Where to start when researching for memoir or creative non-fiction
From physical archives to online databases, today’s writers have an abundance of historical resources at their fingertips. But with so many options, where should you begin?
Award-winning non-fiction writer Katharine Reeves is currently working on a climate change memoir set in Norfolk. Ahead of her upcoming workshop on using historical sources this August, Katharine shares her go-to research sources when diving into a creative non-fiction or memoir project. These tools can also enrich fiction projects, helping writers craft vivid, authentic worlds.
I use a wide range of research sources across text, image and film, as well as creating new sources through walking, sketching and photography. This approach is one way to discover unexpected information and inject originality into your writing.
Maps
The wide range of maps available digitally are invaluable when researching landscape and place.
For my current writing project, a climate change memoir about Norfolk, I’m using the 16th-century ‘Hutch’ map showing the high sea level in east Anglia as it was believed to exist around 1000AD; Faden’s 1797 Map of Norfolk showing sand dune breaches; climate change forecast maps; and the latest LiDar mapping of the ground beneath fields and roads.
An example of a map archive includes National Library of Scotland which holds ordnance surveys, military maps, estate maps and more. You can also check local record offices for more specific places.
Local newspapers
Local newspapers are great for picking up stories from real individuals through history and also contemporary detail from events and news of the time.’
For example, the British Newspaper Archive is a great resource for finding newspaper stories from as far back as the 1700s, including specific publications and themed spotlights such as women’s history and military history. You can search by date, place, events, people (including, potentially, your own family history!) and more. Read three pages for free before trying a payment packet which are quite affordable!
East Anglian Film Archive
Search the growing catalogue of the East Anglian Film Archive, hosted and maintained by the University of East Anglia, for footage both local and international. Some are available to watch for free, some is by request or academic application. They also offer screenings and events throughout the year.
For my project, the glimpses of the aftermath of the 1912 floods from the coast to nearby villages combined with oral history reports, help create a picture of the extent of the devastation and community effort to rebuild.
Walking
Not an obvious historical method (!), but this form of research can help you understand the lie of the land and open your eyes to features in a landscape which warrant further investigation.
Want to explore Norwich UNESCO City of Literature? Check out our literary walking tour of Norwich: Wandering Words.
Non-fiction and academic research books
Non-fiction books can be found in libraries and bookshops everywhere, and academic books are available from some libraries (try your local university), academic publishers, and online repositories.
These publications mainly date back to the 1940s, and by gathering a carefully curated selection across nearly 100 years, they can give you the basis for starting your research.
Katharine Reeve
Katharine Reeve has extensive experience as a non-fiction editor and mentor for new and established writers.
An award-winning non-fiction writer she is currently working on a climate change memoir about Norfolk. Katharine is Course Director for the MA Creative Writing & Publishing at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, Editor-in-Residence at University College London, a former Editorial Director and Senior Commissioning Editor at Oxford University Press and book doctor for major trade publishers. She is a Trustee for the Broads Society.
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