Research can be one of the most enjoyable parts of writing historical fiction.
It can also be a wonderful way to avoid writing.
You start by looking for one small detail. A few hours later, you've followed six different historical trails and learned all sorts of fascinating things.
But have you moved your story forward?
In my recent In The Writers Chair conversation with historical novelist John Winn Miller, we talked about the challenge of doing enough research to make a story believable without disappearing down the research rabbit hole.
Here are three ways to keep your research working for your story.
1. Research the Details Your Characters Experience
Historical fiction doesn't become believable because you include everything you've learned.
Often, it's the smaller details that create authenticity.
How would your characters speak? What would they wear? What would they eat? What sounds, smells, customs, or behaviors would be ordinary to them?
Research what your characters actually encounter and let those details reveal the period naturally.
2. Remember That Today's World Isn't the Past
Modern tools such as Google Maps and Google Earth can help you understand a location, but don't assume what you see today existed during your story's time period.
Buildings change. Roads disappear. Neighborhoods develop.
Historical photographs, maps, newspapers, archives, and local historical organizations can help you discover what a location looked like then, not just what it looks like now.
3. Know When You Have Enough
This may be the hardest part.
Before following another research trail, ask:
Will knowing this change the scene I'm writing?
If it will, keep researching.
If it won't, make a note and return to your manuscript.
You don't have to know everything about a historical period before you begin writing. Research enough to move the story forward, write until you encounter another question, and research again when necessary.
The goal isn't to show readers how much research you did.
It's to create a world believable enough that they forget about the research and simply experience the story.
Inspired by my conversation with John Winn Miller on In The Writers Chair. [Read the podcast recap] or [watch the full conversation on YouTube].
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