Harlan Coben

Do you do, some writers do, a great deal of research?

I do none.

I do as little as possible.

Every other writer you will talk to will normally say they do a lot of research.

And I will defend that position for those who want to be writers out there.

The problem with research is that it's more fun than writing.

And you will do anything not to write.

We both know this, Charles.

You, staring at that blank page, you will do anything not to write.

There are days I'm sitting there going, I'm going to write, but first let me put aluminum siding on my house.

Like anything to avoid that horrible moment we're alone.

So I'll do research.

Most writers do research as an excuse not to write.

And then you get caught up in the research and you're loving the research and the research is so much fun and you're forgetting to write.

So I would tell people, you know, look, if you're writing a book about 18th century Afghanistan, yes, of course.

My books are in the modern present day.

I do as little research as possible.

My research is always to call the person and ask them about it because I always get that tidbit that's not in the book that's going to make that moment come to life for me.

So, and the other reason is a lot of times you get too caught up in the research and you slow your story down by giving us too much.

Right.