How to Proceed in Plotting an Early Nineteenth Century Novel http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/historical-fiction/threads/49085 Writers_Bloc It's a broad subject, but I'd like to know the opinions of writers who are in the trenches of genuinely working on novels. I'm trying something new--a real-world setting for a story. It feels so overwhelming trying to start off, being a novice, but I was wondering if anyone has any advice about going about my background research? That is, have any of you come across favorite sources, books or websites, or happen to have picked up any vital info on this time period? (To quit being vague, I chose the year 1817...I'll see how it works). I've actually invented a new country for the MCs, probably making this more of an alternate history, then, but with my country situated in the Atlantic southwest of Great Britain my country's "neighbors" are my biggest concern when it comes to specificity: England and environs, France, Spain and Portugal...although I know the rest of the world is just as pertinent. Also, as readers/writers, is there anything you think is particularly important to detail in a story like this and make sure I have accurate? Food, or period literature, or philosophical/religious movements--anything that stands out as more important? Or anything that might specifically be "the rage" in any one place that shouldn't be overlooked? Thanks! Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:11:30 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/historical-fiction/threads/49085?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1050609 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/historical-fiction/threads/49085?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1050609 Grand Poobah Alternative History has its own rules, which is largely to say there aren't any. However, if you're really going to attempt to integrate your story into reality, here's my suggestions. First, get a couple timeline books and make a list of significant events that happened, putting them in date order. I include anything remotely relevant, because you just never know what might work in. Then I start digging into those events, along with anything else. For example, if you were writing about the period of the 30 Years War, you need to read several historical sources to get a feel for who was doing what, when, and why. If you're writing during the Spanish Armada, most things you'll find are written from the English point of view, but knowing what was going on in Spain, and the rest of Europe is equally important. Why did they sail? What did they hope to accomplish? How far back did the disagreement go that ultimately caused them to sail? Finally, what happened? We "know" the English ships were smaller, quicker, and more agile...and that the Spanish weren't able to fight the battle their own way. We also "know" that the weather wasn't great the whole time. But, what did the Spanish think after the whole thing was over? Did they report they got beat, or did the make excuses. As you write, you should constantly use this work as a skeleton. Often I write directly into that framework, and just delete events as I come to them, either having included them or tossing them as not relevant. Obviously I keep an original so I can go back and see what was there if I need to. Another example: When I wrote the final months of WWII, as seen within Berlin, I had a daily list of what happened on the Russian Front, the Western Front, the Italian front, and elsewhere. The people in Berlin wouldn't have known all those things, but it did allow me to inject little things..."The English radio reported that Köln (Cologne) had fallen." Goebbels didn't announce that, but people did find out. I also tracked every significant bombing raid on Berlin, so I could add in information about "a quiet night" or a "really bad raid" last night. The other thing, which is equally important, is to simply read. Lots! You should be a virtual history professor when it comes to the time period. You should be able to identify who was on the throne, or heading the government, and what was happening. When were the plagues of the time? When did the currency change? Was there a really bad year for crops? What else affected people? Example: The winter of 1945-46 was one of the mildest on record, and only that allowed people in conquered Germany to survive. Those kinds of facts are important. In the winter of 1948-49, Berlin endured more then three weeks of continual fog (a relatively uncommon event) that nearly caused the collapse of the Luftbrücke (the allied airlift), and the Russians were certain they had "won" the blockade of Berlin. In the end, you'll toss 90% of it, but you'll never know what 10% to keep until you have it all...and then write. Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:12:40 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/historical-fiction/threads/49085?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1051814 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/historical-fiction/threads/49085?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1051814 Tex2S Well, I might be in the minority, but what really gets me pumped in alternative times/places is getting to see the everyday life of the people who lived there - you know, underwear and breakfast-food and what the beds were made of. I wouldn't, you know, halt the story to go on for pages about every object on the dressing-table, but to me, when the writer inserts a brief sentence about how the heroine in her sickbed has grown so very tired of eating nothing but semolina pudding and egg wine, it's a tiny, scintillating, *relatable* detail (don't you hate it when you're sick and can't have anything good?) and a gold-star standard for an author who's done his homework. The more of those you can sprinkle in there, the more fascinating and lively your setting and characters will be - and that's before we hear word one about the plot! Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:48:29 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/historical-fiction/threads/49085?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1056440 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/historical-fiction/threads/49085?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1056440 Lady_Indis_Dress Nothing of substance to add to the wonderful advice you've already been given, but I wanted to note that if your story is in the real world and the course of history isn't altered then it probably fits more in invented history than alternative. There's quite a bit of information available for the time period you're looking at as far as England goes. The history is the most important aspect but you might also want to look at the way people spoke in those times. Do a Google search for information on Regency terms and cant, and you should get plenty of information that could come in handy when you get down to the details of the writing. Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:04:17 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/historical-fiction/threads/49085?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1056464 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/historical-fiction/threads/49085?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1056464 Aurora Ottiliana I am happy that somebody brought up this subject! I am myself entangled in the end of the 18th century and get myself drowned in church records to find out what people were doing, how they were named, and what were their death causes. I think it is important to find a balance between getting tied down into historical details and keeping your creativity flowing. The particular idea of an invented country in the middle of a 'real world' caught my fantasy. Why were these people there at the first place? Were they 'aliens' from outer space`? Where they outlaws coming from some of the other countries? How long have they lived there? If they lived in this particular island for a very long time, there is always the risk of genetic disturbances. With what kind of disturbance do you want to provide your persons? You may imagine they were outcast because of some paricularity in the first place, and that this trait was enforced by heritage. Next angle is to image if they met 'normal' or existing people from the outside? In order to picture their meeting, you have to plot in what way these invented characters were different. Futher, to place the fantasy into your time, I can tell you one detail I found about the climate in 1816. There was a volcano eruption at Tambora that made 1816 the coldest year of the century. Crops were destroyed, people probably died from cold, etc. This is a detail well worth incorporating, I think. The history around you may find out yourself. To anchor your story, just make sure you know it and place your story within the historical context (see above for a wonderful advice). Tell us more about your progress! Good luck! Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:30:25 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/historical-fiction/threads/49085?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1064129 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/historical-fiction/threads/49085?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1064129 Writers_Bloc Thanks so much for the feedback! Valuable advice, everyone; I really appreciate it. So I've realized, to my surprise (I ought to have remembered this from school) that my time period is, at least in regard to England, the Regency period. Exciting to narrow down the research terms. The problem is that "Regency" seems inseparable from "Romance" when trying to find how-to writing info about it or novels to inspire from the same setting. Does anyone happen to know of novels in this period that don't heavily involve romance? "Invented history" is exactly what I'm writing. I'm trying to save face by claiming my country is isolationist and they've managed relative autonomy since the Roman invasion. But with various seafaring trades being a great part of their industry, I don't know how much they can isolate themselves and stay away from other fads and cultures. I suppose I could always claim they are exceptionally snobbish. :) My biggest concern at this point, with twenty-some holds on books in the library, is trying to stay sane in the midst of juggling relative historical accuracy, a sound plot and, of course, the mechanics of good writing. At this point I seem to be losing hold of one or two of them even so early on. How do you guys manage overall sanity? Does the information truly come first, or a detailed start-to-finish storyline? I guess it isn't that simple a question. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:08:58 +0100 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/historical-fiction/threads/49085?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1088287 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/historical-fiction/threads/49085?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1088287