Forced to Stay-At-Home? So Are My Research Contacts
When coronavirus cancelled all my extra-curricular activities, I figured I would have way more time to work on my current book. Then I discovered, as many other writers have also confessed, that somehow the writing wasn’t getting done. Call it stress, call it mourning, call it whatever you want – but it’s been tricky to get as motivated as I would like to be.
But once I do get started, I’m finding two silver linings in this cloud: 1) Being submersed in my project pushes all the negative thoughts in a corner and 2) The experts I need to talk to about this project are also welcoming distraction.
The book I’m currently working on is non-fiction and requires a feces-load of research. I do as much as I can through books and online, but occasionally I have a very specific question that just isn’t addressed in any of the resource materials I find. That’s when I look up who wrote the book or article and research who might be an expert on the topic.
Once I have a name and an email address, which sometimes is a research project all on its own, I write a very polite and friendly message briefly outlining my project, explaining why I think they can help me and asking my specific question. Not everyone answers back, but I would say more than ninety percent do!
They tell me that, being at home, they don’t have access to all of their notes, but will help as they can. They are intrigued by the oddball questions and are excited to share their expertise. They ask if I am staying well.
I’ve “talked” with university professors, museum curators, book authors, and organization presidents from across the country and across the ocean. They have been generous with their knowledge and kind about my ignorance. I have been having a ball!
When this book is finished, the “Acknowledgments” chapter is going to be very long indeed. I might have to include COVID-19 in the acknowledgments because I think this lock-down has given me access to people who normally wouldn’t have time for silly questions. Since I can’t avoid the coronavirus cloud anyhow, I’m happy to have found the silver lining!