Write an article based on this "Educate yourself about silver in all its various forms. Visit garage sales, estate sales, and flea markets. Visit vintage stores, thrift stores, antique stores, and pawn shops. Check online auctions."
Diversify your sources of information. Read books about gold and silver scrap dealing, as well as the blogs of dealers. Many dealers post scrap buying and selling tips online. Learning about silver buying means learning about the scrap dealing market and about silver itself.  Common sources of silver include jewelry, watches, flatware, medals, awards, plaques, and older currency. Coins minted up to and including 1964 in the US or 1968 in Canada often contain silver. Look through mismatched spoon and fork bins in thrift stores. Jewelry from thrift stores may have been combed through thoroughly already, but check out the watches and jewelry at obscure stores in small towns, antique shops, and estate sales. Look for decorative items, jewelry, vases, tea sets, and silverware. You may be able to buy bulk amounts of certain items in these stores. Search for silver, and read the description. Some sellers will use a stock photo of coins or other silver, but will write a more revealing description. Make sure the seller is clear about having authenticated the metal. Only buy scraps from sellers who have a return policy in case you're displeased with the condition or nature of the item.