Creative Nonfiction: Research Tips

In the field of Creative Nonfiction, research can involve both craft and criticism. You may be looking for materials on writing techniques, the writing process, literary analysis, writing critiques, and more. But Creative Nonfiction is at its heart an interdisciplinary subject (it involves multiple subjects), which means that you may be researching outside of the field of Creative Nonfiction as well. In those cases, you can search our research guides for more detailed information on how best to research your topic. 

Believe it or not, the research process is a lot like the creative process. In the same way we write, revise, and rewrite our creative works, we can explore, modify, and re-explore our research ideas. Take your time as you research. Follow what interests and surprises you. Be open to new ideas. Allow yourself to make mistakes--to be messy. Unleash those creative juices! 

It's important to think critically about our citation choices. Who are we citing? Are all of our sources from people with similar identities and perspectives? Whose knowledge are we passing down and whose knowledge are we leaving behind? Learn more about these concepts in videos from the USU Library and the University of Arizona Libraries.

Need a little extra help with your studies? Pima Community College offers free tutoring at all its Learning/Tutoring Centers.