Updated for its second edition, this text provides specific information on how to do the right research for a range of writing techniques, including: articles, biographies, fiction, novels, non-fiction, textbooks and writing for children. It features case studies and examples to demonstrate where and how to find the material needed and how to use it.

Tag this product

(What's this?)

Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.

Customer Reviews

1 Review

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.0 out of 5 stars (1 customer review)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful "How To" guide to research for writers., 1 Jan 2003

By A Customer

As someone just embarking on a writing course, I found this book useful and informative. It will give confidence to anyone wanting to undertake research for the first time or to find information for a new area of writing.
It is easy to read as each chapter is sub-divided by clear headings and has helpful summary points throughout. Case studies (of a feature writer, an historian and a novelist) bring the process of research, as described in each chapter, alive.
The author shows the reader both how to organise research and where to find information. A range of sources of information are explained including: information available from libraries, original material available at record offices etc, audio and visual material and information from visits, whether to museums or to gain experience for the setting of a piece of writing.
The reader is urged, throughout, to use research to ensure facts are accurate so that subsequent writing is authentic. I found the many references in the chapter on historical sources particularly valuable.
Techniques such as interviewing and using questionnaires, which can be daunting for the beginner writer, are described clearly. The last chapter shows how research contributes to producing a final work. Inclusion of the published version of the article indicates well how its author used her research to structure the final article.
I was, however, rather disappointed in the new chapter on "Utilising the Internet" added for the 2nd edition (2000). Although useful information on promoting work through the Internet was included, I found the author, in general, concentrated too much on basic information about how the Internet works and what equipment is needed. I would have liked to see more detailed information, particularly specific web addresses, for writing circles, newsletters, newsgroups and courses as these are all cited as useful sources for research. More information for writers of non-fiction would also have been useful.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all customer reviews...

.jsOffDisplayBlock { display: block; } .jsOffDisplayInline { display: inline; } .jsOffVisibility { visibility: visible; } .jsOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jsOnDisplayNoneBlock { display: block; } .jsOnDisplayNoneInline { display: inline; } .jsOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jsOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; } .jqOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jqOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jqOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; } .jqOnDisplayNoneBlock { display: block; } .jqOnDisplayNoneInline { display: inline; }