Have You Considered These Historical Resources?

When writing historical fiction it is important to be sure your historical facts are accurate, not only so that your writing is credible, but also because there will be readers out there who will know if they aren’t. Therefore, it is important to do some research for your historical fiction novel.

Of course, the internet is a source for researching history. However, you have to be careful to be sure the website you choose to use is trustworthy and is providing accurate historical information. I know many people use Wikipedia, including me. However, use Wikipedia with caution because Wikipedia allows anyone to edit and change information on their site. Don’t use Wikipedia exclusively.

As I was researching history for my current WIP, I found a valuable website—the website for the state where my story takes place. That website had a wealth of historical information about the state and the specific town my main characters were to live in.

The most valuable research resource I found was a museum. I googled “things to do in St. Joseph, Missouri”, the town where my story is set, and I found a museum that was dedicated to the work my male protagonist would be doing. I contacted the museum and explained that I was writing a novel. I told the person on the other end of the phone what I was writing about and asked if they had any information they could send to me.

The woman on the phone responded very positively and sent me a brochure, information sheets, and even some copies of photos. They didn’t even charge a fee for the information or ask that I reimburse them for postage. I can’t guarantee that all museums would be so generous, but I can tell you that the information I received from that museum is where most of my historical information came from.

One other resource you may not have considered are old newspapers. You can usually google “newspapers from” and add the year and place of your story, and you can find some old newspapers that can offer information you might not find anywhere else.

I’m sure you’re also well aware that books are another great resource, but I have to tell you that some friends and I visited a large bookstore that sold a lot of used books. I found a book that was all about my male protagonist’s job. The book was in excellent condition, I was thrilled to get a great deal on it, and it is now part of my library.

I also suggest that, when you publish your book, you list or give credit to your historical resources somewhere in your book in order to show your credibility and your appreciation for those resources.

Kelly F. Barr lives in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She is married and has three sons. She writes historical romance. She has also been a blogger for ten years, and every Friday, you can find her Flash Fiction stories posted for your reading pleasure. She loves her family, including the family dog, books, walks, and chai lattes.

You can find her online at:

Website: https://kellyfbarr.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kellyb_26

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