"Every Story I Write Is a Research Project": The Role of Research in Fiction Writing

Abstract:As library and information science scholars, we know that context matters in research because we study how various populations look for information. The information-seeking behaviors of creative people, however, are something of a blank spot in our scholarly literature. Studies of creative writers are especially rare. This study used writers' self-reports to learn about the role of research in the fiction writing process. The results point to an emphasis on interviews with subject experts and hands-on research for creative purposes, with little mention of library resources. For librarians, this may seem disappointing or indicate an opportunity for change. Instead, this paper argues that understanding how creative populations such as fiction writers think about and approach research is useful, even if that process does not typically involve the library. An appreciation of how writers and other artists seek information for creative purposes enhances our ability to think and teach about research as an activity with contextual implications.