Research

Research

Writers write what they know and if they don’t know something, they find out. Research is a key component to all writers who hope to gain an audience.

Good research today is easy compared to just ten years ago, where it was not unusual for me to travel 10-12 thousand miles a month just to visit libraries, museums and archival collections on a quest for knowledge.

Today, the wonderful tool of the Internet has really opened doors to writers and there is no excuse for not doing your research work correctly and professionally.

Now, let me explain, I am not talking about just getting on your Internet Browser and surfing for information in a random way. That is what the general public does. The Internet for writers is not a play thing, it is a work tool, and it should be treated like that.

I do have surf time “just for fun,” snooping around and looking for new and interesting sites, I am not talking about that. As a professional using the Internet you will need to set aside time to “surf” and have fun, which is also part of the “wonderful world of the Internet.”

Real research is NOT just putting in a KEYWORD in the SEARCH and searching through all the web sites. That is what a young person might do to find information and often times the information they come up with is incorrect.

Also, something else that is not research, I work with Yahoo “Ask an Expert” program on the Internet and I am always getting writers asking me questions about research they themselves should be doing. They ask questions like, “What was life like in a certain period of time?” So they can write their book. They ask “What type of punishment was used during a certain period of time?” So they can write their book”. “What type of food was eaten or money used”… Give me a break! That is NOT Internet research, asking someone else to do your work for you is not research and it is a lazy habit to get into that will send you in the wrong direction of learning to write and research properly.

I am talking about learning a skill by using your own writing outline and research notes to search out information that will answer questions you might have and that will help you write an accurate, concise article, story or book.

How do you get organized to do this?
1) Make sure while reading or researching locally in museums, libraries or archives that you keep a note pad “just” to jot down questions you might have concerning what you have read or learned. As you put your story outline together, before you begin to write, have you found there are places where you need information to fill out the story? Factual information that can only be found by research, make a note of it. What about when you are in the middle of writing something and you discover that there is some confusion in your information, it doesn’t make sense and you need clarification. Make a note.

2) Set a specific period of time aside everyday, usually first thing in the morning so the questions aren’t hanging over you when you are trying to write, and dig deeply into your notes researching the subject using the Internet.

3) First key in REFERENCE, you will find many sites listing dictionaries, encyclopedias, universities, libraries, museums, and archives… This is more like it. If you are going to do any surfing for research, go where you will find the primary sources (original material) or academic reference material that will help you build your stories on fact not fiction. Remember: nearly all fiction is based on a factual foundation and you must discover that first.

4) Once there, NOW, key in REFERENCE, (and the subject you want to learn more about). From that point the search engine might direct you to a university archives, a museum collection or a library that holds collections that deal specifically with the information you are looking for. If what you are looking for isn’t listed, check your notes again and keep keying in words that mean the same thing as what you are looking for. Sometimes finding what you are searching for is just a matter of using the same academic word that is used in the collections catalogue. If you still can’t find what you are looking for, do you know the name of someone that was involved in the specific incident or information you are looking for, key in their name, did you get the spelling right?

Try the National Archives site if you are looking for diaries or primary source material, they have an incredible collection. Don’t be afraid of international searches, you will be amazed how many places have sites that have a translation code that allows you to find the original documents, research, diary/journals that has been translated into any number of languages making it available worldwide.

These are just a few suggestions to help you on your way to discovering information that will make your writing “alive”. Remember “specific” information is descriptive in your work; it draws readers in, but also remember, when using factual information, don’t stuff it down the reader’s throat, give your characters the information and let them share it as the story unwinds.

If you are using the information for an article, make sure you gather all the “citation” material from the site you are using to cite the source. You will need the Internet address, location (site) name, collection name, primary source listing, collection, location… All of this is important, even for a fictional piece, because “just in case” your editor, teacher, reader, asks you where you found this information you can be professional enough to have it on hand to send to them immediately.

Good luck!