When people think research the image that often comes to mind is sitting in libraries with a mountain of books to wade through. But research can come in many different forms. For the writer this can include interviewing, online via the internet, visiting places, watching films and documentaries, looking at photographs, memorabilia and personal records.
Let's start with the most obvious form of research you'll find at a library:
Researching with Books
The memoir writer has an wide array of books available: reference books, autobiographies, even fictional books can be useful to provide facts or even to trigger memories.
Libraries and bookshops are the obvious source of books, and with online bookstores such as Amazon and BOL, it is an easy task to search through catalogs to find the publication you're after.
If you want to borrow many of the books for your research your local library is a good starting point. If they don't have the book you're after check with the librarian; they may be able to borrow it from another library for you.
If you are trying to trace a book but don't know the exact title or author, try: the British Library Public Catalogue (BLPC) at www.bl.uk/catalogues.
What if the book you are after is out of print? Befriend a helpful bookseller; many will have access to a wider community and be able to search other sources for the book. Antiquarian and secondhand booksellers may be an option if you have the time to search. If you don't have the time, try an individual bookfinding specialist such as The International Booksearch Service (www.scfordham.com).
Other Publications
Newspapers and Periodicals: Willing's Press Guide is a quick reference guide to modern newspapers and periodicals internationally. (www.willingspressguide.com). Benn's Media is worldwide and covers newspapers, periodicals, house journals and other information on embassies, high commissions and broadcasting.
Press cuttings: The Press Association News Library (www.palibrary.pa.press.net) has a collection of 14 million cuttions (from 1928 onwards) and 5 million photos.
Articles, essays and Quotations: The Essay and General Literature Index, covers work published since 1900, and is a good starting point if searching for articles and reviews.
Other Sources of Writer's Research You Might Want to Consider:
Maps: Very helpful in making sure you've got your facts correct about locations, distances and place names.
Music: Music is a wonderful trigger for memories. Try playing the music that was popular during the period you are writing about.
Sports and other events: You might need to research past events. Sporting clubs and organisations may be able to provide you with details to enhance your writing.
Street and Telephone Directories: It's sometimes hard to remind details such as people's name and street names.
Public Records: For the memoir writer public records can be very important for checking dates and researching family history.
Films, Broadcast and televised material: Television can past broadcasts are a great window to the past and can provide a lot of social history information.
Research can be an enjoyable aspect to your writing. It can help trigger your memories and provide clarify around some of the details that may be hazy. There is a wide range of sources available, so don't just limit yourself to books. Talk to people, watch films if appropriate, and try immersing yourself in your topic. Take the time to prepare and learn as much as you can about your topic.
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