Research & Interviewing Strategies for Writers
What you'll learn
- How to identify valuable research sources
- How to conduct interviews and verify facts
- How to use academic and historical databases to do research
- How to track and store research materials in Evernote.
Requirements
- A research topic you'd like to explore
Description
Whether you're writing fiction, nonfiction, reported journalism, essays, or memoir, you're probably going to have to do some amount of research. As the author of over a dozen books, including four New York Times bestsellers, I've spent more time on research than writing over the years. Now I'm going to share my methods with you.
We’ll look at how to use scientific and academic sources, and how to track down experts in any field.
We’ll look at historical sources, like old newspapers and archives.
We’ll talk about genealogical resources, like Census records and other public documents.
I’ll show you how I conduct interviews, and when I hire expert help.
I’ll tell you how to spot faulty information and keep it out of your work.
I’m also going to teach you to be a skeptic! How do you know what you know? How do you verify your facts?
But before we start gathering all that research, we need a way to keep track of it!
If you’re about to dive into a big research project, whether it’s for a book, a dissertation, or some other kind of writing project, you’ll be so much better off if you set up a good system for organizing it all before you jump in.
This class will also teach you how to keep track of all your research in Evernote. Writers can also use Evernote to brainstorm book ideas, organize a plot, and keep track of ideas for other professional projects, like teaching workshops.
Even if you don’t use Evernote, this section will show you how the digital tools of your choice can help you stay organized.
Whatever kind of writing project you're embarking on, this class will help you up your research game.
Who this course is for:
- Beginning and intermediate writers
Instructor
I'm the New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen books, including The Drunken Botanist, Wicked Plants, and Girl Waits with Gun. I've been a full-time author for twenty years, and in that time my books have sold over a million copies worldwide and been translated into 17 languages.
I love talking to writers and artists, and bonding over the creative process. I started teaching so that I can inspire others to take the leap.
I believe that writing, drawing, and painting are all teachable skills. Forget about talent--it doesn't exist, and you don't need it. With some quality instruction and lots of practice, any of us can make meaningful, honest, and unique art and literature.
When I'm not writing or traveling on book tour, I'm painting and drawing in ink, watercolor, gouache, and oil. Come find me on my website or on Instagram to stay connected.