All writers conduct research. For some this means poring over records
and combing, archives but for many creative writers research happens in
the everyday world-when they scribble an observation on the subway, when
they travel to get the feel for a city, or when they strike up a
conversation with an interesting stranger.
The Art of Creative Research helps writers take this natural
inclination to explore and observe and turn it into a workable-and
enjoyable-research plan. It shows that research shouldn't be seen as a
dry, plodding aspect of writing. Instead, it's an art that all writers
can master, one that unearths surprises and fuels imagination. This
lends authenticity to fiction and poetry as well as nonfiction.
Philip Gerard distills the process into fundamental questions: How do
you conduct research? And what can you do with the information you
gather? He covers both in-person research and work in archives and
illustrates how the different types of research can be incorporated into
stories, poems, and essays using examples from a wide range of writers
in addition to those from his own projects. Throughout, Gerard brings
knowledge from his seasoned background into play, drawing on his
experiences as a reporter and a writer of both fiction and nonfiction.
His enthusiasm for adventure is infectious and will inspire writers to
step away from the keyboard and into the world.
"Research can take you to that golden intersection where the personal
meets the public, the private crosses the universal, where the best
literature lives," Gerard writes. With his masterly guidance, anyone can
become an expert in artful investigation.
