where the writers are

Amanda Mueller Covering Palestine

Only 4,000 more pages to go

October 26, 2009, 6:35 am

research.jpg
research.jpg

I am currently working on a book that I feel very passionate about and have been blessed by the amount of support I have received on this project, from both my personal and professional life, as well as the tremendous amount of information and assistance that has been offered to me by various organizations and academics. To be able to write this book, with the people it has introduced into my life and the adventures it has taken me on, it is an honor.

I am currently researching, which means getting my hands on everything that I can to read, talking to a rather diverse and large community of people and taking notes, lots and lots of notes. Some do not like to research, but I take great joy in it, expanding what I know and going forward, perhaps finding a bit of information that may alter my opinion on something here and there and clearing up any misconceptions I was previously led to believe.

Right now, I have over 4,000 pages of research to get through. These pages are from academic journals and news wires alone, to to mention the books not directly about my topic, but relating to it, that are slowing turning into a leaning tower of books next to my bed.  This research is important as it provides historical and cultural perspectives and I enjoy it, I really do. I prefer very much to be on the ground, though, surrounded by my topic, speaking to people, learning about their lives and seeing how my topic intersects with them. Everyone has a story and are waiting to tell it to someone who will really listen. I look forward to when my research takes me to Jerusalem and Bethlehem and Bil'in and Ramallah.

Only 4,000 more pages to go until then.