Before You Write, You Research

A Writer's Guide to Practical and Creative Research Methods

Research is how writers gather the information they need before they begin drafting. It helps you build confidence in your details, stay accurate, and shape your ideas into something clear and usable.

I like to break my project sessions into segments. Brainstorming usually comes first, then I move into research, planning, outlining, and finally writing. That order works well for me because brainstorming helps me create a list of questions before I start searching for answers.

In this blog, I’m going to walk you through the methods I use and why research is such an important part of the writing process.

START WITH BRAINSTORMING

Before I research anything, I usually ask myself one simple question: what is this project about?

For me, brainstorming usually leads to a list of questions that need answers. I like to spend at least 25 minutes brainstorming at the start of my day, although it often takes longer. I set a timer for 25 minutes, so I don’t spend too much time stuck in one stage.

When I’m brainstorming, I write my questions directly into my draft or add comments in Word. Either method works, but consistency helps. Once you have a list of questions, you have a direction for your research instead of searching aimlessly.

PRACTICAL RESEARCH

Query Creation

Once you know what you need to find, the next step is turning those questions into search terms.

This is where query creation comes in. A query is simply the set of words you type into a search engine or database. The better your query is, the faster you can get to useful information. Instead of typing a full sentence, try to pull out the main ideas, names, places, or events.

For example, if you are researching the history of Iowa, you might start with simple searches like:

• Iowa history

• Iowa settlement history

• Iowa state industries

• Iowa daily life history

If a search feels too broad, narrow it by adding a more specific term. If it feels too narrow, simplify it.

Search Terms and Promising Sources

Search terms matter because different sources use different language. A writer may search for “local food traditions,” while another source might use “regional cuisine” or “culinary customs.” That is why it helps to test more than one phrase.

When I research, I usually look for search terms that lead me to promising sources. Those are sources that seem useful, trustworthy, and directly related to the topic. A good first search can point you toward books, articles, interviews, museum sites, blogs, forums, or educational pages that give you a better sense of where to go next.

You do not always have to start with the most sophisticated source. Sometimes the best approach is to use general searches first, then follow the leads that seem worth exploring.

Synonyms and Antonyms

Using synonyms can help you find more results. If one search term does not bring up enough information, try another word with the same general meaning.

For example:

• writer / author

• history / background

• illness / disease

• setting / location

Antonyms can also help in a different way. They are useful when you want to exclude the wrong kind of result. For example, if you are researching a historical topic and keep getting modern or unrelated pages, you can filter those out with a minus sign or a negative term.

Thinking in related words helps you search more like a real researcher and less like someone typing one phrase and hoping for the best.

Boolean Operators

The Boolean method was developed from the work of English mathematician George Boole. In research, it helps you build stronger search queries by combining or excluding terms.

The three most common Boolean operators are:

• AND: narrows your search by making both terms necessary.

• OR: broadens your search by allowing either term.

• NOT: removes a term from your results.

Here is a simple way to think about them:

• AND is useful when you want results that include both ideas.

• OR is useful when you want to search for more than one possible term.

• NOT is useful when you want to leave out information that does not fit.

A few tips make Boolean searching even better:

• Capitalize your operators.

• Use quotation marks for exact phrases.

• Combine operators when needed.

• Start broad, then narrow your search.

• Do not overuse NOT, or you may exclude helpful results.

For example, if you are researching Iowa history, you might search:

“Iowa history” AND settlement NOT Ohio

That kind of search can help you stay focused while still giving you room to explore.

Common Research Methods

There is no single right way to research. Most writers use a mix of methods depending on the topic and the project.

Some common research methods include:

• Search engines

• Books and libraries

• Academic databases

• Interviews with experts or local people

• Blogs, forums, Reddit, and YouTube for firsthand opinions or lived experience

• Fact-checking across multiple sources

I like to think of research as a layered process. One source gives you a lead, another source confirms it, and a third source helps you understand it more fully. That process saves time later because it gives you a stronger foundation before you begin drafting.

Prioritize Your Research

Not every question needs to be answered right away. Some details are essential, while others are just nice to know.

One simple way to organize your research is by color-coding your questions:

• Green: need to know.

• Yellow: may be helpful.

• Red: probably not necessary right now.

This keeps you from spending too much time on details that will not matter much to your final piece. It also helps you focus on the parts of the project that matter most.

Use Reliable Resources

Good research depends on trustworthy sources. That means using experts, historians, scientists, medical professionals, and other knowledgeable people when the topic calls for it.

It also means paying attention to your own experience. Sometimes firsthand experience is one of the most useful sources you have, especially in memoir, personal essays, and reflective writing.

The goal is not just to gather information. The goal is to gather the right information.

Evaluating Your Sources

Not everything you find online is worth using. Before you rely on a source, ask yourself:

• Who created it?

• Is it biased?

• Can you trust it?

These questions can help you decide whether a source is useful or whether it needs more checking. A source may still be helpful even if it is not perfect, but you should always understand where it came from and why it exists.

If you are unsure, compare it with other sources before you use it in your writing.

Citing Your Sources

Once you have gathered your research, do not forget to cite it. Citing your sources gives credit to the original authors and protects you as a writer.

Here are a few common styles:

• APA (American Psychological Association): often used in social sciences, education, and psychology.

• MLA (Modern Language Association): often used in humanities, literature, and language arts.

• Chicago Style: often used in history, arts, and some social sciences.

If you need help formatting citations, Purdue OWL is one of the most trusted free resources available for writers.

CREATIVE RESEARCH

If traditional research feels boring, creative research is where things get interesting. These are the methods I personally prefer, and they can make the research process feel less like a requirement and more like part of the story itself.

Travel

One of the best ways to research a setting is to visit it.

You can travel by the most accessible method available, or, if your project calls for it, experience transportation connected to the setting or time period. You might also stay somewhere that fits the feel of your story, such as a historic inn, bed and breakfast, farmhouse rental, rustic cabin, or old manor home.

While you are there, talk to local people. Ask questions about the area, the history, family traditions, or daily life. Treat it like an interview.

You can also explore local food, clothing, speech patterns, museums, historical sites, and community events. These details can bring a setting to life in ways that online research sometimes cannot.

Documentaries and Docuseries

Watching documentaries or docuseries can help you understand a topic visually. They give you a sense of atmosphere and movement that reading alone does not always provide.

Still, not everything shown on screen is accurate. If something seems off, fact-check it before you use it.

The Library

Libraries are an underrated research tool. They offer access to books, history sources, and reference materials that can help you deepen your understanding of a topic.

If you are writing historical or nonfiction work, a library can be especially useful because it gives you access to reliable, well-organized information.

AI as a Research Tool

I also use Perplexity as a research tool. It can help gather sources, organize ideas, and point me toward topics I want to explore further.

For me, the biggest advantage is that it saves time by bringing related information together in one place instead of making me search for each question separately.

To avoid getting overwhelmed, I try to ask only one to three related questions at a time. That makes the research process easier to manage and easier to turn into useful notes.

Use Humans

Some of the best research comes from real people. Locals, historians, scientists, and medical experts can give you information that no book or website can.

When I reach out to someone, I treat it like an interview. I ask clear questions, stay respectful of their time, and use what they share responsibly. This can be one of the most helpful parts of research, especially when you want detail, perspective, or lived experience.

WRAPPING IT UP

Research is one of the most useful parts of the writing process, and there is no one right way to do it. What matters most is knowing what you need, finding reliable sources, and being willing to look beyond the first search result.

In this blog, we covered how brainstorming leads into research, how to create better queries, how to use synonyms and Boolean operators, how to evaluate sources, and how to use creative research methods to make the process more engaging.

The more you understand your subject, the smoother your writing process will be. Good research does not just give you facts. It gives you confidence.

If you are ready to put all of this into practice, I have put together a free Research Companion Guide with everything you need — a focus session table, a research questions list, a question-planning worksheet, a creative research guide, and an outreach template for connecting with real people. It is all in one place and ready for you whenever you are.

Happy Researching!

RESOURCES

Free Download

• Research Companion Guide: Everything from this blog in one place. Includes a Focus Session Table, Research Questions List, Question-Planning Worksheet, Research Prompt Template, Expanded Creative Research Ideas, and a Use Humans Outreach Template. Download it free here.

Referenced in This Blog

• Perplexity: The AI research tool referenced in the Creative Research section. Great for gathering and organizing sources quickly. perplexity.ai

• Purdue OWL: One of the most trusted free resources for citation formatting. Covers APA, MLA, Chicago, and more. owl.purdue.edu

• Boolean Operators (NC State University Libraries): A clear and easy video introduction to Boolean searching. Watch it here.

7 Tips for Using Hands-On Research to Enrich Your Writing: A Writer's Digest article that supports the Creative Research section of this blog. Read it here.