Whether you are writing nonfiction or a novel, research is almost always part of the process (or should be!). You might be a mystery novelist who writes your first draft, then turns to research to make your characters, settings, and topics more realistic and lively, adding the details and rewriting. Or perhaps you write historical novels, and do a tremendous amount of research into a particular period and location before you begin writing. Maybe you are writing a nonfiction book on a particular topic—you probably already have some expertise or experience—and you research to help you with details, structure, and content.
Some of us love the research portion. Some hate it. But it is a necessary part of being a writer. Barbara O’Neal is a novelist and writer of nonfiction who enjoys research. In a recent post on Writer UnBoxed, she discusses systems of research, book collections, Wikipedia (beware!), and Scrivener. Along the way, she discusses her use of the above, along w with some anecdotes, advice, and experience.
The article is worth a read for both nonfiction and fiction writers. It might even get you excited about research.
Read the article >
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