Granger earned his undergraduate degree in history and English from the University of Tennessee and his master's degree in English from the University of Virginia. He has worked for several publications, including The National Sports Daily, Sports, Inc., and Sport Magazine. Granger used examples from these stories as he offered his suggestions for better writing. Imagination is key, Granger said, noting that when information is difficult to find, the writer needs to find creative alternative options for sources. One writer, he said, spent nine months tracking down a certain person for a story.
Curiosity is also essential.
Sager, for example, lived with an elderly man to research his story. Writers must have faith in their writing skills and in their abilities to find information. For example, a writer Granger knew did research on handguns by visiting numerous prisons. His goal was to actually find a felon with a criminal history who would talk about his or her experience. Granger also advised aspiring writers to promote themselves through their writing.