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Research Tips for Authors

  • Richardson Public Library 900 Civic Center Drive Richardson, TX, 75080 United States (map)
Ask Marj!

Research Tips for Authors

with Marj Atkinson

JOIN US:

In-person: Richardson Library (basement program room)

Online: Zoom, but you must register for the link.
You may also use the registration link to ask specific questions that you wish the speaker to answer.


DESCRIPTION:

As an author, you know the importance of research when it comes to writing. At times, you may find yourself researching for hours and still not getting the results you need.

Don’t sweat it! We’re going to Ask Marj for help!

👩‍💻🧑‍💻 Grab your notepads and charge your laptops! Don’t have a laptop? Well, thanks to advances to technology, we have the World Wide Web at our fingertips with tablets and smartphones. Whatever computerized doohickey you have to access on the internet, please don’t forget to that you’ll need it on April 17th because…👇

Research expert, Marj Atkinson, has designed a workshop session to help you understand the basics of research and how to perform effective online research for your writing projects, including keyword techniques to get more precise results. Why do we need to bring our laptop or fancy computerized doohickey? For doing research exercises together, but of course.

We will take a close look at the process involved in performing online research and how to use the information found on specific online resources. We will utilize search engines like Google and also navigate the public library databases. We will cover the fundamentals of research, including the importance of taking the time to consume what we’ve found and how it can help us discover new ways to search for information!

We will also discuss how to use AI tools such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google Bard, Bing Chat, including their pros and cons.

By the end of this session, we’ll will be able to:

  • Understand the fundamentals of research and how to perform effective online research

  • Identify reliable online resources

  • Discover new search techniques to find relevant information

  • Combine ideas to create comprehensive content for writing projects

  • Utilize new AI such as Google Bard, Bing Chat, and ChatGPT to assist with writing projects

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Marj Atkinson, MLS, is the founder of Ask Marj, The Research Sage.

Marj loves the hunt! She provides research and fact-checking services for authors, and hunts down elusive background details, primarily for non-fiction genres. She also provides market research services.

As a solopreneur research librarian, Marj also works with graduate students and businesses. She has worked in education, financial services, healthcare, IT, and non-profit sectors.

She is a native Texan, has been married over 30 years, and has a grown daughter. Her current kid is a senior dachshund, Heidi.

REMEMBER–
If you still haven't found what you're looking for...Ask Marj!


The Writers Guild of Texas presents Guest Speaker / Program meetings on the 3rd Monday of each month in the Basement Program Room of the Richardson Public Library AND via Zoom. Visitors are welcome to attend.

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March 27

Building the Walls of Your Writing Career

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June 12

WGT Critique Group