As a creative nonfiction writer, you balance the tightrope between telling a story and revealing facts. The goal is to weave real-world details into compelling narratives without getting tangled in inaccuracies. At first glance, research may seem like a mountain of facts to climb—every detail checked, every source verified. In time, though, I realized that research isn't just about dry facts. It's about digging into the truth of the story and creating something that resonates with readers. Here are a few research tips that have helped me gather accurate details for creative nonfiction.

1. Start with the Big Picture

Before you start looking up niche facts, take a moment to get your head around the overarching theme of your project. Whether it be about history, memoir, or event, the larger context in which this fits will direct you where to research. Sometimes we jump into Google and start swimming in some sea of random facts that have nothing to do with the narrative. So, ask yourself: What's the big story here? Once you have a clear understanding of your subject, break it down into smaller chunks. This will help narrow your search while you try to cover everything important that applies to your story. I once had a friend, Sarah, who read days upon days about ancient Egypt but realized she'd skipped over some of the key points of the cultural implications. It wasn't until she started with the overall timeline and worked her way down that she got what mattered.

2. Tap into Primary Sources

In creative nonfiction, the primary sources often represent the goldmine. Whether in the form of letters, diaries, or interviews, first-hand accounts provide raw, unfiltered glimpses of what one is researching. My memoir-in-progress demands I revisit my childhood, interviewing my parents and old family friends. It has brought much-needed richness and authenticity in ways that no amount of reading or research might have. Primary sources, for more historical subjects, may include letters, speeches, or photographs from the period you are writing about. Don't forget to check out archives, museums, and online databases that can offer these types of materials. The authenticity of such sources will bring your narrative to life.

3. Go Beyond the Web—Find Experts

While it's extremely convenient, the web can be rife with misinformation, too. To avoid falling for this trap, seek out specialists in your field of study. This may mean going through academics, professionals, or people who have lived through some experiences you are writing about. A few years ago, I was working on an article about the psychological effects of long-term isolation. I scoured the internet for hours but struggled to find accurate data. I finally contacted a psychologist who had done extensive research on this very subject. The insights she provided not only elevated my work but also gave me access to resources I couldn't find online. If you don't know where to find experts, universities and professional associations often have resources or directories for that. Don't be afraid to send a nice email or call. Most experts love to talk about their area of knowledge and will be very happy to lend their insight.

4. Fact-check Like a Detective

Once you've gathered your research, it's time to go into detective mode. Fact-checking is a big part of writing creative nonfiction. I once worked on a project in which I included what seemed like an innocuous detail about a specific street in Paris—only to later find out I had the wrong district. I was so out of my league on such an obvious mistake, but it did reinforce the idea that everything from dates to locations needs to be double-checked. Verify your facts using a variety of sources, including several if you are at all unsure. Websites that are in service from ".edu" or ".gov"; and don't forget books from an authoritative publisher. Documenting the references and notes as one takes them will be so much easier than trying to update and fill in after that.

5. Embrace the Power of Observation

Sometimes the best research is that which you can do yourself. This is especially true for memoirs or personal essays, where you need to include sensory details from memory or personal observation. Take a walk through the locations you are writing about. Observe the people, sounds, smells, and sights around you. I have spent many an afternoon writing in a café near campus from my college days, and the small things that I noticed, such as the clinking of coffee cups and the sun filtering in through the windows, would help bring scenes I was writing to life. The information can lend immediacy and authenticity to a creative nonfiction work. Remain cognizant of what you sense through the world around you and make notes of everything that hits you. These sensory details can add to your narrative in ways that dry facts simply cannot.

6. Stay Flexible and Open to New Information

A tip by a friend, Jamie, who has written nonfiction for many years, is not to be afraid to let your research go where it will naturally take you. Sometimes the more you learn, the more connections or insight that you gain can lead to altering the direction of the work. This isn't how you do research in creative nonfiction—fit the facts into a predetermined story. Research allows the truth to surface organically, often in ways one didn't conceive. One of my own projects went off on a tangent when I found a journal entry that shifted the theme I was working with entirely. I had to reshape the story, but the new direction felt more true to the subject, and ultimately, more compelling.

The delicate balance of research, creativity, and intuition in which gathering details for creative nonfiction is an art. Be it piecing together historical facts or recounting personal memories, the key is staying true to your subject while keeping your storytelling engaging. Go ahead, get lost in the details, ask the tough questions, and don't be afraid to let your research shape the narrative. After all, the truth, more often than not, is stranger and far more interesting than anything we could have thought up. Now, grab that notebook, start digging, and let the story unfold!