Three of the best places to research a piece of writing are forums, where real people share real experience; YouTube, where you can watch how something is done; and the library, where a librarian can help you find in-depth material.
Research is an essential part of writing. When you write fiction, good research gives you the details that make your story believable. When you are writing nonfiction, in-depth research is even more important: you have to get your facts straight.
So where do you go to do your research? The internet is the obvious answer, but which part of the internet?
Forums
Let's say a client has a newfound love for fig trees and asks you for a 5,000-word article about planting fig trees and taking care of them. The problem is that you have the exact opposite of a green thumb. Even the plastic plants you bought the other day seem to be wilting.
Luckily, you don't need a green thumb to write a good article about fig trees. There are forums for that.
A forum is a gold mine of useful information. On a forum, people ask questions about real problems they have. Better still, the members who answer often have different views and experiences, which lets you write about the same problem from several perspectives.
Search a gardening forum for tips on growing fig trees and use them as the basis for your article. Another advantage of forums is that the solutions are practical: the people who ask and answer the questions are real people like you. Not every answer is right, though, so check important facts against a reliable source.
YouTube
When words aren't enough to help you understand something unfamiliar, a video often is.
Let's say that after combing through the forums you still don't quite understand how to plant and care for fig trees. Then your next stop should be YouTube. You can watch complete growing guides, learn how to plant figs in pots, and pick up many little tips on how to make the trees thrive.
The comments under the videos are a great addition to the videos themselves. You can find many good questions and answers there, which can add more depth to your writing.
The library
Yes, the good old library. If it has been ages since you last went to one, pay your local library a visit soon.
Despite the vast amount of information online, libraries still have a thing or two to offer. They have come a long way since computers became part of everyday life: besides printed books and magazines, they offer digital and multimedia content.
Visit a library near you and ask a librarian to help you find material on your subject. Reference librarians are your best friends when you need to do in-depth research. Even when the information you need is hard to find, they can help you track it down. With their help, you are bound to find a few gold nuggets.
As a bonus, a library is a quiet place to write, so bring your laptop or notebook along.
Use what you find, in your own words
Wherever you do your research, note where each fact comes from, and write your text in your own words. The posts on how to avoid plagiarism and on citations explain how to use your sources fairly.