How to Research Your Novel Like a Reporter

Too many fiction writers start their stories without any research, and those who do some research barely scratch the surface, sticking to what they can find on Google or watch on TV. This OnDemand Webinar discusses how to interview actual sources and research primary documents that can enrich your stories, whether you’re working on a crime thriller, a cozy mystery, or even science fiction that involves new technologies. As a former reporter with a master’s degree in journalism, instructor Christopher Stollar shares with you best practices from the three years of research he conducted for his award-winning debut novel. He also discusses how his research helped convince more than a dozen media outlets to publish stories about his book—and how you can do the same.

Christopher Stollar (ChristopherStollar.com) is an award-winning author and accredited public relations professional who works full-time in marketing at a Fortune 100 company. His debut novel, The Black Lens, won Grand Prize in the 2016 Writer’s Digest Self-Published e-Book Awards. As a former reporter with a master's degree in journalism, Christopher conducted more than three years of research for The Black Lens, including interviews with survivors, social workers, and police officers. He used that research to convince more than a dozen media outlets to publish stories about his book, including The San Jose Mercury News and The Oregonian. Christopher’s new research-based novel, Real Girl, placed as a Top 25 Finalist in the 2020 Launch Pad Manuscript Competition and is currently being pitched to publishers by senior agent Paula Munier of Talcott Notch Literary.

Writer's Digest Shop does not offer any refunds for the OnDemand Webinar. All sales are final.