Like many of you, I belong to a number of writing communities online. I often see posts from fellow writers asking other writers for sources. That could be fruitful, but there are plenty of other ways to find sources. And if you’re on deadline, the last thing you want to do is wait on a community of other writers who may respond with some vague connection to a potential source.
Case in point: Recently, a writer in a forum I follow asked the other writers if they had any sources that had some pretty specific expertise. She mentioned she needed the source ASAP to meet a deadline.
I thought, Why waste valuable time? Her request was so specific. By the time others saw it, her deadline may be over. And I doubted many of them had the connection to a source with the specialized background she sought.
Though there are many ways to find sources, one of your best bets may be as simple as using Google.
Use Quotes, Add Titles
There are different tools you can use on Google, and my best tip is to befriend quotes. And titles.
For instance, if you’re looking for an expert that specializes in treating broken bones in children, you may want to type something like M.D. “pediatric orthopedic.” In doing that, you’re keeping targeted words together, and you’ll probably pick up a few links of doctors who have researched or specialize in working with children who have orthopedic issues.
Don’t be afraid of trying “broken bones” M.D. either, or adding a geographic location. Sometimes when I want leading medical experts, I type in a big city name—Houston, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles—because they tend to have specialists in big cities.
Of course you could go through some sort of trade association or ask the hospital PR rep who you’ve worked with before if you’re trying to find a medical source. But in finding the source directly, you can look up their expertise and then contact them directly. (Really in a pinch on time? Try the direct route by contacting the source and also hitting up his or her communications team.)
Looking for a non-expert? Why not type in a few keywords—again grouping those that imply specifics—using quotation marks? Seeking a cancer survivor to share their story about BRCA testing? Try “cancer survivor” BRCA or “my BRCA test” cancer. Sometimes, adding the word blog or blogger into a search is a great way to find a personal source.
As journalists, we have to be a little SEO-savvy to find sources, even when we are not in a huge rush. Befriending search engines can connect you to specific sources that can add valuable expertise and perspective. It’s come in handy when I’ve had to interview someone who has researched something pretty specific.
Search in a Cinch
Next time the clock is ticking and you’re tempted to ask your writer friends for help, you may want to rethink it. Do your friends really know a psychologist who specializes in geriatric depression, or an obstetrician who only treats high-risk patients with multiple pregnancies? Finding a specific source requires a specific search. Your colleagues may very well have these connections, but you don’t want to rest all of your time betting that they do—especially if your name is on the line.
While there’s no harm in asking around, be sure to maximize your time by hitting up a variety of avenues. And make sure one of them is Dr. Google.
Kristen Fischer is a copywriter and journalist living at the Jersey Shore. She worked as a reporter and copyeditor for Gannett before launching her full-time freelance business in 2005. Her work has been published in Parents, New Jersey Monthly, Prevention, Woman’s Day, SheKnows, and Healthline.
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