I don’t mean to sound arrogant, but as a journalist, I know a thing or two about creative research. Because contrary to popular opinion, journalism is much more than op-eds and product reviews—it’s writing reliable information in an engaging tone that’s backed by trustworthy sources. I’ve been doing this for four years and counting now, but I’ve found myself in a creative research class this semester. My task? Using the creative research process to write a fictional horror novel. So today, I’m sharing the five must-know tips for creative research aspiring writers of any kind should know. Keep scrolling to learn more.
5 Must-Know Tips for Creative Research:
1. Determine what you want to research
Determining what you want to research is the first step in the creative research process. While this might sound like an easy task, narrowing down your options and honing in on one subject is sometimes easier said than done. However, instead of letting your choices overwhelm you, writer Philip Gerard suggests embracing them. “At the outset of a project, it’s okay, even desirable, to cast a broad net,” he writes in The Art of Creative Research: A Field Guide for Writers.
So, start by writing out a list about the things you’re passionate about. There are no wrong answers here, so even something innocuous like a love for reality TV should go on your list. Writing this out will show if you have overlapping interests that could work together for your project. For example, a love for reality TV and beaches could be combined to create the plot and setting of a thriller novel or short story.
From here, Gerard recommends exploring various subjects. This will let you immerse yourself in them so you can figure out whether you’d like to research them more. Once you know what that is, you can then formulate a research plan and dive into the creative research process.
2. Find your sources
Finding sources to ground your work is non-negotiable in nonfiction writing, and fiction writing is no different. However, unlike academic writing, the parameters are much wider. Not only does this open up the scope of sources you can use, but also allows you to really get creative and have fun. Here are some places to look to help you get started:
Interviews and audio
Similar to journalism, interviews provide expert insight into whatever you’re researching. This, in turn, makes the work authentic and credible. If you have expert interviews you can pull from, you’re already off to a great start. But if you don’t, try contacting experts in the field and see if they’d be willing to chat. Likewise, you can also turn to audio formats, like podcasts, YouTube, or even conversations for sources as well.
Online media outlets and databases
The world is on the web, and there’s a plethora of information out there. Of course, the sites you gravitate toward will depend on what you’re researching, so if you’re unsure of where to start, try accessing information through your institution’s database. This will give you a good starting point. JSTOR is a fantastic academic site with tons of articles that can serve as primary resources. Likewise, the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) is great for medical and scientific research. Also, media outlets like The Atlantic can also be helpful.
Photographs, archives, and on-site locations
Seeing is believing, and photographs, historical archives and visits to on-site locations are some of the best ways to immerse yourself in what you’re researching. For example, visiting a museum, looking at and holding a specific artifact, or taking a trip to where your story’s set would work here.
3. Determine the appropriateness and credibility of your sources
Although creative research grants you more leeway with sources, they should still be appropriate and credible to and for your project. Ultimately, you’ll have the final say in this since this is subjective, but start by looking at the transparency of your source. This is especially important for information found on the web. Do they have a specific agenda? Do their credentials back up their claims?
As a journalist, I’ve found fact-checking interviews to be incredibly helpful; this is something I do with all my writing because it further confirms the information I already have. Plus, it gives me an additional point of view to work with, which makes it easier to write objectively. Likewise, Gerard also recommends looking at the suffixes of websites. Case in point? The URL of archival and scholarly sites will typically end in .org, while academic ones will usually end in .edu.
4. Incorporate your sources into your writing
If you’ve ever picked up a fiction book, you’ve likely noticed that there are no footnotes or quoted sources throughout, and there is no bibliography at the end, either. Instead, fiction writers will use the acknowledgements section at the beginning or end of the book to mention and thank the sources they relied on for research. Authors do this because their research serves as inspiration to draw from—their work doesn’t necessarily rely on it the same way it would in an academic paper.
5. Look for additional support
They say it takes a village to bring a story to life, and as a writer, I can confirm that that is indeed true. On top of your sources, look for additional support to aid your research and writing. The Art of Creative Research: A Field Guide for Writers by Philip Gerard (which I mentioned at the beginning) is a fantastic resource for beginners; it’s essentially a step-by-step guide on how to conduct creative research, along with the tools needed to carry it out. Similarly, Penguin has a thorough resource list of various podcasts, books, journals, and articles to help writers on their journey. And the American Writer’s Museum also offers similar tools for writings of all levels.
