Tag: historical research

The Desire for Street Cars-Then and Now

Post author By Kelly Barr
Post date January 20, 2023
No Comments on The Desire for Street Cars-Then and Now

In the early 1900s trolleys, otherwise known as “streetcars,” began popping up all over the United States. (For this article, I will use the words trolleys and streetcars interchangeably).

Omnibus, a horse-drawn wagon made to carry more than one family, were already in use and continued to be used during this time. However, omnibuses didn’t follow a track and the ride was often bumpy. Trolleys were larger than the omnibuses and had a more elaborate design, but still began with horses or mules pulling them. They didn’t look as much like wagons and they were designed to carry a fairly large number of people.

In the beginning, horses or mules pulled trolleys along tracks. Mules were preferred because they had more stamina than horses. These trolleys provided a smoother, faster ride than the omnibuses. Streetcars were used in towns and cities where there were a lot of people, so the streets had to be regularly cleaned of horse or mule manure. The streets in the towns and cities were grated, making it easier for trolleys to provide smoother, faster travel than walking, which had been the main way to get around in the city.

Companies were always looking to improve their trolleys to provide faster transportation and a smoother ride. So, in the late 19^th century, operators began trying steam engines and electricity. Some of the first cities to use electric trolleys were: Scranton, Pennsylvania; Montgomery, Alabama; and Omaha, Nebraska.

Electric streetcars followed a track, but also required a cable attached to the roof that would then clip onto an electrical wire strung across tall wooden poles along the track routes to power the electric engine. These trolleys allowed people to live farther outside of towns and cities, and what were called “interurban” lines became popular. The interurban lines connected cities within a state, and even cities from state to state.

Sadly, as soon as the streetcars became popular, automobiles started appearing, and it didn’t take long for automobiles to replace the trolleys in most locations.

However, some places like my hometown of Ephrata, Pennsylvania, still have trolley cars that are now run with a motor and wheels, like a bus. Each Christmas, Ephrata offers a Jingle Bell Trolley Tour for people to ride the trolley around the town and view the Christmas decorations of Ephrata homes and businesses. They also offer a family night that begins with arts and crafts activities and a visit with Santa.

So, though the streetcars may not be desired as much as they were decades ago, some of them have been refurbished and changed to still offer a taste of the past to those who want to experience a historical ride.

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: kellyfbarr.com

MeWe: KellyBarr8

Tags historical research, Historical writing, History in the Making, street cars, street cars and trolleys

Have You Considered Living History?

Post author By Kelly Barr
Post date October 20, 2021
No Comments on Have You Considered Living History?

While experiencing a major event in life, have you ever stopped and thought about the fact that, at that moment, you were living history?

Last month was the 20^th anniversary of 9-11, and as I read some of the news items of the day, it dawned on me that my youngest son had not even been alive on the day that the 9-11 events took place. So to him, it is a historical event and he won’t know or understand anything about it unless I tell him about it.

As I thought about that, I realized that when 9-11 happened, I was too busy being afraid of what was happening and wondering what I should do, to consider that what I was experiencing and living through, at that very moment, would become a historical event.

As I reflected back on my life, I realized there have been quite a few historical events that I lived through: July 20, 1969 the first man walked on the moon – I was just five years old but I remember watching that on T.V. with my parents. On January 28, 1986, like many other people that day, I sat, eyes glued to the television watching as Space Shuttle Challenger lifted off, carrying the first civilians to go into space, and just 73 seconds after liftoff there was an explosion that took the lives of all seven people on board and destroyed the rocket. I also remember hearing that the U.S. declared war on Iraq on Wednesday evening, January 16, 1991 on the radio after church, and the next morning, January 17, 1991 the Desert Storm/Gulf War began.

The four events listed above are the major historical events I remember, and not only do I remember them, but I remember where I was and what I was doing when they happened, and I remember how each of them affected me.

We are currently living through an actual chain of historical events: the Covid-19 pandemic, lockdown, a fraudulent election, and vaccine mandates.

Many writers have been told, “Write what you know.” Therefore, if you’re a history writer and you’re trying to figure out what historical time period or event to write your novel around, think about all of the historical events you’ve lived. The ones I listed in this article were big events, but there are also little events that happen in your neighborhood, town, or state. Consider the history you have lived and know best.

If you need more information to set your scene because you don’t remember exactly what your town was like during the historical event you choose, talk to friends, family, and neighbors. Many towns have a historical society or a public library that have historical information about your town.

Living history and historical information are closer than you might think.

You can find her online at:

Website: kellyfbarr.com

MeWe: KellyBarr8

Tags historical events, historical fiction, historical research, history

History in the Making

A Snapshot of a Lifesaving Organization

Post author By Jeannine Brummett
Post date August 24, 2021
No Comments on A Snapshot of a Lifesaving Organization

Consider this scene:

“Another final notice.” She glared at her husband, slapped the paper bill with the back of her hand.

“I get paid tomorrow.”

“That’s too late! They’re turning off the electricity at 5:00.”

“What do you want from me?” His face heated as frustration grew. Didn’t she know he was doing the best he could? He glanced at his wife then at his two children sitting at the kitchen table, heads ducked, pretending to do their homework.

He had soooo failed his family. That bottle—still haunting him.

He jerked open the back door. “I need a meeting.”

A “meeting” has become a well-known term for attending a gathering with fellow alcoholics. This organization, Alcoholics Anonymous (“AA”), has become a saving grace for burdened people who want to engage with those who share a common goal of conquering their addictions. The promise of anonymity and promotion of accountability gives hope for victory to those beset with this crisis.

The prevalence of this problem invites the world of socially aware writers to weave the issue throughout the pages of their work. A poignant motivating question might be, “What if a fictional character who ‘needs a meeting’ might influence a ‘flesh and blood’ reader to say the same?”

So, how might “a meeting” be utilized by fictional writers?

A character-driven story focusing on alcoholism might be a place to begin. The growth, regression, or stagnation of affected characters, addicted or not, can be demonstrated as they interface with each other. Building tension that explodes in a dynamic scene or unexpectedly eases in emotional relief can depict the challenges wrought by alcoholism. In keeping with real life, the end of the story may be joyful or heart-breaking.

How deep or detailed writers may wish to go would likely depend on the information available as to time and place of the story. For contemporary writers, the AA organization has matured, and meetings are widely available in the United States and throughout the world. Just pick a modern-day setting and the story would easily unfold. Certain phrases associated with AA—”One day at a time”, “24 hours”, “higher power”—have become well known, even among folks not affected by addiction. Scattered throughout a story, they would surely help bring it to life.

But what if the story is historical? Perhaps this snapshot of AA’s history will help one evaluate how a character’s struggle with addiction might be incorporated in a piece.

Founded by Bill Wilson and Robert Smith in 1935.
First meeting on June 10, 1935, in Akron, Ohio. Three to four people participated.
Fall 1935, Wilson began a group in Brooklyn, New York.
News of AA initially spread by word of mouth.
1938: a fundraiser, along with publication of articles in several periodicals, increased public awareness.
May 1939, “Alcoholics Anonymous” published in book form.
1941: experienced impressive growth spurt, from 2000 to 8000 members.
Between 1941 and 1949 groups had formed in many cities across the United States and spread internationally.
1941: adopted Serenity Prayer
1941: First all-women’s group, Cleveland, Ohio.
1942: found its way to prisons.
June 1944, first issue of AA magazine Grapevine.
1952: Al-Anon, a family support group, launched.
1954: 130,000 members, in approximately 6,000 groups on five continents.
1957: Alateen, a spin-off of Al-Anon.
Today, estimates over two million members.

If one’s story is set prior to 1935, an AA meeting would not have been available, but clergy, physicians, charitable societies, and state hospitals addressed the problem. Researching key phrases like “barbiturate and belladonna” or “purge and puke” should open a door of help.

Depending upon the plot and depth of character portrayal, further research might be required. The Internet can serve up an overflowing plate. The AA website abounds with information and includes a terrific timeline that would assist both contemporary and historical researchers.

Clearly the problem of alcoholism is both widespread and enduring—a compelling incentive for writers to weave the admission, “I need a meeting”, into their stories.

Jeannine Brummett lives in South Carolina with her husband of nineteen years, Don, who shares his three adult sons and three grandchildren with her. Reading is big on her list of things to do, but she also thrives on TV crime dramas, NBA basketball, and marvels at the critters and fowl life that live at the pond behind their house. She loves to sing praise songs, attend Bible Study, and help at a local food pantry.

Tags alcoholics, dealing with issues, helping others, historical fiction, historical research

History in the Making

An Unexpected Nugget

When doing research for a historical novel, you may find an unexpected nugget that could add some extra excitement, conflict, or an extra character you may want to include in your story.

While researching the town my main character lives in, in my WIP (work in progress), I found that a notorious outlaw had lived in that town as well. Though I have chosen not to include him in my WIP, I may include him in a future novel, either part of my current series or a stand alone.

It’s always wise to make note of unexpected finds in you research because they could be a valuable addition to your current work, or may invoke an idea for a future book.

If you choose to use an unexpected character or setting, be sure to research that character or setting in depth because it is important to portray them accurately in your work. Even though you may write historical fiction, you need to be sure any real life person or place is portrayed properly or your history knowledgeable readers will be upset and will let you know either through a book review or a personal email. You always want to keep your readers happy.

You may want to deliberately search for that unexpected nugget. You can begin your search by simply plugging a question, such as “what notorious people lived in the 1860s?” into a search engine and see what comes up. I will issue a word of caution here: do not rely completely on information you find on the internet, especially a site like Wikipedia, which is not always reliable. Also try to find more information by contacting a museum or historical society, or going to the library and looking for books on the subject.

I did an online search on the question from the previous paragraph and the following were the top ten articles that came up:

American History Timeline from 1860-1870
1860 Fast Facts—History—U.S. Census Bureau
Famous and Infamous Census Records – History – U.S. Census
1860s – the Hanneman Archive
The Living City | New York City>>1860s
Ozarks Gunfights and Other Notorious Incidents
List of Famous People of the 19^th Century
List of Slave Owners – Wikipedia
‘Dirty Old London’: A History of the Victorians
Infamous Mobsters – List and Notable Names – Biography.

If you are a historical writer, you most likely love history, so the above list has probably piqued your interest and you might want to rush off to check out at least one of those topics. But wait!

One more thing – books. You may find them at the library, but you will also want to keep your eyes open at used book sales and used book stores, as well as new book stores if you don’t mind paying new book prices. I have found several great gems for researching historical people. I have purchased them, and they now reside on my book shelf waiting for me to crack them open for a future novel.

You can find her online at:

Website: kellyfbarr.com
MeWe: KellyBarr8

Tags generating ideas, historical fiction, historical research, Historical writing, inspiration in writing

History in the Making

The Tale of Two Celebrations

Post author By Jeannine Brummett
Post date May 20, 2021
No Comments on The Tale of Two Celebrations

Smell the churros? That cinnamon doughnutty aroma that draws you to the vendor’s stand? Or maybe your eyes are drawn to the rainbow-hued streamers dangling from tree limbs or encircling porch posts like an old barber shop pole. The sound of the mariachi band, shaking and strumming a catchy beat, drums in your ears while dancers twirl and swirl in colorful skirts.

Such a festive day.

But nothing like the first Cinco de Mayo.

May 5, 1862 was not marked by spirit-lifting dance moves or enticing aromas of tacos and burritos. Instead, it was defined by a battle. The colors were not expressing gaiety, but identity. France’s navy blue, white and red flag proudly preceded a regiment of French soldiers as they charged up the hill to the City of Puebla. Mexico’s red, white and green flag few high, declaring the loyalty of the Mexican soldiers who bravely met the enemy.

The battle raged, a flurry of fighting men carrying rifles and sabers, some on foot, some astride horses. Frenchmen’s dark navy and red uniforms tangled with Mexican’s pale blue ones as they clashed outside the fort’s walls. Soon, the blood of soldiers and horses seeped into the land. Moans of pain and screams of the dying tormented the ears of those who persevered, until finally… France surrendered.

Did cheers erupt from the conquerors? Probably. But how many minutes ticked by before the excitement of victory gave way to weeping and wailing as news of the injured and dead circulated? Did surviving Mexican soldiers dig 83 graves or just one to receive their dead?

Could they taste the post-battle meal?

This was the first Cinco de Mayo celebration.

In modern-day Puebla, its citizens memorialize the day with parades, festivals, re-enactments of the battle between Mexican and French soldiers, and local cuisine.

However, in the United States, Cinco de Mayo is less about memorializing the victorious battle and more about celebrating the Mexican-American culture and heritage. As early as 1863, celebrations popped up in the State of California. By the 1980s, over a century later, Cinco de Mayo flourished across the United States, its popularity fueled by marketing ploys of beer and wine companies. The jubilant atmosphere and extensive menu of Mexican dishes still lure many folks to gather for a May party.

For writers, a Cinco de Mayo scene can add sparkle to a story. With the winter holidays over and summer fun yet to come, this mid-year festival paves the way for a social gathering. Whether family or friends, a big event, a small gathering, or a restaurant’s promotional event to increase patronage, things happen when people come together. A door opens to romance, tension builds in a relationship, or just plain old fun is the name of the game for the day.

The 5th of May gala has the potential of igniting a change of mood; shifting setting; deepening plots; and/or revealing personality or growth in characters. Such a scene might even add a boost to the “sagging middle” of a story.

Tags celebrations, historical fiction, historical research, holidays

History in the Making

Corn Flakes, The Journey of a Favorite Cereal

Post author By Jeannine Brummett
Post date February 20, 2021
No Comments on Corn Flakes, The Journey of a Favorite Cereal

A health guru…
Stale wheat…
A tight budget…

This hodgepodge of events would lead to the creation of a long-time favorite cereal!

Corn Flakes’ journey began in 1877 when John Henry Kellogg (“John”) sought to provide a vegetarian diet to his patients at the Battle Creek Sanitarium in Michigan. John combined wheat, oats and cornmeal, baked them at a high temperature, then smashed the mix into little pieces. After pouring the hard morsels in a bowl and covering them with milk (to soften them), John served this nutritious breakfast to the patients.

But the concoction wasn’t corn flakes…yet.

In 1898 the cereal’s journey took an unexpected turn. A pan of the wheat mixture was accidentally left out for too long. Faced with stale wheat and budget constraints, John couldn’t bring himself to toss the tray of grains into the trash. Instead, he donned his “creative cook” hat and rolled that stale mixture into thin sheets which crumbled into flakes. He toasted them in the oven, and when they emerged, the flakes were crispy and tasted good.

But John didn’t stop there. Experimenting with corn, he discovered those flakes came out of the oven crispier and crunchier than wheat.

Voilà−Corn Flakes!

But the journey of Corn Flakes didn’t end when those crispy flakes were pulled from the oven. Notable events followed, curiosities that might whet the appetite of fiction writers. The mystery, intrigue, drama or humor surrounding Corn Flakes could be injected into a story.

Mystery: Just who was in the kitchen making something good out of those stale flakes? John Kellogg? His brother, Will? John’s wife?

Envision a character (a young reporter?) snooping around the sanitarium grounds or chatting up a group of gossipy patrons lounging in the hot tub.

Industrial Espionage: C.J. Post (Post Cereal Co.) is said to have been a patient at the sanitarium who worked in the kitchen to help pay his way. Upon his return to Texas, toasted corn flakes (“Toasties”) became part of his cereal line. Did he steal the recipe from John? Add a telling tidbit: Post beat the Kellogg brothers to the patent office to register the rolling machine.

A character could be an employee at Post Cereal during this intriguing season.

Family Drama. Add sugar to those healthy corn flakes? Anathema! Market them? Not on my watch! John’s and Will’s differing aspirations resulted in a rift between the brothers. Ultimately, Will bought the rights to Corn Flakes and by 1906 he had formed the “Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flakes Company.”

Over a bowl of Corn Flakes, a story’s characters might discuss the newspaper’s coverage of the feud or engage in a discussion about the healthiness (or not) of sugar.

“Wink at your grocer and see what you get.”

A free box of Corn Flakes!

What a playful marketing scheme by Will Kellogg!

What a playful scene to add to a story!

Imagine a 1907 male character winking at a female cashier! LOL!

Or perhaps the main character is the cashier; at first it’s fun, but being winked at all day long can get old fast.

The Rooster: In 1957 Cornelius “Corny” Rooster appeared on boxes of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes.

Picture a breakfast scene with young children enamored by the rooster.

In the 1990’s, Cornelius received a makeover. Fiction in that time period could include a debate over breakfast: which Cornelius do you like best?

And there you have it−Corn Flakes!

From the mind of a health guru to Cornelius the Rooster−who’d have guessed Corn Flakes would give us so much to crow about?

Tags Creative Ideas, generating ideas, historical fiction, historical research, History in the Making

History in the Making

A Parade of Events

Thanksgiving morning! Heroine’s day begins in the kitchen helping Mother stuff Tom Turkey. Task done, they lug the heavy roaster to the oven then hurry to the living room where the family has gathered. Hero has just arrived. Father turns on the television set and tunes into the Thanksgiving Day parade.

At this point, a writer of historical fiction who wishes to accurately portray the era, might ask this question:

Did the Thanksgiving Day parade exist during the time period of this story, and if so, had it been broadcast on television?

If the story is set in 1959, this family would probably be eagerly waiting for the first national television broadcast of the Thanksgiving Day parade. Every year thereafter, with the exception of a few years during World War 2, the parade provided television entertainment on Thanksgiving morning.

Before television, as early as 1931, radio aired the event. So the family gathering described above could be tweaked so that the family huddles around the radio.

The first Thanksgiving Day parades marched down the streets of Detroit and Philadelphia in 1921. It wasn’t until 1924 that New York City’s Macy’s Parade trekked to Herald Square. Absent television and radio, enjoying these spectacular events would have been limited to curbside seating.

Participants included the stores’ employees, marching bands, floats and balloons. Macy’s used live animals from the Central Park Zoo until 1928, at which time balloons replaced zoo critters. The arrival of Santa Claus at the end of the parade kicked off the Christmas buying season, a marketing strategy designed by the local department stores who sponsored the parades.

If our Hero, Heroine and family live in, or near, one of these three cities, they may have bundled up against a brisk morning and traveled to the parade site. Aha! Perhaps Heroine is a department store employee planning to walk the parade route. Hero might be a clown. Oh my, picture Father playing Santa Claus.

But what if the time period or setting precludes a parade? What might Thanksgiving Day look like?

Football!

In 1867, the first collegiate Thanksgiving Day game played in Philadelphia. Thereafter, the holiday game grew in popularity at both college and high school levels.

Professional football offered a Thanksgiving Day game as early as the 1890’s. The National Football League’s first Turkey Day game played on November 25, 1920, and the first televised football game was in 1953.

So, following the parade, Hero, Heroine and family may have watched football on television or found a local game to attend.

Traveling even further back in time, prior to the days of parades and football, a family’s Thanksgiving celebration would likely have been limited to a special meal. If a writer were inclined, researching the local traditions of the time period and setting might glean some story-enhancing tidbits. However, in the absence of such information, the tradition of feasting with family and friends would be a safe choice that would maintain the integrity of the story.

Thanksgiving Evening! The parade is over; Hero, Heroine and the family have devoured the turkey; and the final touchdown has scored.

Time for another piece of pie!

Tags historical research, Historical writing, holidays, Thanksgiving

History in the Making

Using Your Research for More than Your Novel

Post author By Kelly Barr
Post date October 20, 2020
No Comments on Using Your Research for More than Your Novel

Writing a novel is hard work and takes time. Writing a Historical Fiction novel may require more time and hard work due to necessary research.

Then there’s publishing. Whether you publish traditionally or indie publish, it takes time to publish the book and make sales. Let’s take a look at ways you can use your research while you wait:

1) Writing short pieces – you can purchase the current Writers Market Guide, the current Christian Writers Market Guide (or both) to find magazines that might be interested in an article about your research topic (i.e. the California Gold Rush). Then you will need to find the magazine’s website and download their guidelines. Be sure to follow their guidelines carefully because they will not consider your article if it isn’t written, formatted, and submitted according to their guidelines. You can do this any time during your novel writing process.

However, I don’t recommend putting the next two suggestions into practice until closer to the time of releasing your novel, six months to a year prior depending on how many pieces you can write and put into use. You don’t want to run out of writing subjects for these important items before your novel releases.

2)Building your audience and building your brand – I’ve been told many times that it is very important for a writer to have a presence on Social Media – specifically, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. I’ve also heard that Pinterest is a great place to connect with readers. You can connect with readers on these sites by posting interesting things from your research. Be sure to connect it to your novel by giving them a small tidbit of information like revealing the name of your novel’s town and sharing history about that town.

You can also create a blog and write blog posts about something you’ve researched for your novel. This is a great place to include pictures as well. You might write about men’s and women’s fashions from the time period of your novel and include a couple pictures showing some of the clothing from that time period.

3) Market your novel – You can write an additional story that connects with your novel and release it for a reasonable price or offer it as a free gift for purchasing your novel. It could be a novella about the backstory of one of your characters and how they ended up in the time, place, and/or situation of your novel. You could use a scene from your story to create Flash Fiction story, or maybe create a short story about one of your minor characters.

Any of these suggestions can put your research to good use and make it work for you as it builds your brand and/or audience or as it draws readers’ interest in your upcoming novel. Your research can serve multiple purposes and be an enjoyable endeavor, making all your hard work pay off.

You can find her online at:

Tags article writing, author brand, build a platform, historical research, Historical writing

History in the Making

Thinking Inside the Icebox

Post author By Jeannine Brummett
Post date August 20, 2020
No Comments on Thinking Inside the Icebox

From the ingenuity of Thomas Moore, the icebox first appeared on the American scene in 1802. Like many new inventions, its production was limited and thus affordable only to the rich. However, by 1884, increased capacity for ice, improved insulation and mass production led to an icebox in most homes.

Constructed of wood, the icebox looked like an attractive piece of box-sized cabinetry with several doors and a large drawer on top which served to house the ice. The shelves were made of zinc or tin as were the walls which were insulated with a material such as straw, sawdust, cork, or even seaweed. A pan at the bottom caught the water as the ice melted, requiring someone to empty the pan before it overflowed on the floor. In more expensive models, a spigot allowed for easy draining of accumulated water.

Ice needed to be replenished every two to three days and was available from the local ice house. Some folks picked up the solid block of ice and transported it home themselves. Others availed themselves of the delivery service, whereby a driver arrived with his horse-drawn carriage, pulled a block of ice from the back of the truck with a two-pronged hook, hauled it inside the customer’s house and lifted it into the ice drawer of the icebox.

An exciting acquisition to anyone’s kitchen, the icebox offered conveniences not enjoyed by previous generations:

It eliminated the need to trek out to an underground pit or brook house, or stoop at a hole dug in the cellar floor, which were common ways to keep foods cool in earlier time periods.
Daily trips to the local market to purchase fresh food were replaced by excursions only a few times a week.
Time and energy expended to preserve foods by smoking, salting or canning became more a cook’s choice than a necessity.

As thrilling as the icebox might have been, not everything about it was cause for celebration. It held odors. Whether a naturally odoriferous food or something that spoiled, the smell would not go away. And one food could take on the “aroma” of another. For example, the butter could smell like fish.

However, the benefits of being able to keep food fresh and fingertip close were huge, evidenced by the industry’s attention to continuing improvements of the appliance.

As writers, why should we care about old iceboxes?

Writers of historical fiction can utilize an icebox to add detail to a scene or enhance their stories:

(1) A character grabs a chunk of cheese to add to Sunday dinner and notices that the ice is getting low; (2) Perhaps a grandmother shares an “I remember when…” memory, giving a peek into long-ago day-to-day living; or (3) An overflowing water pan might reveal a character’s short-temperedness, or a nasty smell might add tension as the cooks sort out how to handle it.

Romance Writers, can you picture the growing attraction between the oldest daughter and the ice truck driver? Or perhaps the handsome town bachelor owns the ice house.

Contemporary writers are not left out of the possible uses of “iceboxes” in their works. A key character might be an antiques collector, or perhaps the CEO of an appliance store chain, having descended from a family involved in marketing early iceboxes. Mystery Writer, can you envision an unidentified body being discovered huddled against an ancient icebox in your heroine’s antique shop?

Whew! Who would have thought an icebox could reveal character traits, stimulate career choices or spark plot twists?

Well…probably not Mr. Moore.

But for writers? There are oodles of cool ideas inside the icebox.

Tags Creative Ideas, historical details, historical research, Historical writing, history, icebox

Fantasy-Sci-Fi

How to Write Tactful Fantasy and Science Fiction During COVID-19

Post author By Sarah Rexford
Post date June 7, 2020
No Comments on How to Write Tactful Fantasy and Science Fiction During COVID-19

Writing during a global pandemic is probably not something you thought you’d be tackling. Writing is hard enough by itself!

But handling history well, whether you’re living it or researching it, is part of being a writer. Recently I saw an article that stressed how one publisher is not particularly focused on dystopian writing because of the current state of the world.

They stressed the importance of finding hope through historical events. Fantasy and Science-fiction can be used to build that hope, if done rightly. Here are a few ways to use the current global crisis for the benefit of your readers:

Enforce your writing with historical moments.

Countless moments have shaped history, and therefore storytelling, as a whole. This is one of them. Going back often helps us move forward.

As you plan, draft, or edit your current work-in-progress, focus on historical moments that looked bleak but ended in a brighter future. Draw inspiration from these moments and allow them to influence your writing. Readers need hope, and you’re one of the best people to give it to them.

Use history to teach.

The Civil War brought tension between family members and friends. The Great Depression was a drastic life change for many. COVID-19 is a different circumstance bringing similar emotional responses. Research those who lived during historical moments, look up their stories, and choose different aspects of these very real people to influence your characters.

For your protagonist, consider drawing different character traits from figures who experienced global moments in different centuries. Combine some of these characteristics into a fictional character, add your own twist, and use your character to bring hope to your story. This will show readers what characteristics still bring hope today.

Look to the future.

History shows us how to interact with the future, what to do, and what not to do. Science-fiction in particular points to the future. As you craft your story, pour yourself into world-building and research that will make readers want to escape into your world. Layer in supporting characters and scenes that will inspire your readers to return to their own world wiser, and with more hope, in how to handle their present circumstances.

Writing is a powerful tool. While writing for entertainment may not be our primary focus right now, it can be used to teach, inspire, and bring hope. Now more than ever it’s important to write powerful stories and strong characters. Let’s be the writers who encourage readers in a dark time. Write on!

Sarah Rexford is a Marketing Content Creator and writer. She helps authors build their platform through branding and copywriting. With a BA in Strategic Communications, Sarah equips writers to learn how to communicate their message through personal branding. She writes fiction and nonfiction and offers writers behind-the-scenes tips on the publishing industry through her blog itssarahrexford.com. She is represented by the C.Y.L.E Young Agency.

Instagram: @sarahjrexford
Twitter: @sarahjrexford
Web: itssarahrexford.com

Tags Covid19, dystopian, fantasy, Fantasy-Sci-Fi, historical research, history, hope, mood, world building, worldview

History in the Making

Why You Need to Get Your Historical Facts Straight

Post author By Kelly Barr
Post date May 31, 2020
No Comments on Why You Need to Get Your Historical Facts Straight

If you’re a historical fiction writer who is under quarantine or lockdown, whether voluntary or government mandated, now would be a great time to delve into the historical period for your next novel or maybe you need another historical tidbit for your current story. Either way, getting your head out of the news for a while and going back in time may be just what you need to help you focus on something more fun and interesting than the current state of the world.

“How much research should I do for a historical novel and why is it so important? After all, it’s historical fiction, right? So, can’t I just make up what I don’t know?”

No, you can’t—not if you want to gain and keep readers. Many people who read historical fiction do so because they enjoy history. Many are history buffs. Some people want to learn something from historical fiction, and they may just do some research after reading your book to see if you had your historical facts straight. You’re bound to have at least one reader who will be ready and willing to contact you and point out where you missed the mark.

As a writer somewhere between plotting and pantsing, I will say that I am careful to research anything that has to do with the time period of my setting. For instance, my current WIP, (work in progress), is set in 1860s United States, in the west, and my protagonist needs to carry a rifle and a handgun for his job, so I Googled rifles and handguns from that time period to be sure I didn’t give my character a gun that hadn’t been created yet.

When I took that chapter to a critique group that I was part of at the time, two of the men in the group challenged me on the rifle and handgun I chose to use. I was able to give them the information of the site where I found the facts and inform them of what I learned about my chosen weapons. My choice of weapons weren’t the only historical items the men in the group challenged me on, which is why I want to know my facts.

I also have read book reviews of other historical writers’ works and have found at least one review, that I can recall, that challenged the author’s historical facts. This reader gave the writer a lower star rating because the reader was certain the author had the facts wrong.

Readers who are history buffs will know their history and expect you to know yours. They will not hesitate to let you know if they believe you have gotten something wrong, and they may write a scathing review of your work. They may also decide not to read another one of your books. We work hard to gain our readers, therefore, we need to do our best to keep them by making sure we get our historical facts straight.

You can find her online at:

Website: https://kellyfbarr.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kellyb_26

Facebook: Kelly F. Barr, Writer

Tags historical research, Historical writing, Research

History in the Making

Unexpected Treasures

As both a reader and a writer, I enjoy spending time in book stores and libraries. This year some of my reader/writer friends and I went on two Used Book Store Tours. If you haven’t been on a Used Book Store Tour, I encourage you to take one. We spent an entire day in a specific area exploring all of the Used Book Stores in that area. It was a fun and exciting adventure.

The store, where I took the above photo, had four floors of books. As we explored each floor, we found the history section and one of my friends asked me, “Are you still interested in the Old West time period?”

I replied, “I certainly am.”

So, he showed me a book he had discovered, and I quickly asked if I could take a look at it. He handed it to me and I sat in an old wooden rocking chair to peruse the pages. Not only did I find the book fascinating, but the illustrations were unique, and the most exciting thing was that there were two newspaper clippings tucked inside the front cover.

The book is about Virginia City in the 1860s and 1870s. The newspaper clippings were also about Virginia City – one from 1997 and the other from 2004. I was so excited as my mind started to consider the treasure I held in my hands.

At the checkout counter, I feared the clerk may confiscate the newspaper clippings, but to my joy and relief, he didn’t.

Now, I eagerly await the opportunity to sit down and read this book and these clippings, as I know a story idea will form in my mind. I will learn of interesting characters from history, a city I don’t know anything about, the history about that city – not just Old West history, but even a bit of more recent history, thanks to those newspaper clippings, and who knows what kind of story will begin to form in my head.

In another used book store on that same day, I found a book about a particular group of military men from a period in history, and as I read the inside of the dust jacket, the idea for a story pricked my brain.

This delightful experience taught me something I hadn’t considered before – a book store isn’t just a place for the reader in me. It’s also a wonderful place for the writer in me to find treasures that will lead me to my next story.

In the past, I have always gravitated to the historical fiction section of a book store or library. Now, I know to also check out the nonfiction history section. Not only can I learn something about history, but I may find my next story idea in a history book upon those shelves.

We plan to do more Used Book Store Tours in 2020 and I can’t wait to see what treasures I find on those tours.

You can find her online at:

Website: https://kellyfbarr.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kellyb_26

Facebook: Kelly F. Barr, Writer

Tags book stores, historical research, Historical writing, history, History in the Making, inspiration, story ideas

History in the Making

BOGGED DOWN IN CRANBERRY SAUCE: A condensed history of a Thanksgiving favorite

Post author By Jeannine Brummett
Post date November 20, 2019
No Comments on BOGGED DOWN IN CRANBERRY SAUCE: A condensed history of a Thanksgiving favorite

Think cranberries!

From there, it’s not a long stretch to thoughts of Thanksgiving. And for a writer, creative juices might quickly stir up a Thanksgiving scene. Preparation of the feast provides a pantry full of opportunities to introduce characters and reveal personalities. Perhaps it creates tension, exposes secrets, or puts on an explosive display of the family dynamics.

Picture it: The hero says something−maybe innocently, maybe not.

The heroine’s blood boils akin to the cranberries and sugar bubbling furiously in the pot.

Or not.

If this piece is contemporary, the character can confidently cook up a pot of homemade cranberry sauce. It might be the traditional recipe of cranberries, water and sugar, or a zesty rendition with spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, or ginger.

But what if this piece is historical?

Was cranberry sauce readily available in the time period?

Consider the following:

The First Feast. Cranberries were native to northeast North America, thus they were likely not familiar to the settlers who had recently immigrated from Europe. Historians opine that the newcomers’ sugar supply had been depleted and they had no bread. Rising out of that and the influence of the local Indians, it has been suggested that raw cranberries and nuts might have been used to stuff the local fowl for that infamous meal.

Sweet and Saucy.

We may never know who concocted the first batch of cranberry sauce, or when. However, both German and Scandinavian immigrants are believed to have brought across the ocean the concept of cooking fruit. Further, John Josselyn, an English traveler (c. 1671), writes of boiling cranberries in water with sugar.

By the mid to late-nineteenth century, published cookbooks, which included recipes for cranberry sauce, appeared. The recipes reflected not only what has become traditional cranberry sauce (berries, water and sugar), but also the variations devised by pioneer cooks, such as sugar substitutes (honey, brown sugar, syrup, or molasses) and methods of preparation (mashing and straining, length of time to cook, and when to add sugar).

Availability of Cranberries. Early settlers in the New England region might have picked cranberries for their Thanksgiving table. However, folks living in other areas of America were likely dependent upon buying those celebratory berries in the marketplace…if the proprietors could acquire them.

The appearance of cranberry bogs in 1816 brought about an increase in the commercial distribution of cranberries. Nevertheless, markets would have remained limited to their seasonal nature (September to November), and to available modes of transportation from bog to market.

For example: Does the 19th century mid-west Mom and Pop general store boast a basket full of cranberries? Does the farmer’s wife have money to purchase a pound?

Canned Cranberry Sauce. In 1912, Marcus L. Urann explored canning cranberries. Success would expand the fruit’s availability from just the seasonal months to year round. By 1930, he joined with competing cranberry growers to form a cooperative which ultimately became Ocean Spray. Canned cranberry sauce arrived on market shelves in time for America’s 1941 Thanksgiving feast.

What can a writer glean from these tidbits to enhance a Thanksgiving scene?

For a basic historical setting, it may be enough to know that after 1890 the cook might open a cookbook or pull out a family recipe. After 1941, canned cranberry sauce might be the pick for the table.

However, if a main character is an aspiring and imaginative cook, or the plot is set in a cranberry growing community, getting bogged down in research on cranberry sauce might be a berry good experience.

Happy Feasting!

Tags historical fiction, historical research, Historical writing

Guest Posts

Research Tips for your Historical Fiction Novel— From a History PhD

Post author By Lisa E. Betz
Post date July 18, 2019
No Comments on Research Tips for your Historical Fiction Novel— From a History PhD

You don’t need a PhD in history to write historical fiction. Grad school, after all, trains students to ask and answer historical questions, not to craft airtight plot-lines and breathe life into the dead.

Still, if you’re working on a historical fiction novel, solid research is as indispensable to your craft as a lifelike protagonist and a compelling voice. Without it, all you have is some strangely staid fantasy — albeit with a sepia filter.

To really ensnare your readers and bring your story to life, you have to dig into the details of your setting, rendering it faithfully with not a hair out of place and not a hairstyle out of time. So, where should you go to find out whether your roguish anti-hero wears his sandy curls long, or whether your femme fatale keeps her underarms smooth — to say nothing of the less hairy questions you’ll encounter as you research your novel?

You can start with Wikipedia, do some poking around on Google, and take your library card out for a spin. But if you want to build your story on a solid historical foundation, consider looking beyond all that — at peer-review journal articles.

Written and evaluated by expert researchers, journal articles are more trustworthy than (most) websites. But they’re also shorter and more focused than books — better for addressing the targeted questions you’ll want answered, in the fine-grained detail you’ll need. Think of it this way: if you’re trying to figure out what a medieval abbot might eat for supper or how a Roman house should be laid out, would you rather find out in 300 pages, or 30?

With that in mind, here are some of the best places to find scholarly articles online — giving you access to top-shelf research without having to leave your desk. Over the past few years, these websites have bailed me out of more historical conundrums than I can count. Of course, I wasn’t working on a novel but a dissertation, as a PhD candidate in Chinese history at UC Berkeley. Still, they’ll serve you well as you dig into researching your book — you won’t need a costly subscription or a university affiliation to take advantage of them.

1. JSTOR

Since its launch in the mid-90s, this sprawling database of academic journals has been a lifeline for academic writers at all levels, from tenured professors to freshmen tackling their first college papers. But you might not realize that much of its content is free to use, making it a perfect place to get into the weeds of novel research. You can download plenty of open access articles without even making an account. And if you sign up for a free one, you’ll be able to read six per month from its vault of subscription access content.

2. Academia.edu

Known as a LinkedIn for academics, this social networking site is also a treasure trove of PDFs, all uploaded by scholars who wanted to make their research available for free. To get access, sign up for an account using your Google or Facebook login. From there, you’ll be able to search for keywords related to your novel. When you click through to promising papers, more reading suggestions will appear right in the sidebar.

3. Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)

This community-curated directory of free-to-read research lets you run targeted searches and browse by subject. With its 13,000-plus journals and more than 4 million articles at your fingertips, you just might stumble on some serendipitous tidbits that will really enrich your story. Just be sure not to get too lost in the research — after all, you have a novel to write!

I hope these sites will help you craft an excellent historical story.

Lucia Tang is a writer for Reedsy, a marketplace that connects self-publishing authors with the book industry’s best editors, designers, and marketers. To work on the site’s free historical character name generators, she draws on her knowledge of Chinese, Latin, and Old Irish — learned as a PhD candidate in history at UC Berkeley. You can read more of her work on the Reedsy Discovery blog, or follow her on Twitter at @lqtang.

Tags historical research, Research

Writer Encouragement

Ingredients are Key

Post author By Elaine Cooper - Writer Encouragement
Post date May 11, 2019
No Comments on Ingredients are Key

Ever have a latte from your favorite coffee shop and they forgot to add a key ingredient?

I recently ordered a vanilla latte, only the barista forgot to add the vanilla. It didn’t take more than a second to realize the error. My taste buds shuddered at the omission while they wallowed in bland coffee and hot milk. Gross.

Manuscripts can be like that. Sometimes writers promise something in our selected genre—romance, history, suspense—but then the key ingredients might get omitted. Or you might have a combo genre like historical romance, which is what I write. Your book could be filled with battle scenes and drama, but somehow you forget there’s supposed to be a love story in the mix. Perhaps you focus on the war while forgetting the lass waging battles in her heart?

You might ask yourself, was it a bunny trail you followed that veered from the story to a whole new focus?

Perhaps while writing another book, you become so involved in the romance scenes that, although it takes place in World War I, it might as well be a contemporary novel. The historical elements somehow get lost. Somewhere.

We all have blind spots in our writing. Or perhaps, like the barista, we become distracted and just forget.

Historical fiction is especially challenging since anachronisms can sneak in—those odd phrases, cultural trends, or pieces of clothing that weren’t around in the era you are writing about.

One reader on social media groaned that she was so tired of Regency romance novels in which the dialogue included the simple expression, “OK.” It’s just not okay to include that when you’re writing about the Regency period, which was from 1811-1820. According to the Smithsonian, this expression was initially used in Boston around 1838.

Do you see why writing historicals is such a challenge? Someone always knows if you’re being inaccurate. I must be crazy for choosing to write historicals, but that’s a topic for another time …

It can be painfully obvious when a writer doesn’t do his or her homework. First rule of writing: Don’t cause pain for your readers.

There can be no more disappointment for a reader than expecting a romance, only to be left with a singular kiss with lips barely connecting. While I’m hardly suggesting a passionate bedroom scene, readers do expect a few sigh-worthy moments when the hero sweeps the heroine off her feet with a tender kiss.

A romance without a good kiss is like … like a latte without the flavoring! It’s just not what readers expect. Or want.

Carry on.

Elaine Marie Cooper has two historical fiction books that recently released: War’s Respite (Prequel novella) and Love’s Kindling. Love’s Kindling is available in both e-book and paperback. They are the first two books in the Dawn of America Series set in Revolutionary War Connecticut. Cooper is the award-winning author of Fields of the Fatherless and Bethany’s Calendar. Her 2016 release (Saratoga Letters) was finalist in Historical Romance in both the Selah Awards and Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She penned the three-book Deer Run Saga and has been published in numerous magazines and anthologies. You can visit her website/ blog at www.elainemariecooper.com

Tags Elaine Marie Cooper, historical fiction, historical novel writing, historical research, historical romance, writing historical fiction

History in the Making

Three Surprises I’ve Discovered in Researching My Historical Novels

Post author By Lisa E. Betz
Post date January 20, 2019
No Comments on Three Surprises I’ve Discovered in Researching My Historical Novels

My fifth historical romance releases next summer. I’ve written nine others that are “pre-published,” most requiring months of research. All that digging into history to add authenticity to my novels brought three surprises.

The first surprise is that events probably didn’t really happen just the way history teachers taught them.

This isn’t necessarily because grade school teachers don’t want us to know the truth. They taught from textbooks that only hit the highlights. Teachers have a certain number of hours to prepare students for a test—they simply cannot cover everything.

This means that important details explaining why folks in history made choices that today seems incomprehensible aren’t included in the curriculum. Including those reasons does not condone behavior. Rather it sheds light on that period in history.

Textbook writers or teachers may also choose to omit facts that may upset children.

Whatever the reason, historical events probably didn’t happen exactly the way we learned them as a child. Begin researching for that next novel with this in mind. Try not to have preconceived notions about the time period. Study the information as if reading it for the first time. A fresh outlook also keeps an author from judging people who lived during that time period.

The second surprise I learned is to expect the unexpected when exploring history.

When researching for a novel, I try to discover history’s answers before I know how the entire story will go. I begin with a kernel of an idea but if actual events contradict that idea, I start over. For me, history dictates the story. I research to discover events, prevailing attitudes, and reactions of folks who lived through it. My story builds in me as I research.

There are always little-known facts associated with an event or historical period—what a joy to discover them. You may have to read books written during your novel’s era to find these obscure wonders.

For instance, I’ve written several Civil War romances. To understand the differing reactions and attitudes, I’ve read books by Union soldiers, Confederate soldiers, officers in both armies, nurses, Southern women, slaves who escaped, folks who had never been slaves, Southern wives left to run the farm, Northern women who raised money to support their soldiers, and more. These books, written during or shortly after the Civil War, were packed with unexpected treasures. Some of them fit into my story in a natural way. Others I put aside for a future novel or article.

The third thing I learned—this one from readers—is that adding surprises from history enrich the story.

For instance, there may have been holiday traditions lost in time. Including these in our novels enhance readers’ enjoyment. It brings a sense of nostalgia.

Did you find a period map of your setting? What a treasure! Add locations and descriptions—if you find them—of train depots, post offices, farmers’ markets, stores, schools, and street names. Such details add depth for readers, evoking emotional responses … especially if they have a family connection to the book’s setting.

People are still people in all walks of life, in every time period. Their reactions to circumstances vary with their personality, not history.

Understanding that events may not have occurred as we remember learning it in school, expecting the unexpected as we research, and including historical surprises in our novels will take readers on a journey.

And don’t we all love an adventure from the comfort of our home?

Award-winning and Amazon bestselling author Sandra Merville Hart loves to uncover little-known yet fascinating facts about our American history to include in her stories. Her debut Civil War Romance, A Stranger On My Land, was IRCA Finalist 2015. A Rebel in My House, set during the historic Battle of Gettysburg, won the 2018 Silver Illumination Award and was the 2018 Faith Hope and Love Reader’s Choice Award second place finalist. A Musket in My Hands, where two sisters join the Confederate army with the men they love, releases November of 2018. Watch for her novellas, Surprised by Love in “From the Lake to the River” releasing in September of 2018, and Trail’s End, in “Smitten Novella Collection: The Cowboys” releasing in August of 2019.

Find her on her blog, sandramervillehart.wordpress.com.

Tags historical research, historical surprises, research tips, researching details

History in the Making

Is Writing Historical Fiction a Good Fit for You?

Post author By Lisa E. Betz
Post date September 20, 2018
2 Comments on Is Writing Historical Fiction a Good Fit for You?

I enjoy digging into the past, following bunny trails of history, and learning about cultures long interred and nearly forgotten. And then weaving a plausible story using the events and people of another time period.

It takes a lot of excavating (sometimes years) to discover enough buried remains of the past to write authentic prose, avoid historical mistakes, and gain the trust of your readers. Then you live with the fact that, inevitably, there will be mistakes. And what you create will be neither true nor false, but only a probability of what may or may not have happened.

You can’t depend on what you think you already know.

I write Biblical historical and my first novel is set in Ancient Egypt during the Abrahamic era. I started writing with my own memory of events (from Sunday School) having a large influence over my story and discovered several mistakes early.

Abraham and Sarah were called Abram and Sarai at this time.
Pictures of Abraham riding a camel through the desert are historically inaccurate–the camel had not yet been domesticated.
Although Pharaoh’s army pursued Moses into the Red Sea on chariots, during Abraham’s day, the ancient Egyptians had no such vehicle.

Wear the hat of an investigative reporter.

I took a step back and spent nearly the next five years exploring the Middle Bronze Age, Ancient Egypt, and Ancient Mesopotamia. And I realized I had to find research material beyond the internet because (surprise) it had a lot of false and flawed information.

[bctt tweet=”Like a reporter, historical novelists have to check facts and verify sources. #writetips #writerslife” username=””]

Going “old school” and visiting libraries or buying and borrowing reference books often provide my most reliable resources.

I recently wrote a heart-wrenching chapter about the death of a beloved man named Mamre. Going back through my research, I realized I killed the poor fellow off too soon. I put him in an early grave before (according to history) he went to war and became a hero.

My WIP is from Genesis, so any student of the Bible would have caught my mistake and lost confidence in me as a writer. I was glad I took the time to fact-check.

You dig up a lot of gold nuggets, but only cash a few in.

One of the most difficult things to do when writing historical fiction is to not use all of your research. You spend countless hours exploring a specific time period, and you want to share all of that information, but most of it should never make its way into your novel.

The work you do is to give yourself a sense of time and space. Take your reader on an adventure in another age, but do so without overwriting. You have to know what to leave in and what to leave out. Remember that you are writing a novel–not an encyclopedia.

Questions to ask yourself if you are wondering if historical fiction is for you:

Does reading about the past interest you?

Does the prospect of a long process sound worthwhile to you?
Are you willing to find research material beyond the internet?
After all your hard work, are you willing to let most of it go?
Do you see yourself reimagining history?
Can you visualize combining past events or people with fiction?

If you answered yes to all of the above–good news–this genre is for you!

KD Holmberg is an author, blogger, and freelance writer. She is a member of ACFW, Word Weavers International, and a founding member of the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild. She is represented by Hartline Literary Agency. A retired flight attendant, she has traveled and lived all over the globe. She and her husband, Keith, love to golf and live in South Carolina. You can find more about her: Facebook @authorkdholmberg, twitter @kdeniseholmberg, and kdeniseholmberg.blogspot.com

Tags fact-check, historical fiction, historical research, history, Research, writing, writing advice

History in the Making

Electrifying Fiction

The dark house looked lonely and foreboding as Ellen pulled the key from her reticule and fumbled with the lock. Pushing open the door, she felt along the wall for the light switch…

Or did she?

Depending on the time period and setting of this story, Ellen might need to grope around a small table for a match to light the kerosene lamp.

Thomas Edison invented an incandescent light bulb in 1879, and by September 1882, he powered up the Pearl Street distribution center and distributed electricity to approximately 82 customers in Manhattan, New York. In 1893, electricity lit up the World’s Fair in Chicago. But it would not be advisable to rely on these tidbits of information to justify whether or not Ellen’s home had electricity.

If Ellen lives in a city in the 1920s-30s, there’s a good chance the flick of a wall switch will light up the room. But if Ellen’s story is set in a period prior to the early years of the twentieth century, it is probable that some other source of light scattered the darkness when she arrived home.

Before launching our search, we should also determine a few other things about Ellen.

Does she enjoy the city life or live in a rural area?

Is she rich or poor?

Answers to these questions may make a difference in the type of lighting in Ellen’s home.

Our research list (whether through the Internet, the local library, newspaper archives, or other favorite resources we have developed ) might include:

History of the city and surrounding area where Ellen lives. (If the answer is quick and obvious, we can breathe a sigh of relief and get back to writing our story.)
History of Electricity, especially a timeline
Check out possible light sources:
- Generators
- Gas lighting
- Kerosene lamps
- Candles
- Fireplace
A trip to the actual city or town can be invaluable overall, though probably not practical if made only to determine when power poles and lines were installed.

Stay focused. Unless we have the mind for it, following the progression of science in this area can be overwhelming and take us on unnecessary detours, robbing us of precious time to pursue our goal: writing.

Wrapping it up, be prepared for the possibility that your exploration will lead you to another research project:

The dark house looked lonely and foreboding as Ellen pulled the key from her reticule and fumbled with the lock. Pushing open the door, she felt around the table for a match…

They did have matches back then, didn’t they?

Tags details, historical research, Historical writing, researching details, Setting

History in the Making

Naming Characters in Your Historical Novels

Post author By Lisa E. Betz
Post date July 30, 2018
1 Comment on Naming Characters in Your Historical Novels

Have you ever read a fictional novel set in the 1700s where the main character is named Harper (22 on a current top girl’s name list) or Summer (76) or Sienna (20) for a woman? How about Jayden (67 on a top 100 boy’s name list) or Kai (85) or Dylan (43) for a man?

Using character names accurate for the novel’s time period lends another layer of authenticity for readers. So where can we find these names?

The easiest source for me is books written during my story’s time period. For instance, I write Civil War romances. Soldiers’ journals provide names of family and comrades. Nonfiction books about the war cite many names of officers and rank and file soldiers. At that time, many men had a family surname as their first name or middle name, such as Harrison or Carter. Often these names were from the mother’s side of the family, so this could be a fun aspect for a novel’s secondary character as well.

Many regiments published a short history. Included with battle details were the men who served in that regiment. Names of wives, children, siblings, and parents may also be listed, providing many ideas for first and last names.

If an author is stuck for names, reading about an event that took place near the time either gives some ideas or send the writer on a chase that leads to timely names.

If a novel is set in 1790, reading about the American Revolution will give plenty of period names. Is the location set in the New England area in 1645? Look at names found in the Salem Witch Trials.

Also consider the character’s surname. If the main character has Scottish parents, a German surname does not ring true. If the character has an Irish mother and an Italian father, a first name common to either country will work—and so will a name common to the novel’s location.

One source to find the history of names is Behind the Name, where writers can search by name, gender, or country. Authors may also browse for names under Ancient & Medieval, Biblical, or Mythology categories. The site even has a section for “Logical Names for Twins.”

Another fun tool is NameTrends. Search the site by clicking on the first letter of a name. Each letter has a listing that show when it was popular in history, beginning in 1880. Even if your novel is set earlier than this, it may provide ideas.

There is a lot to consider when naming characters in historical novels. Hopefully these sources have sparked some ideas for that next novel.

Award-winning and Amazon bestselling author Sandra Merville Hart loves to uncover little-known yet fascinating facts about our American history to include in her stories. Her debut Civil War Romance, A Stranger On My Land, was IRCA Finalist 2015. A Rebel in My House, set during the historic Battle of Gettysburg, won the 2018 Silver Illumination Award and 2018 Faith Hope and Love Reader’s Choice Award. A Musket in My Hands, where two sisters join the Confederate army with the men they love, releases November of 2018. Watch for her novellas, Surprised by Love in “From the Lake to the River” releasing in September of 2018, and Trail’s End, in “Smitten Novella Collection: The Cowboys” releasing in August of 2019.

Find her on her blog, sandramervillehart.wordpress.com.

Tags crafting character, historical research, Historical writing, names

Talking Character

Writing Historical Characters

Post author By Lisa E. Betz
Post date February 20, 2018
No Comments on Writing Historical Characters

Sometimes fiction authors write about real people. Especially those who write historical fiction.

Real historical characters can add a sense of credibility or realism to a story. But they must be handled carefully, because your readers will know when you stray from the truth.

Well-known figures

If you are writing about a well-known figure, such as George Washington or Thomas Edison, you will need to do extensive research to ensure you have your facts straight. The good news is that someone so well known already has a lot written about them, so the facts are readily available. The bad news is that someone so well known already has a lot written about them, so your readers already know the facts and will notice your mistakes.

On the positive side, you already know their family history, their physical description, how they talked, what their voice sounded like, the name of their favorite pet, and a myriad of other details. Your job is to choose the details that are important for your story, without ignoring or twisting the facts you don’t mention.

On the negative side, you are stuck with whatever details are known about a person, even if those facts are inconvenient. Also, you must take care, because without doing sufficient research you can easily misrepresent the truth by making false assumptions, adding details carelessly, or promulgating the commonly-held-but-incorrect legends of the person’s history (such as George Washington and the cherry tree). Also, you risk annoying readers if you choose to invoke artistic license for the sake of your plot.

Other things to consider

The larger the role a well-known figure has in a story, the more research and care the writer must take in presenting them. Bringing George Washington into a scene or two is much easier to pull off than making him one of the main characters.

However you use well-known figures, don’t cheat your readers by making historical characters two-dimensional. Don’t be tempted to fall into lazy writing, assuming the reader already knows about the character so you don’t have to bother describing them. Historical characters deserve as much attention to description and characterization as fictional characters. Use the known details to your advantage. Which details would your POV character notice, and how would she feel about them?

Little-known historical people

Lesser-known historical figures can add the same note of credibility to your writing without the problems that come with using more well-known persons. There are plenty of real historical people who lived interesting lives, but for whom we now have only a handful of facts. That lack of information might frustrate a biographer, but it creates a prime opportunity for a fiction writer. The door is wide open to fill in all those blanks in whatever way suits your story.

Just take care that you stay within the boundaries of the facts that are known. You must honor the few details that are all that is left of the person’s legacy. When there are only a handful of details to keep track of, you have no excuse for getting them wrong.

Fictional characters based on real people

Sometimes a writer uncovers a fascinating historical person that would make a great story—except for a few bothersome details. If you cannot reconcile the facts with the story you want to write, or if the person’s story includes aspects you don’t want to face for one reason or another, there is another option: Create a completely fictional character based on the real one.

This technique allows you to start with the inspiration that a real person gives but then to develop a character that has the flaws, goals, attitudes and beliefs that suits your story, your themes, and your worldview.

Just be sure to play fair. If your fictional character bears more than a passing resemblance to a real person, don’t skew the character so far from the true story that it feels slanderous. Also, if a character is based significantly on a real person, give that person credit in an author’s note.

Bottom line: Don’t be afraid of including real historical characters in your story, but do your homework and don’t forget that real people need to be developed as much as fictional ones.

[bctt tweet=”Can a real historical character add punch to your story? #writing #writetips” username=””]

Lisa E. Betz believes that everyone has a story to tell the world. She loves to encourage fellow writers to be intentional about their craft and courageous in sharing their words with others. Lisa shares her words through dramas, Bible studies, historical fiction and her blog about intentional living.

Connect with her:

Website: www.lisaebetz.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LisaEBetzWriter/
Twitter: @LisaEBetz

Tags character development, Characterization, historical figures, historical novel writing, historical research

History in the Making

Historical Writing Requires Attention to Details

Post author By Sandra Hart - History in the Making
Post date March 21, 2017
No Comments on Historical Writing Requires Attention to Details

By Sandra Merville Hart

When it comes to research, contemporary writers have it so easy, right? I am teasing, because these novelists definitely research their topics. However, it is true that everyday objects don’t have to be described in great detail in those genres.

For instance, when a character answers a phone in a contemporary novel, writers don’t have to mention that they hold the object to their ear to hear the conversation. The ringtone isn’t described unless it says something about the character’s personality or holds meaning in the story.

On the other hand, historical writers pay attention to those details as they paint a picture from days gone by. For example, novelists add descriptions of landaus, a four-wheeled carriage, for readers who want to see the vehicle in their imagination. These carriages contained two seats that faced each other to accommodate four adults comfortably. The driver sat on an elevated seat while guiding a team of four horses.

Landaus are no longer common so writers realize the need to describe these modes of transportation. Many objects fall into this category and enhance reader’s pleasure to learn a bit about the past.

However, there are other familiar objects that we, as writers, simply assume have been around for generations. I discovered this while writing a novel set in 1877.[bctt tweet=”Historical novelists can’t trust assumptions. Verify with research. #histfic #writer ” username=”@Sandra_M_Hart”]

My character sat on a front porch swing enjoying a conversation with her niece and new stepdaughter. The scene almost wrote itself. It didn’t occur to me until editing to wonder when porch swings came into use. I swung on them during childhood visits to older relatives’ homes, making me assume that they had been gracing front porches for years.

Assumptions have to be verified, requiring additional research.

In another novel, I wanted to show a character’s brothers playing tricks on her for April Fool’s Day. When did such shenanigans begin? Research showed this tradition began in 1700, making it safe to include in my 1904 novel.

How about the celebration of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day? These are relatively new holidays honoring parents.

I wanted to include a scene where fourteen-year-old twins (not yet called teenagers in 1877) decorated a Christmas tree at their boarding house with ribbons. They strung popcorn to arrange across the evergreen branches. Including these activities in my story required researching when Americans began to chop down evergreen trees to bring into their homes for Christmas. Did they decorate with ribbons, hang presents on the tree, pop corn for the occasion? These nostalgic details, once verified, bring richness to stories.

A wonderful aspect of research is that it often reveals traditions that are no longer followed. Including long-forgotten details deepens both your story and your reader’s delight.

We are often fairly certain of our facts, such as the date an event took place, but it’s always worth checking if there is any doubt. An abundance of Internet sites often makes this a quick process.

Sources

“April Fools Tradition Popularized,” History.com, 2017/02/24 http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/april-fools-tradition-popularized.

“Landau,” Encyclopeadia Brittanica, Inc., 2017/02/24 https://www.britannica.com/technology/landau-carriage.

Tags historical authors, historical novel writing, historical novelists, historical research, novelists, researching details, Sandra Merville Hart, writers, writing, writing life

History in the Making

Combatting the Noise Issue

Post author By Sandra Hart - History in the Making
Post date February 24, 2017
1 Comment on Combatting the Noise Issue

By Sandra Merville Hart

A few family members came over to watch a movie this weekend. The dramatic story prompted a lot of discussion. I asked my nephew what he thought. His surprising answer was that the movie had a “noise” issue. He mentioned that an important scene beside the pool had no sounds of kids splashing or folks walking by engaged in conservation. Even a maintenance man watering a flower bed would have added authenticity. The only thing happening in the scene was vital dialogue.

His insightful comment sparked my writerly reflections. The same mistake happens in novels. Historical fiction writers who ignore all important news events surrounding their story create a “noise” issue.[bctt tweet=”His surprising answer was that the movie had a noise issue. #Histfic #writing” username=”@Sandra_M_Hart”]

We can’t live in today’s world without being affected by news. Local events can affect us directly, perhaps something like a nearby business burning down. Not only do we know and sympathize with the owner’s family, we have to find another store to fill our needs until it is rebuilt. Our town, the nearest city, and state happenings affect us. And even though we may not live in close proximity with national/international scene, these happenings can still crush our spirits.

Though news didn’t travel as quickly in earlier eras, folks were just as upset by troubling events as we are today. Perhaps they grew more distressed than us because we are accustomed to hearing bad news on television around the clock.

Even if the novel being written is more about the attitudes, fashions, and morals of a particular era, consider adding one or two newsworthy items of the day. A few hours or days of research may be enough to add gems of authenticity to the story.

That sounds like extra work if you’re already in the midst of writing but it doesn’t have to be a time hog.

Say, for example, that your novel is set in 1832. You don’t have a clue about what’s happening in the United States or even how many states there are. The Internet has greatly simplified our work.

Google “1832 American History.” This search gives options for Wikipedia sites for “1832 in the United States” and “Timeline of United States (1820-59).” Onthisday.com lists “1832—Historical Events—on this day.” Another site, America’s Best History, has a post for “U.S. History Timeline: the 1830s.”

Wikipedia’s timeline shows that the 1830s saw the Second Great Awakening, a religious revival movement. A bit of research about this may reveal that it is something that fits easily into your novel.

The Oregon Trail started being used by folks determined to settle in the Pacific Northwest in the 1830s. Maybe a character in your novel has a family member already on the trail.

The Black Hawk War occurred in 1832. Did it happen near your novel’s setting?

This was a presidential election year. Andrew Jackson was reelected as our nation’s president in 1832. I found some fun traditions that folks used to follow on election day and wrote about them on my blog. Depending on the timing, election celebrations could be a festive event in your novel.

The sites referenced above are a springboard for ideas. Research further on details that snag your interest. You never know what you will find when opening the pages of history.

Allowing our characters to interact with actual historical events opens up a fascinating world and adds authenticity. Readers find it easier to “step back in time” with you.

It is one more way to add scene “noise” that many readers crave.

Sources

“1832 in the United States,” Wikipedia, 2017/01/22, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1832_in_the_United_States.

“Historical Events in 1832,” On This Day, 2017/01/23, http://www.onthisday.com/events/date/1832.

“Timeline of United States history (1820-59),” Wikipedia, 2017/01/22, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_United_States_history_(1820%E2%80%9359).

“U.S. Timeline: The 1830s, Conquering the West,” Americasbesthistory.com, 2017/01/23, http://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1830.html.

Tags Author, historical novel writing, historical research, Historical writing, history, Sandra Merville Hart, writer, writing

History in the Making

Research’s Unexpected Benefit

Post author By Sandra Hart - History in the Making
Post date January 21, 2017
No Comments on Research’s Unexpected Benefit

By Sandra Merville Hart

It happened again. Somewhere in the middle of writing the novel, the story got stuck and refused to budge.

Stories sometimes stall on page one hundred or two hundred seventeen or any page in between. Writers leave their computers for the day and come back the next morning, certain that today will be a better day. Today we will get past the hump. Today we will write two thousand words.

Reality sets in. Staring at the last written paragraph sparks no ideas. What happens next? We know the ending but how do the characters get there?

A few minutes on social media ought to get the creative juices flowing again but we are more distracted than ever after a half hour on Facebook and Twitter. Now we are worried about a friend’s health issues, wildfires out of control, and the latest political rants. None of this brings us back into our story.

View this as an opportunity.

Historical writers have a great advantage here. Numerous pages of notes taken during research hold nuggets of inspiration just waiting to be rediscovered.

[bctt tweet=”Historical #writers find inspiration from research notes when story stalls. #HistFic #writing” username=”@Sandra_M_Hart”]

Return to those research notes. Begin reading historical facts that fascinated you as a writer when first discovering them. Inspiration may arise an hour or two after reading the notes.

Studying research notes could also spark questions. Some previously unimportant fact catches your attention. Maybe this is what your story needs, but you wrote incomplete data or that particular resource didn’t give enough information.

That has happened to me several times. At first glance an event or newsworthy item in history had nothing to do with my story but I jot it down because it interested me. When scanning the notes later for inspiration, I realize that information takes my characters down a compelling path. Since I had originally deemed it unimportant, I now need to return to my resource material for further research.

If this happens to you, check out the books again that were most helpful for your story or search for additional books to delve into the topic. Reread website articles. Glean any information available about this new avenue. The story takes shape as the writer digs deeper.

Before the novelist knows it, the story comes to life again. Inspiration is back and the writer can’t wait to return to that blank page. Now rereading the last written scene grounds the author. The next scene isn’t difficult to write.

The previously ignored tidbit is actually the bridge that deepens your story. There was a reason the story stalled. We didn’t know all the information yet or we were ignoring something important and had to figure it out.

God cares about our stories. If you ask Him to give you His story and pray while writing, you will see Him work.

Even when your story stalls.

Tags Author, historical research, Historical writing, novelists, Research, Sandra Merville Hart, writer, writing

History in the Making

What Historical Authors Glean from Old Photos

Post author By Sandra Hart - History in the Making
Post date November 19, 2016

Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com Free Images

Historical authors can glean a wealth of information from old photos. They give an unintentional glimpse into everyday life of the time period. Authors stumble across these gems as a natural part of research. It’s important not to overlook the value of these snapshots.

Before we dive into some examples, let’s discuss ways to find photographs.

Research leads us to libraries lavishly filled with nonfiction books. Many of these contain photos, sketches, and illustrations. Another source is the Internet, which has an abundance of research sites. Local museums are also excellent sources for these visual aids.

[bctt tweet=”Old photos capture unintentional glimpses of everyday living for #Historical authors. #writing ” username=”@Sandra_M_Hart”]

For instance, while writing novels set during the Civil War, 1861-1865, I found sketches, paintings, and photographs of soldiers, battlefields, and weapons in books and on websites that added depth to my understanding of battles.

Regardless of where the photos are found, they present valuable clues that enrich our stories. Let’s look at some examples.

The main picture on this post is a painting of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It shows a group of mostly seated men suitably dressed for the 1776 event. A patterned rug covers only that part of the wooden floor where the most important persons in the room sit. A bordered cloth covers the two tables of what is presumably the president and the secretary. Elaborate ceiling molding and curtains indicate the meeting’s likely location is a town��s public office or a wealthy man’s residence. It would be interesting to research the flags on the wall — colonial or British? What we don’t know from a careful perusal is the year of the work or if the artist witnessed the event. If not, who supplied the descriptions for the artist? If many years passed between the event and the painting, authors may desire to dig through period writings if they intend to use the painting for novel descriptions.

The second example appears to be a school photo. Churches also snapped similar poses. The children are around the same age, sitting/standing for a group photo in a way that most of us have posed at school. Studying the hairstyles and clothing offers ways to approximate the year this was taken. For example, most girls are wearing anklets or knee socks. When were these worn? All girls wear a dress or skirt but the boys don’t wear suits, at least at this school. This also helps date the picture.

Authors love to find old Montgomery Ward or Sears, Roebuck catalogs because they show available products for a particular year. Though not from a catalog, the third example is an advertisement. In March 1896, “The Black Cat” cost five cents. The Shortstory Publishing Company in Boston ran the ad so does this mean “The Black Cat” was a book or magazine? It seems likely since the publisher has “shortstory” in its name and the ad references The Marchburn Mystery. Or is it a play? A rabbit and a black cat each play a banjo on the cover to entice customers.

I resisted the urge to research any of these pictures; I wanted to show what can be discovered by studying old pictures, paintings, and advertisements. Were I to use any of these in my story, I’d research further, but notice how much we learned from a photograph.

Photographers have a focal point such as a person or a landmark. Learn to look beyond the main focus of picture when researching. Notice the lantern hanging next to the door or the tire swing on an oak tree in the background. These everyday articles paint the picture we hope to portray to transport our readers back in time.

Tags authors, historical, historical authors, historical research, Historical writing, Sandra Merville Hart, writing

History in the Making

Don’t Say

Post author By Sandra Hart - History in the Making
Post date October 21, 2016

I watched a movie set in the 1800s recently where a child said, “Cool!” He didn’t refer to the temperature; something good happened. The comment jolted me out of the scene because it didn’t belong.

I’m currently reading a novel set in the 1600s. I’ve enjoyed learning about everyday living in that time period. However, the novel contains modern phrases that don’t fit the time period, such as read me like a book. This didn’t fit my perception of the vernacular from three hundred years ago and temporarily took me out of the story.

It’s probably a given that all historical authors will sometimes choose familiar words that don’t belong in the setting, but how can we limit these mistakes?

[bctt tweet=”Avoid a common mistake made by #historical #authors by immersing yourself in books set around your novel’s era.” username=”@Sandra_M_Hart”]

The first way is by immersing yourself in books set near the time period of your novel. For example, when researching the American Civil War, I started by reading soldier accounts. These informative transported me to battlefields. Diaries written by slaves, Southern wives, and Northern abolitionists demonstrated beliefs and opinions as well as words used to express themselves. These gave the civilian perspective. Novels such as Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Little Women, and A Man Without a Country are just a few of the books that taught me the faith and values that people held dear.

Become a detective while enjoying novels written during the time period. Read between the lines. For example, contemporary writers rarely describe phones because we all know what one looks like and its function. The same thing is true of books written two hundred years ago; everyday objects such as oil lamps are rarely described so read as if you are a detective searching for clues.

Another great tool at an author’s fingertips is the Online Etymology Dictionary. This dictionary shows the meaning, origin, and the approximate year a particular word began to be used.

For instance, some probably imagine the word cool started to refer to something other than temperature in the 1970s. The link above shows the word started to mean general approval in the 1940s, possibly earlier than expected.

We often say sure in our contemporary novels. This word has actually been in use for a long time. Charles Dickens used the word in A Christmas Carol, making it safe for me to write it in my Civil War novels. Checking the Etymology Dictionary shows that sure as the affirmative yes began around 1803. Sure thing is another term often used in historical novels – this is correct if your novel is set in 1836 or later.

An online source for the origin and meaning of phrases if a great writing tool. This link contains lists for Phrases coined by William Shakespeare, Phrases first found in the Bible, and Famous Last Words – to name a few. These are interesting and fun. While searching for a particular phrase, you may find a different one that fits even better.

I didn’t find the date that read me like a book came into usage. Well-read is surprisingly from the 1590s and reread as a verb began in 1782. This site is such a gift to authors.

When writing a word or phrase in your historical novel that an editor or critique partner questions, click on these links and dig deeper.

Chances are you and your critiquer will both learn something.

Tags authors, historical, historical authors, historical research, Historical writing, Sandra Merville Hart, writing