Use the Tools of Journalism to Sharpen Your Research Skills

I started college in an art conservatory, but after a string of straight Cs, quickly learned that life wasn't for me.

- BY ROB HART

In search of a new calling, I decided I wanted to write novels. But instead of creative writing, I switched my major to journalism.

Because, I figured, that’s where the real money was. (If you find it hard to trust anything I say at this point, I wouldn't blame you.)

I got my degree, and after college got a job at a local paper, chasing calls on the cop scanner. I didn't make much money—but it taught me a number of things suited for a career writing novels: how to meet a deadline, how to work quickly, how to collaborate, how to navigate a crime scene, how to be less precious about what’s on the page.

But one of the most vital lessons was how to research. A good story is underpinned by lived-in, lush detail, and information that is at least believable, even when it’s not entirely accurate. Finding that information isn’t always as simple as firing up Wikipedia.

The Internet Is Your Friend ... Sort of

The internet is simultaneously a library and a yard sale. We have access to more information than anyone in human history. Problem is, a lot of that information is junk. So, how do you tell the difference?

Always consider your source. Obviously, faced with a no-name blog or The New York Times, you're going with The New York Times. But even venerable periodicals have been known to flub a fact on occasion, so it’s always good to check against multiple sources.

Online research is also more than the Google search bar. There's Google Images and Maps—the latter of which is invaluable if you're writing about an unfamiliar area. Google Scholar will focus your search on research papers.

And while most news archives are digitized, remember the original Google: your local library. Local museums are good, too—especially if you're looking for experts in a place or time period.

One thing I will not do is use artificial intelligence tools ... ever.