Research for Writers: How to Find Experts

Welcome to Teach Write! This column draws on my 20 years’ experience teaching writing to kids, university students, and adult learners. It includes ideas and exercises that teachers and students can use in the classroom, and creative writers can use to level up their process.

Today we’re continuing our discussion of research, with a focus on a special type of primary source – the expert. First, what do I mean when I say “expert”? As a former scientist and writer of sciencey books, I tend to define “expert” as “scientist.” And that’s definitely one type, but it’s certainly not the only type.

An expert is anyone that’s got first-hand, factual knowledge or experience related to your topic. In other words, the topic you’re writing about will determine who you’re looking for in an expert and how to go about finding that person.

Note that today’s post is going to focus on experts who have special knowledge derived from their professions. The sensitivity or authenticity readers a fiction writer might need to consult are a totally different kind of expert – people whose expertise comes from the lived experience of their particular identity. Identity absolutely intersects with profession – consider for example, how the profession of “scientist” is experienced differently by a black woman compared to a white man. But for today’s purposes, we’re going to focus on how to find people whose factual knowledge is relevant to your writing, rather than people who are commenting from a place of personal experience.

Where do you find those kinds of experts?

Friends, Family, and Other Folks You Know

If you consider the circle of people you actually know in real life, you’ll probably realize just how many of them are experts in their own fields. Your cousin the lawyer, your favourite auto mechanic, and your friend who’s obsessed with model trains are all gold mines of untapped information. And the best part? You probably already know how to get in touch with these people.