George Peabody Library at John Hopkins via Library of Congress
I teach classes on research for writers and other creative types that are designed to help you find better material, think more critically about sources, and turn information into compelling narratives. Workshops are offered live on Zoom, on-demand, and sometimes in-person.
These classes cover both the practical and the imaginative sides of research, based on 20 years of working as professional writer and editor who specializes in research-based stories. We get into the nuts and bolts: how to locate and vet sources, conduct interviews, and stay organized, as well as how to shape research into story. Along the way, we build core information literacy skills: how to evaluate credibility and navigate a rapidly shifting information landscape.
I developed my core workshop, Re-Enchanting the World Through Research, with Morbid Anatomy in New York. The idea isn’t enchantment in a literal sense, but how research can deepen your connection to the world and help you create work that does the same for others. Done well, research doesn’t just inform, it transforms, revealing patterns, stories, links, and surprises that can feel almost spell-like in their effect. Research can be a form of time travel and a way to find meaning, to build your own sense of intimacy with the world.
There aren’t many classes that approach research from a creative perspective and I built this one to fill that gap. Whether you’re working on a book, an article, or an artistic project, the goal is to give you tools you can use right away plus a clearer sense of where your work can go next — alongside a hefty dose of inspiration and encouragement.
Current & Upcoming Classes
NEW: On-Demand Class: Re-Enchanting the World Through Research with Bess Lovejoy
A self-paced version of my research class in four streaming video sessions. We cover all the research resources you didn’t know you needed, investigate how to evaluate sources, and talk interviewing, organization, and creating research-based narratives that come alive.
I designed this class to be timely: As search results grow less reliable and AI-generated misinformation becomes more pervasive, knowing how to find, evaluate, and verify information is increasingly essential. This class offers practical tools for navigating today’s complicated information landscape with greater confidence while still following your curiosity.
This class may be for you if:
• You’re developing a book, article, podcast, documentary, artwork, or other research-based project.
• You want to find richer, more surprising material.
• You’re unsure which sources to trust, or how to evaluate what you encounter online.
• You have an abundance of notes, links, and 47 open tabs, but need a workable research strategy.
• You want to make fact-based work feel vivid and meaningful.
Study at your own pace, with optional assignments, extensive resources, and occasional research happy hours for community connection.
What Students Say
“I got what I came for and MORE. I appreciated the HUGE amount of resources we were given. I also appreciate the use cases and shortcuts that were as well. It takes years of research to be able to accumulate that much knowledge and a certain kind of person to be able to hand it over to everyone.”
“The best is that Bess is an amazing teacher who keeps everything engaging. I have taken a lot of classes online that dive into dullness very quickly, and that never happened with this class. I would take another class with her in a heartbeat!”
$120 for paid Morbid Anatomy Patreon members
$135 general admission
Explore the on-demand class here.
Please note: Orders are fulfilled by Morbid Anatomy weekly on Wednesdays.
Re-Enchanting the World Through Research
Morbid Anatomy (online via Zoom)
October 27–November 24 2026 · 5-week workshop
A five-week online workshop, live on Zoom, on searching, sourcing, and vetting, and on transforming research into vivid, story-driven work through curiosity, connection, and creative practice.
