Okay, so you’ve said yes to a project which demands background knowledge that you do not have. You sit at your desk and you sweat, just a bit. You say to yourself, “Right, I’m reasonably intelligent, mature, responsible and a professional; I can do this….I think.”
As a College Lecturer, Writer, and Multimedia Designer, research is at the very core of all I do. When researching, in a sense it makes no difference what subject or topic, technical or otherwise, that I need to learn about because I follow a few simple rules.
- Internet – dare I say it! But wait, humor me here because like it or not, the information highway has become a phenomenally indispensable tool to writers and researchers however, it continues to have limitations. I use it to view relative news, historical and current events, and for helping me to start my bullet point list of topics or issues, making notes along the way about anything I want to explore in depth.
- Reference my own library, both the bookshelf and digital archives – Researching a topic I know nothing or little of, chances are pretty good that I do not have much in my own collection to reference, but I always do a quick check, especially of my digital library, as for some odd reason, I know almost by heart everything on my bookshelf, but my digital archives are a different animal. I suppose it is the tangible versus intangible equation.
- Libraries – Lovely places to go and seek the unknown. Libraries can provide more historical and modern information than you can shake a stick at. Many are computerized, have microfiche files, and above all, Librarians who are truly interested in their work and will seek publications for you with a smile. A good Librarian loves a hungry mind.
- Location, Location, Location – Find at least 1, even 2 sites that can be visited to view or experience real world examples, or to find inspiration about your subject. I find this step invaluable to my research as not only does it get me away from the books, but I almost always learn something unexpected that you don’t get from sitting in an office or a library. Meaningful discoveries can also come in the form of an idea or revelation while having that cappuccino and staring out the window afterwards…
- Blogs and Technical Help Websites – Coming full circle back to the Internet, blog & technical chat-type rooms on the World Wide Web always make me think of the coffee houses of the 17th century where men (sorry ladies) gathered to discuss business and political matters. You can go to these cyber cafes, blog and technical help sites, and talk with others who are there because they have a vested interest in your particular subject, sharing their knowledge with all who are equally interested. There is an extremely good reason why this entry is last on my list of research activities though, as it is especially helpful to visit internet chat, blog, and technical help sites after you’ve gained some knowledge of your subject because it is then that you can engage in meaningful conversations that actually expand your knowledge.
I happen to love doing research. Writers and researchers are birds of a feather. We are adventurers and explorers not at all unlike the pioneers of the past and present who expand our knowledge of all subjects and disciplines. Remember that courage usually comes after the deed, not before! When you begin to grasp your subject, your confidence is renewed and you wonder why you ever doubted yourself in the first place. So the next time you feel daunted by researching the unknown, it may help to remember that you are not alone, that you are one amongst many others exploring and researching it too, even if for the first time.
It is so essential to do thorough research before anything else, even attempting writing. To write well you need to have an understanding of what your are writing about other wise how can you possibly offer anything of value for the reader?