by Melissa H. Mwai

Happy 17th Day of Storystorm!

This past year, I worked on three non-fiction early readers for DK that required a ton of research. Through each book project, I rediscovered my love of research and refined my work process.  And let me tell you, I found some true gems. Not only for the story ideas themselves…but how to do research in the future.

Here are five research gems, I want to share with you the next time you want to research a topic for a story:

1. THE FIVE Ws

Remember the “five Ws” you were asked to memorize in school: who, what, where, why, and when? The “five Ws” are sometimes called  “journalist’s questions.” It’s a great place to start researching a topic. While researching for THE HISTORY OF JAZZ (Sept ‘24), I skimmed many encyclopedia articles focusing on the “five Ws” because they gave me a 50,000-foot view of 200 years of musical history! I had a path to follow as I worked out an outline.

Research Gem: Using the “Five Ws” can help map out a new research topic or simplify a complicated one.

2. ASK WHAT IF?

“What if?” is a powerful question to have in your toolkit when doing research. For example, Louis Armstrong had to be in my book on THE HISTORY OF JAZZ, but he didn’t become famous on his own. I asked myself, “What if I learned about the other people in his life?” That question turned into a profile highlighting the fabulous Lil Harden Armstrong, who was his bandmate, manager, and wife!  So remember to ask, “what if…” as you are researching a topic.

Research Gem: Asking “What If” questions while researching can lead to angles that were missed.

3. VARY YOUR SOURCES

Do you recall learning about primary and secondary sources? Primary sources offer first-hand accounts of events like interviews or autobiographies. Secondary resources can give you summaries, commentary, and analyses. While working on A PUERTO RICAN CHILDHOOD (Mar ‘24), I had the challenge of researching modern-day life for kids. For primary sources, I used news reports, video bloggers, and even interviewed residents. My secondary sources included travel guides, art, and music. When you think outside the box  for your research sources, you’ll never know what treasures you’ll find.

Research Gem: Unique sources can help you mine interesting or overlooked topics that can be worked into your story.

4. FIND YOUR ANGLE

Ideas are everywhere. That means stories are going to cover similar topics. But don’t let that scare you from making a story about it. Remember to ask yourself what’s unique about your story’s angle as you research. In A HARLEM RENAISSANCE (June ‘24), my favorite example of a unique angle is the sports chapter. Why? Because I didn’t see those mentioned in current stories published for kids. I learned the Harlem Globetrotters weren’t based in Harlem at all! Instead an amazing team called the Harlem Rens dominated the scene.

Research Gem: If you’re interested in a topic, it’s easier to dig up the bits that interest others.

5. DO A HEART CHECK

The last thing I do is ask whether my research connects with the heart. These questions applied to all of my books. Usually, the emotion was the piece I needed to carve out when writing and revising.

  • How does the research highlight people’s emotions?
  • How does the research connect with readers (so in my case—kids)?
  • Does the research connect with something important to me?

And now that the books are done, I see those diamonds everywhere.

Research Gem: Mine your research for emotional moments and make sparkle in your stories.

Whether or not you’re a research enthusiast like me, I hope this post helps map out a path to the hidden gems for your next story!

Melissa H. Mwai is giving away a choice of one 30-minute  “Ask Me Anything” Zoom or one picture book/early reader critique. The winner will also receive a copy of her upcoming book, A PUERTO RICAN CHILDHOOD out March 26, 2024.

You’re eligible to win if you’re a registered Storystorm 2024 participant and you have commented only once on today’s blog post.

Prizes will be distributed at the conclusion of Storystorm.

Melissa H. Mwai is the author of STACEY ABRAMS (Nat Geo Kids, ‘21) and a contributing author/illustrator of GNOME AND UNGNOMES: Poems of Hidden Creatures (Writers’ Loft, ‘23). She also has several early readers by DK and Paw Prints coming out in 2024, 2025, and 2026. When Melissa’s not falling down research rabbit holes, she’s a freelance author and illustrator. Between projects, she spends her time playing board games with her husband and two kids. Visit her at MelissaMwai.com or follow her on Instagram/Threads at @me_mwai.