OK. We've talked about how to take notes and how to track our sources, either manually or using a reference manager. Today I'm going to discuss another fabulous app for writers: Scrivener. The combination of Endnote (reference manager) and Scrivener ... Read More  

Last time, we talked about note-taking skills, and why it's important for writers to know where every piece of their information originally came from. Today, I'm going to introduce a tool that makes this process a lot easier: the ... Read More  

So far, our discussions of research have focused on how to find interesting, relevant information for our writing projects. Now we're going to look at a skill that's equally important, but less-commonly discussed: how to manage and organize all ... Read More  

Sooner or later, every writer is going to have to interview an expert. Students might be required to do so for an assignment; for creative writers, interviews are sources of stories, anecdotes, quotes, and details that can't be gleaned ... Read More  

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 ... Read More  

Last time we compared primary and secondary sources and talked about how to use them when researching writing assignments or creative projects. Today, we're getting a bit more practical, with some tips for finding and accessing peer-reviewed journal articles, ... Read More  

We are going to be devoting many Teach Write columns to the intricacies of research for student and professional writers. Today, we are starting with the fundamentals: the difference between primary and secondary sources. Students need to understand this ... Read More