Here are 6 things I’ve learned from doing historical research, which can seem daunting to some. I hope this helps you with your historical research.
- Thorough research is vital. Do thorough research on everything and anything you can think of that you may need to know about the time period. Little details here and there help make your setting and story more realistic. You do want your readers to be able to immerse themselves in the setting and time period as if they were really there.
- Maps help! Find maps of the place during the chosen time period if using a real place. If you’re using a fictional place, then make your own maps. The use of maps will help you keep track of where everything is in your setting. You don’t want to get the location of a key place in your setting mixed up with another place.
- Study old books and diaries from the time period. This will help with ‘setting’ research. It will also give you clues to how they spoke during the time period and the slang words used during that time.
- Watch old movies made during the time period if available. This helps with setting details, fashion, speech patterns, and much more. Old movies show you what it was like in the past to help you visualize your setting and make it easier to ‘show’ it to your readers.
- Don’t include everything you learned during research in your book. Make sure your research is thorough but don’t use everything. Just use bits here and there. The Readers do not want or need to know everything you found, just enough to make them feel as if they are there.
- Learn all you can while researching but remember to not get carried away with it so you can still write your book! Thorough research is important, but don’t forget you’re doing it to write a story. Once you feel you’ve done enough research, then start writing. If you come upon something later that you don’t know, make a note so you can research it later. Don’t stop writing to do more research. Keep writing until you’ve finished your first draft! You can do more research during your self-edit of the first draft.
Good luck and have fun with your research!
One Response
I love doing research! I often spend more time in researching than writing. Yep, I’m a history nerd. I love to know that a writer put in the effort to get the facts straight! If it just doesn’t sound right, I’m going to do some digging. Often, I find that what I thought was so wasn’t quite right or there was a twist I wasn’t aware of. History is my thing. Thanks for sharing your tips!