Why Writers Get Lost in Research (And How to Find Your Way Back)

About this episode

Ann Kroeker discusses the challenges nonfiction writers face with research and offers strategies to stay focused.

Why Writers Get Lost in Research (And How to Find Your Way Back)Release Date: October 8, 2025 In this episode, Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach tackles the common "research rabbit hole" problem that plagues nonfiction writers. Learn how to balance thorough research with productive writing, using Isaac Newton's famous quote about "standing on ye sholders of giants" as inspiration for leveraging others' knowledge without getting lost in endless sources. In This Episode You'll Discover: Why the research rabbit hole is a distraction for nonfiction writers Noticing when you're researching versus procrastinating Practical strategies to ensure you stay focused on the research The importance of research for credibility and specificity in nonfiction ⌚️Timestamps: 0:00 - Welcome & Introduction 0:48 - Getting Lost in Research 1:30 - Does Detail Matter? 2:00 - Value of Specifics 3:15 - Building Trust Through Research 3:44 - Research in Memoir & Essays 4:09 - Standing on Giants’ Shoulders 4:40 - 7 Focused Research Tips 5:05 - Bracket Placeholders 5:23 - Tackling Online Distractions 5:45 - Parking Lot Document 6:00 - Staying Relevant 6:23 - Research Timers 6:48 - Organizing Research 7:16…

People in this episode

Host: Ann Kroeker

Topics covered

• research
• writing
• nonfiction
• productivity
• credibility

Keywords

• research rabbit hole
• procrastination
• focused research tips
• credibility
• specificity

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Writing Coach

More episodes of Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach

• ”Oh no! My book was written by someone else!” · May 27, 2026 · 6 min
• Dear [favorite author] · April 20, 2026 · 7 min
• Are Abandoned Projects a Sign of Creative Weakness? · March 25, 2026 · 12 min
• Don’t want to say it yourself? Put a frame around it! · March 22, 2026 · 8 min
• Do you really want to write “quietly”? (It’s an AI favorite) · February 27, 2026 · 9 min
• Whose Voice Is on Your Pages? Human vs. AI Writing · February 11, 2026 · 21 min