Today we continue the series
in which award-winning nonfiction authors discuss the joys and challenges of
the research process with an essay by Laurie Ann Thompson. Thank you, Laurie.
Many
people assume the best research happens deep in the dusty nonfiction stacks at
the library, on an ancient microfiche reader in an historical archive, or on site
at some far away location. I’ve had great research experiences in each of those
places, but my favorite research memory took place in a typical coffee shop.
I
had been working for five years on the text that would eventually become Emmanuel’s
Dream. I had read and watched everything I could get my hands on about how
he had grown up in Ghana with one leg, then ridden a bicycle almost 400 miles
to advocate for people with disabilities. I had
interviewed native Ghanaians. I had pored over images, travel guides, and
Google Earth. I had studied magazines, online forums, and organizations for
people with disabilities. I knew the facts and had a solid structure, but the
story still wasn’t working. It felt dry and lifeless. It needed something more.
It needed Emmanuel.
For
years I’d been searching for a way to contact him directly, but nothing had
turned up. Finally, my diligence paid off. He reached out to me, through one of
the organizations I had contacted previously, and told me he was coming to the
United States. We were able to schedule an in-person interview! I booked my plane
tickets and nervously began preparing my questions.
I need not have worried. Emmanuel was open, kind, and eager to share his story. We
chatted comfortably over afternoon tea for about three hours. (Thankfully, I
recorded the conversation, so I could focus on the moment and transcribe the
exact dialog later.) We talked about his childhood, his ride, and his hopes for
the future. We talked about our children and the lessons we most wanted them to
learn. We talked about how to stay hopeful and happy, despite life’s
challenges. We talked about why we do what we do and about the importance of
not giving up. By the end of the meeting, I not only had all my questions
answered, but I had also made a friend. Emmanuel and I are still in contact to
this day, all because of that one interview.
When I was a beginning writer, I thought interviewing experts was the scariest part
of the job. I am naturally shy and introverted, plus it’s always been hard for
me to ask questions and admit what I don’t know. I was pleasantly surprised to
learn that most people are thrilled to talk about themselves and their work,
especially when it’s for children. These days I look forward to connecting with
experts every chance I get, and I am always rewarded. I recommend writers of
all genres and ages conduct interviews as part of their research.
You
may be wondering if students can conduct meaningful interviews as part of their
own research projects. I believe the answer is a resounding “Yes!”
Writing a persuasive essay? Students can interview
someone affected by the problem and/or someone responsible for making the
decisions about it.
A personal narrative? Students can interview others to
see if they remember details the student may have forgotten. Or perhaps the
interviewees have a different view of the situation altogether!
A biography or report about an historical event? Students
can try to find someone who lived during the same time period or even a
descendant of someone who did.
Something STEM related? Students can look for an expert
with knowledge in the field of interest or even a loosely related one.
Writers of all ages will find that most people are happy
to share their knowledge and expertise. In the process, they’ll discover new
details they haven’t found through their other research. They may be inspired
to dig even deeper, once they realize how much they don’t know. They’ll
probably feel more personally connected to their work, too. Trust me—an expert’s
passion for their subject area is contagious! These human connections are some
of the best ways to breathe life into nonfiction writing, for both the writer
and the reader.
And who knows? The researcher may end up making a new
friend in the process!
Laurie
Ann Thompson writes to help young people understand the
world, so they can make it a better place. She is co-author of the Two Truths
and a Lie series and author of other award-winning nonfiction books for young
readers, including Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story if Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah,
a picture book biography that received the Schneider Family Book Award and was
an ALA Notable and CCBC Choice.
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4 Responses
Wonderful interview! Thank you, Laurie Ann for sharing your process, a lot of steps that enabled you to write a story that will reach and inspire children and adults of all abilities. Perseverance and hope are such important lessons for kids to learn.
This is such an inspirational and helpful article about doing interviews…thank you!
Thank you, Teresa! Who would have thought interviewing experts would become one of my favorite things about being an author? =D
Thank you! Yes, we all need perseverance and hope, don't we? <3