By: Marilyn L. Davis

 

Research and Blogs: Even Kids Know Google

 

“Research is something that everyone can do, and everyone ought to do. It is simply collecting information and thinking systematically about it. The word ‘research’ carries overtones of abstruse statistics, complex methods, white coats, and computers. Some social research is highly specialized, but most are not; much of the best research is logically very straightforward. . .” Raewyn Connell 

 Today we must spend time researching before we write. Even my thirteen-year-old grandson is required to research his papers, and yes, Google is his first go-to, but shouldn’t we be looking for more information than the first offering as an adult writer?

There is a wealth of quality information available through many sources. Our job as a writer is to take the time to find it. Often, that means going beyond the first listing on Google. Nor is Wikipedia the authority on subjects.  

What Readers Want from the Writer’s Research

 

Although the Internet provides an international platform to write about anything, readers expect compelling content, images that reinforce the words, and quality information. 

It is not enough to have an opinion or even some knowledge about the subject as the writer. We have to give readers better-developed information in the post, or readers will leave. 

Remember what research entails:

•     Systematic investigation to establish facts
•     Specialized Inquiry about the subject
•     Exploration of the various aspects of the topic, issue, or problem

Typically, a writer will approach a topic that they are interested in and may have a working knowledge of the subject. However, readers are more sophisticated, educated, and informed today, and as such, know a cut and paste, a rehash of last week’s news, or if the post is redundant and cliché ridden. 

Therefore, we should make every effort to give our readers quality, researched information and not rely on just personal knowledge of the subject. 

 

Research for an Unfamiliar Topic

 

For those of us who have done freelance writing, we get hired to write about subjects where we have little knowledge, and that’s where quality research makes the difference.

We typically got those jobs because someone liked our writing style or noted the care and attention that we put into our research. Style of writing is individual and isn’t easily defined, and research can be as varied as our style and go beyond the usual fare. 

 

Find the Unique Information Through Research

 

 

So, where can we find unique information to keep readers interested? All I have to do is remember my grandson’s delight when we did his first search five or six years ago. Wide-eyed, he told me, “Nana, there’s a whole lot about dinosaurs on the Internet.” Yes, there is. 

And we looked, and we looked, and we looked at all the different sites. 

 

Look at your Topic from Multiple Perspectives

 

The Internet has at least 4.51 billion pages, according to worldwidewebsize.com, so there is a wealth of information available on any topic. But the key to finding usable and interesting information is to know how to research and understand the two distinct perspectives – for the writer and the reader.

____

Research for Writers

 

1. Relevant search results that add value to the post
2. Organized searches
3. Time to explore additional facts 
4. Options, like advanced searches, to broaden the article or add depth

___

Research for Readers

 

1. Value-added information
2. Multiple examples
3. Various illustrations of the points of the post

___

Satisfying Research for the Reader and Writer

 

When I research, I try to process a search from the standpoint of the writer and the reader by asking questions geared to each perspective. 

I initially ask, “How would a reader search for this information”? 

When I get the information, I can then creatively write about it. However, refining a search from a writer’s perspective means that my searches are broader or more specialized. 

Trying to incorporate additional information means that I have to understand that Google does not index every page.  

As such, I have to find other sources when I research. Each of the following has provided me with interesting and decidedly different perspectives on a subject, which means I have distinctive posts.   

• Dogpile.com
• bing
• duckduckgo.com
• ccsearch.com
• webcrawler.com
• lycos.com
• googlescholar.com
• https://archive.org/ (the Internet Archives for older web pages and articles)
• Any of your social media sites to discover other information

I realize that people do not want the top 1,000 search engines, however, knowing there is information out there that Google does not index means resources that will add unique information for the reader. Click To Tweet

 

Research Visuals that Reinforce the Message

 

 

Be sure to include images that reinforce the message of the post without being boring. The computer, tablet, coffee cup, pen, and the paper image won’t do, even when it’s about writing; readers are more sophisticated today and want something interesting, and the clip-art from years ago won’t do, either.  

You might add charts, tables, SmartArt, or Infograms, ones that enhance your piece but do not overpower the information. When you use a creative combination of words, style, tone, and images, you create your individualized approach to any post. All of these become your brand. 

 

So Much Info – So Little Time – Make It Count

 

The next time you choose a topic, take the time to research, find unique and different information for the readers. 

According to Worldometers, there were 3,315,00+ blogs and counting the day I wrote this. Granted, I do not have information on which of these is about researching; however, I can assume that some interesting blogs and posts might attract readers specific to research. Therefore, I’ll strive to create better creative nonfiction posts, which will attract readers who might turn into loyal followers and subscribers. 

 Aldous Huxley, a leading essayist, gives guidance on the subject. He notes, “The essay is a literary device for saying almost everything about almost anything,” and adds, “By tradition, almost by definition, the essay is a short piece.” Regardless that many sites accept short pieces or that most blog posts are under 2,000 words, we can still give our readers quality research and add interest and value to the post with short, well-researched pieces.

 

Keep Track of Your Research Sites

 

When I find interesting information, sites, or research indexes, I added it to my computer’s research website file. Keeping track of your best research sites means that you have a handy list of reliable resources for the next post if you are niche writing.

And always remember the words of that eight-year-old research authority: “There’s a lot out there,” and have fun researching. 

See if you don’t get more information into your next post with this approach. 

 

 

 

Bio: Marilyn L. Davis

 

As the Editor-in-Chief at Two Drops of Ink, Marilyn wants to encourage other writers to share their creativity and talents. She believes in the power of words. She also knows that how something is said is as important as what is said. 

Her focus at Two Drops of Ink is to provide readers with posts that entertain, educate, and enchant them with memoir, fiction, writing advice, punctuation problems, grammar shorts, and poetry.

Editing, revising, finding the bones, and taking the time to develop posts with writers is something she enjoys because she understands that Two Drops of Ink is a collaborative effort, and that takes teamwork.

Writing Background

A recovery curriculum author with 32 years of abstinence-based recovery, she advocates for and writes to the addicted population. Her recovery curriculum, Therapeutic Integrated Educational Recovery System (TIERS), offers time-tested exercises for healing.  From Addict 2 Advocate, her other blog explores addiction, recovery, making positive changes, and codependency.

Books

She is  the author of Finding North: A Journey from Addict to Advocate and Memories into Memoir: The Mindsets and Mechanics Workbook, available at Amazon, Books A Million, Indie Books, and Barnes and Noble. 

 

Two Drops of Ink: The Literary Home for Collaborative Writing

 

What are you researching? What interests you? Two Drops of Ink is a literary blog that is accepting submissions. Entertain, educate, and enchant us with a guest submission.