Every nonfiction writer eventually loses a source. It is a statistic you are sure you read somewhere, a quotation without a page number, an interview whose date you cannot recall, and finding it again costs a day. Worse, a claim you cannot source is a claim you cannot defend, and in a book, with your name on it, that matters. Good research habits are not glamorous, but they save more time than any other part of the process. This guide sets out a simple system: what to record about every source, how to take notes that you can use later, how to link sources to claims, how to cite, and how to avoid the common failures. The last section shows how to keep it all in Quillen's Research and Sources section.
The short answer
Record every source the moment you use it, with enough detail to find it again: type, author, date, link, a full citation and what you took from it. Keep your own notes separate from direct quotes. Tie each source to the claim it supports. In Quillen, nonfiction books have a Research and Sources section with a card for every source, and fields for type, author, URL, publication date, citation, notes and tags.
What to record about each source
The minimum for any source is enough to find it again and cite it correctly. Record these things at the time you read it, not afterwards:
| Field | What to record | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Book, article, website, interview, study or other | Different types are cited differently and carry different weight |
| Author | Who wrote or said it | For the citation, and to judge expertise |
| Title and date | Title of the work and publication date | For citation, and to check currency |
| Link or location | URL, library, shelf mark, or interview recording | To find it again |
| Citation | The full reference in the style you will use | Saves reformatting later |
| Notes | What you are drawing from it: key points, quotes, page numbers | The reason you kept it |
| Tags | The chapters or arguments it supports | To retrieve sources by topic |
Take notes you can use
Keep three kinds of note distinct, and label them:
- Direct quotations, copied exactly, in quotation marks, with the page number. Never mix these with your paraphrase.
- Paraphrases, in your own words, with the page or section.
- Your own thoughts, marked as yours: connections, objections, ideas for how to use the source.
Mixing them is how accidental plagiarism happens: months later you cannot tell whether a sentence in your notes is yours or the author's. Label every note at the moment you write it.
Judge your sources
Not all sources are equal. For each important claim, ask where the source got it, whether it is a primary source (the study, the document, the person who was there) or a secondary one (a summary of it), whether it is current, and whether the author has a stake. Prefer primary sources for anything you state as fact, and say so when you are relying on a secondary one. For contested claims, record the best source on each side.
Link sources to claims
A source is only useful if you know what it supports. When you write a claim, note which source or sources back it. This is the habit that makes fact-checking at the end a matter of hours instead of weeks. It also exposes weak spots early: claims with no source, or with only one weak one. For a persuasive book, tie each source to a specific argument; see how to plan the arguments in a nonfiction book.
Citation styles
Your publisher or audience may expect a particular style, such as author-date, numbered notes or a bibliography. Self-published and trade nonfiction often uses endnotes or a sources section. Whichever you choose, be consistent, and store the full citation with each source so that you never reconstruct it from memory. Check the style's current guide before you format the final list.
Interviews and personal sources
For interviews, record the person's name and role, the date, how it was conducted, and whether it is on the record. Get permission to quote, and keep the recording or your notes. For sensitive material, decide early whether you will name sources, and note any agreement you made. A good source file is also a legal protection.
Keep a to-check list
Not every fact can be verified the moment you meet it. Keep a running list of claims that still need a better source, and clear it before the final draft. It turns a vague worry into a finite task.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Problem | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Recording sources afterwards | Lost details, unfindable sources | Record the moment you use one |
| Mixing quotes and paraphrase | Accidental plagiarism | Label every note |
| No page numbers | Cannot cite precisely | Note the page when you note the quote |
| Relying on secondary sources | Errors propagate | Go to the primary source for key claims |
| No link between source and claim | Hard to check | Tag sources with chapters or arguments |
| Inconsistent citation format | Hours of reformatting | Store full citations in one style |
Do it in Quillen
Quillen's Research and Sources section is part of every nonfiction book. Each source is its own card, saved with the book.
- Open your nonfiction book and click Research in the left sidebar. You see the Research and Sources page.
- Click + New Source. A new source card opens.
- Name it. Type the title of the book, article or website at the top.
- Choose the source type. The menu offers Book, Article, Website, Interview, Study and Other.
- Fill in the details. Add the author, URL, publication date (such as 2023 or March 2023) and the full citation, in whatever style you are using.
- Write notes. Use the Notes box for what you are drawing from the source: key quotes, page numbers and how you plan to use it.
- Add tags at the bottom of the card to link the source to chapters or arguments.
- Return to the list with the back button at the top left. Every source you add appears there. Changes save automatically.
If your book is in a series, research can be linked across books so that sources are shared; see how to write a nonfiction series.
Checklist
- Every source recorded as soon as it is used.
- Type, author, date, link and citation stored.
- Quotes, paraphrases and your own thoughts labelled.
- Page numbers noted for quotes.
- Key claims traced to primary sources.
- Sources tagged to the chapters or arguments they support.
Common questions
What should I record about each research source?
The type, author, title and date, a link or location, a full citation, notes on what you are drawing from it, and tags for the chapters or arguments it supports.
How do I avoid accidental plagiarism in my notes?
Label every note as a direct quote, a paraphrase or your own thought, at the moment you write it, and record page numbers for quotes.
What fields does Quillen's Research and Sources card have?
Source type (Book, Article, Website, Interview, Study or Other), author, URL, publication date, citation, notes and tags.
Where do I find Research in Quillen?
In a nonfiction book, click Research in the left sidebar, then New Source.
Should I use primary or secondary sources?
Prefer primary sources for anything you state as fact. Say so when you rely on a secondary source.