Does finishing the draft version of your book ultimately depend on you doing research? If you’ve ever wondered how you would get the authenticity of your research validated when you didn’t have a personal friend you could chat with and quote, then you might just want to print this post and keep it handy. I will show you where to get the help you need when you’re researching facts and data for your next story.
Where Does the Path of Research Begin?
You know you want to include facts and other data in your book, but knowing where to start is oftentimes a time waster, unless you have a list of secret sources at your disposal.
Most authors use the following resources for their research:
- Search engine. Use a search engine online and type in a keyword or phrase to get results displayed that you can link to and follow. This takes more time than you probably have, right? And it’s possible you won’t find the information you need.
- Library. Go to the library and ask the reference librarian if he or she can recommend some reference books that will reveal the data you need to include in your book.
- Encyclopedia. Maybe you have a set of old encyclopedias at home that you can browse through. Or, perhaps you have an encyclopedia on a CD somewhere that you can pop into your computer and search for information.
- Wikipedia. If you’re familiar with Wikipedia (http://Wikipedia.com), you might find a few tidbits of information, but if the listing is incomplete, then you’re wasting time.
Instead of utilizing those resources, I’m suggesting that you consider going to government sources when you want to find all the research data you can use, and it won’t cost you a penny.
The Freedom of Information Act
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a law that gives you the right to access information from the federal government. It is often described as the law that keeps citizens in the know about their government. You can access this resource here: www.foia.gov/
Yes, the government has a gold mine of free information, but before you head over to that website, you’ll need a little more information.
According to Amy Cook who wrote an article many years ago for Writer’s Digest, she stated:
When researching stories, we’ve been spoiled by the Internet. But even Google can’t provide all the answers, and there’s that niggling reliability problem—is your “expert source” actually just a 14-year-old with time on his hands?
Enter FOIA. The federal Freedom of Information Act allows the public to obtain information the government collects by making certain records available to those who ask. Every state has a version of the law—often referred to as “Sunshine” laws—covering open meetings and records for many state government activities.
Most frequently used by journalists, writers of all stripes can find these records useful, whether to confirm other sources or simply to generate story ideas. You can find information on consumer product safety, immigration, the environment, prisons, health care, small business and more. Here are a few things FOIA and state open records laws have helped uncover recently:
- radiation experiments in New Mexico
- a New York police department’s use of force
- what the government knew about an airline’s safety before a major crash
- medical malpractice cases in New Jersey
- investigations into the Columbine School shootings
- the riskiest workplaces.
Such findings could provide the basis for in-depth investigative reporting, creative nonfiction essays or books, or even a great concept for your next thriller.
I agree that going straight to the source for your research is a wise choice. You just need to make sure you have allowed enough time before your publication date deadline to secure the information.
Making A Request
According to Amy Cook at Writer’s Digest (www.writersdigest.com):
If you don’t already know which agency might have the records you’re looking for, check the descriptions of various agencies in the United States Government Organization Manual (found in most libraries). Once you know which agency you want to contact, write a letter to its FOIA office, being as specific as possible about the records you want. What qualifies as a “record”? The term includes all types of documentary information, such as papers, reports, letters, films, computer tapes, photographs and sound recordings. You can try the informal route and call the office first, but only a written letter creates a legal obligation for them to act.
Your letter should:
- be addressed to the FOIA office
- specify documents being requested, if known
- note why you’re entitled to a fee waiver, if relevant (more on that later)
- state the amount you’re willing to pay if you’re not entitled to a fee waiver and ask that you be notified ahead of time if they expect charges to exceed that amount.
Fees and Waivers
There may be fees for searching and photocopying.
Noncommercial requesters from educational or scientific institutions, as well as members of the news media, pay no search fees and receive 100 pages of free duplication. So a staff writer should have no problem receiving the waiver. If you’re a freelancer, you’ll need to show that the information will be used in a work that has a reasonable likelihood of being published. Book authors have also been designated as members of the news media in certain circumstances.
There’s also a fee waiver available if the release of the information is in the public interest because it will contribute significantly to public understanding of government operations and activities.
Be Aware of Information that is Off Limits
There are certain categories of information, such as those relating to national security or business information (like trade secrets), that government agencies are allowed to withhold from the consumer.
Amy further states,
FOIA can butt heads with privacy laws, but as with other invasion of privacy claims, newsworthiness can take precedence. For example, when a naval commander in charge of a vessel that collided with a Saudi Arabian merchant ship claimed the Navy had violated his rights under the Privacy Act by disseminating information from his personnel file, a court noted that although there’s a privacy exemption to the FOIA, it can’t be invoked if the public interest in disclosure outweighs personal privacy interests.
Government Response Time to Your Request
Although the statute says the government has twenty days to respond to your request—either with the requested materials or with a denial—it can be difficult to get agencies to meet those deadlines. Some offices (FBI, CIA and the departments of State and Justice) have backlogs of several years. If you can show a “compelling need” for the information, you may be eligible for expedited review.
Amy cites the following as examples of extreme urgency for receiving a response from government office:
Perhaps there’s an urgency to inform the public about a specific government activity, or, if you don’t get the requested documents right away, it may pose a threat to an individual’s life or safety. In cases like these, the agency must grant or deny your request within 10 days.
If you don’t get a response within a reasonable time, first try getting in contact with the agency to check the status of your request. See if you can further tailor your request so the records are easier to obtain and get them to commit to a release date.
If you’re still not getting anywhere, or if the request is partially or fully denied, you can file an appeal with the department head. Describe why you think the denial was improper, presenting arguments as to why the requested documents shouldn’t fall into any exemptions the agency may have cited. As a last resort, you can take your case to court, where the burden will be on the government to show why it withheld the information. Federal courts allow non-lawyers to file suit against the government, and sometimes that alone will compel the government to release the information.
Research can be simple, or it can be complex and complicated. Which type of research do you prefer?
For an editing pass of your first draft, or a proofreading pass of your manuscript before it’s published, I encourage you to secure the services of a WordsRU editor. See how I saved you even more time looking for a professional editor? Save this link. The WordsRU editors will be waiting to help you when you’re ready.
