Research is an essential part of writing books, but it's easy for authors to fall down "rabbit holes" – spending hours lost in fascinating but ultimately unproductive tangents. For me, sometimes rabbit holes are much more exciting than what I was trying to research, but that won’t write a book. So, I’ve had to develop strategies to stay on track and avoid research pitfalls.

1. Start with a clear research plan. Before diving in, outline the key topics and questions you need to investigate. This provides a roadmap to keep you on track. Keep that outline open and handy. Refer to it constantly, maybe use it as a checklist. Since I write historical Western romances, I find I can reuse some of the research for several books. I keep a copy of the resource essays in a specific folder, so they are handy.
2. Set time limits. Allot a specific amount of time for each research task. When the timer goes off, wrap up and move on. (By the way, this is soooo hard, so be prepared to have a little frustration…however keep tasking.)
3. Take notes strategically. Rather than trying to capture everything, focus on information directly relevant to your book's content and themes. This is a case where less really is sometimes more.
4. Recognize when you have "enough." You don't need to become an expert on every subtopic related to your book. Once you have sufficient accurate information to write credibly, stop researching that area.
5. Save interesting tangents for later. If you discover an intriguing but non-essential topic, add it to a "future research" list rather than pursuing it immediately. Make a note of where you found it so that you can go back to it later. Don’t waste time writing the information down now.
6. Alternate research and writing. Don't do all your research upfront. Stop at a certain point and put fingers to the keyboard. As you write, you'll naturally identify specific details you need to look up later. Put a placeholder in and keep writing
7. Consult with subject matter experts. Do an internet search to find people. They can provide focused, high-quality information more efficiently than hours of independent research. Prior to the meeting, develop a list of questions so you stay on target and use it to refer during the interview. And, of course, set a timer so that your conversation with that person doesn’t take you off into tangents.
8. Be wary of internet rabbit holes. It's easy to click from link to link endlessly. Stick to reputable sources and avoid going more than 2-3 clicks deep on a topic.
9. Remember your purpose. You're researching to write a book, not to satisfy your own curiosity. Most writers have a natural curiosity, and that can be a downfall. So keep yourself in check and keep your end goal in mind. When you find interesting stuff, make a list of the web addresses so you can find them later to read when you are not writing.

With a strategic approach, you can conduct thorough research while avoiding unproductive tangents. Stay focused on gathering the information you truly need to bring your book to life.