You're writing a story set in your local city, but one hundred years in the past. How can you recreate the feel of the past in your words of the present? Local knowledge, that's how. And how do you get this sort of knowledge when your characters were walking around one hundred years ago and you're situated well and truly in the 21st century? Exploration on foot, a reliable camera and a willingness to stand on a street corner and imagine everything and everybody as it was in the past.
A good place to start, whether the city or town of your story is close by or not, is internet research. Major cities and many less major towns have their own tourist and business websites, visitor information sites, museum and exhibition listings, historical society and genealogy sites, and maps galore. Look closely for any sites that offer free tourist booklets. As well as the usual restaurant and accommodation guides, maps and business listings, most tourist booklets will also include photographs and brief histories of the area.
Next go to your local library or bookstore, and find travel guides to the location you're interested in. These travel guides will provide a well-rounded and "larger picture" of your area, and include customs, history, current information and maps. Other books that will be a boon to your research are historical novels and non-fiction works that are set in similar settings to your own. Non-fiction books have the added resource of the bibliography. Author talks are an extra benefit, especially question time. Have your questions prepared beforehand and listen to the questions and answers for other audience members.
If you live close to your setting or can travel there easily, the rest is as simple as driving off in your car or jumping on a train. Book yourself into a guided tourist walk. Put on your most comfortable walking shoes, grab your camera and a notebook, and off you go. From pub tours to historic house tours, there's a walk that will suit your historical needs. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Relate them to your characters and storyline, and not only will you get pertinent, accurate information, but you may also be inspired with extra plots and new story ideas.
Visit the local museum for that area, obtain a listing of historic houses, find the local public art [often historical in inspiration], trek through transport museums and art galleries, attend cultural events and participate in writers' festivals.
Factually, the accuracy of your novel should be vastly improved. Don't forget to take plenty of photos and notes, and collect fliers, booklets and maps at every opportunity. These are all resources that you can refer to in the future. Good research shows through in every paragraph.
The next step is to walk the streets of your novel setting on your own, if it's safe, or with a friend if you prefer. You should already know where the most appropriate sites are, going back for a second or third look will cement details in your head. Touch the walls, wander through gardens and smell the flowers, listen to the traffic and imagine how it must have sounded in the time period of your story. Your characters will be able to walk the streets and see the buildings for themselves. More importantly, your readers will be able to connect and relate to the realism you've brought to the pages.
Trish is a freelance writer, novelist, and traveller from Sydney. Her recent publishing feats have included a short story in the online River Walk Journal, a quarterly arts bulletin for the Sutherland Shire and several non-fiction articles for websites, online journals and print publications. Her most recent research tour was a roadtrip through the South West Plains of America and the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and Wyoming. She is a regular tourist in her home city of Sydney, Australia.
Trish is available for research assistance, especially locations and settings in the greater Sydney area and beyond. Send your email query to: planderson@ozemail.com.au
Chicago limo Skokie ..Have you been guilty of procrastinating on your book project,... Read More
Do you know what a query letter is? If so,... Read More
It is satisfying to be a part of such a... Read More
Chaos and confusion come when established rules and procedures are... Read More
A friend and I were talking the other day about... Read More
I'm willing to bet that quite a number of you... Read More
If you haven't realized the success you wanted last year,... Read More
Write Right - You have an all important business letter... Read More
1. SECRETS TO SUCCESS2. MAKING A POWERFUL FIRST IMPRESSION3. AVOID... Read More
Open up your favorite calendar and circle today's date.Why? Because... Read More
Writing technical articles is a challenge. There you sit, surrounded... Read More
Are you ready to abandon your short stories? Before you... Read More
A few months ago, I wrote a guide entitled: 101... Read More
ESSAY 2Andre Malraux once said that what interested him in... Read More
I've just come back to work after nine glorious, sun-drenched... Read More
Plotting a book can seem an overwhelming task when you're... Read More
Pictures they say are worth a thousand words, but many... Read More
Is it possible to improve your writing instantly? The answer,... Read More
Effective screenwriting relies on the good understanding and use of... Read More
Creating incredible characters can be easy if you know of... Read More
In the current job market, many editorial workers have turned... Read More
Not long ago, I went to an Internet Marketing Seminar.... Read More
The journey to having my first novel for children published... Read More
Punctuation, when used creatively, is powerful. Note, however, that when... Read More
10 - You will always have a job. As long... Read More
limo O'Hare Bonfield ..Names are important. Names give clues about us, where we... Read More
Weather posting a page to your Website, writing a letter... Read More
Paulo Coelho was born on August 24th 1947 in Rio... Read More
Most writers are familiar with first and third points of... Read More
All Writers need the press, especially new writers. As a... Read More
Chaos and confusion come when established rules and procedures are... Read More
If you haven't realized the success you wanted last year,... Read More
1. Before you write anything down define not what you... Read More
You are far more likely to successfully write and publish... Read More
The tiniest things can be so useful when you come... Read More
If you have an online home based business you know... Read More
Chances are, you'll be busy over the next several weeks.... Read More
Every part of your book can be a sales tool.... Read More
The writing community is a strong one, with many new... Read More
No matter what your fifth-grade English teacher says, some grammar... Read More
One morning, you open your inbox and find several e-mails... Read More
As you set out to create your first niche non-fiction... Read More
There is an image most people carry of the artist... Read More
A poet isn't born; you must work at crafting your... Read More
Interested in breaking into writing or breaking into a new... Read More
Complaint letters aren't always fun, but sometimes they need to... Read More
Peter Abrahams is the author of thirteen novels, including "The... Read More
For several years before I left teaching to write full... Read More
On my first newspaper assignment as a critic, I was... Read More
Characters in a good novel really carry the story along... Read More
Writing |