Finding Information

One of the basic puzzlers for beginning writers seems to be how to find out--anything! They flock to the forums and message boards that I visit and pour out their pleas: I need to know if I can copyright this title. How would a family-owned business be divided among heirs? Can doctors transplant brains? More seasoned writers who try to help them by handing them the answers are not doing these budding novelists and journalists a favor.

Beginners need to learn how to perform research. The questions never end in both fiction and nonfiction writing. Professional journalists have an advantage, because a large part of their training concerns getting answers or finding information. If one of them switches to writing short stories or a novel, he or she already knows how to research any topic. Another source of research training is in your basic education, often in English courses where writing essays or papers is expected. Good graduate programs are all about research, and what you learn applies to discovery for entertainment writing as well a academia. If you have no such background to draw on, try asking for help from the information specialist at your public library. Notice the process and resources used to find the answer to your question. Also ask about the availability of research advice or classes.