

5 Stereotypes to Avoid When Writing about Native Americans: fictioncourses.com/stereotypes