Research begins before the writing starts, and then the researcher sits beside the writer as they work.
If that were not the situation, the writer would be wasting time.
Yes, many stories have been written without research, but readers would soon reject the writing. Why is this true?
Have you ever read a book, watched a TV program, or watched a movie and burst out laughing because something seemed out of place or wrong in the story?
It may be part of the punch line for comedy, but most times, it is not.
It is because people did not do the research or thought you would not notice or care.
You did.
Research matters and is important.
It is even more important today when people rely on word of mouth for their news and points of view instead of research and primary documents.
As a Researcher, I don’t trust information until I find it in at least three independent, non-related resources.
What does that mean?
I look until I find it in three places, where the information is detailed but not repeated from another resource, written by the same person or group of people.
It means reading about the reading.
Why is that important?
Written history can be just like gossip.
Here are four different Primary Documents concerning Mrs. Lydia Moss.
I’ve studied these photos, the Library of Congress map, and the ad from La Crosse City Directory in 1865.
I am sure these are connected correctly, but I will stand corrected if someone tells me differently with other evidence.
Pilzner’s Dye Work moved into Mrs. Lydia Moss’ Barber Shop around 1870 after she moved out of La Crosse.
