This question is popping up on a multitude of threads, so let's just address it here...on a thread of its own.
"I'm writing about (Insert time period here) and I don't have time to find all the stuff I need. What do I do?"
Usually this question is followed by a plea for help in finding resources that will tell you where something in a town is located, or how close the nearest tram stop was to this place.
There are two answers to this question, and I'll provide both of them.
First: Does it matter? If your character had to wait two hours for the next coach to come by in rural London in 1870, who's going to know if that's right? Almost no one. If it matters to the plot, put it in. If he needs that time to figure out who most likely stole his wallet, leave it. If it doesn't matter, and you're just cranking out more words to satisfy the God of NaNo, then put it in and highlight it for later removal.
Second: That brings us to the second answer. NaNoWriMo is about speed. If you need the Germans to bomb the countryside, and your character is a civilian spotter, then make it up.
"As Charles scanned the skies he spotted a swarm of planes, clearly heading in from the coast. After a few moments he identified them and JU-52's, counted 25, and then ran across the field to his telephone."
Okay, maybe you have no idea whether they were JU-52's, or whether that model of plane was a bomber, or whether they would have flown in a group of 25, or even whether there was such a plane as a JU-52. IT DOESN'T MATTER! Not yet, at least.
Write it, highlight it for later review, and move on. In the time it takes you to dig out the truth, you could have bombed the village into the stone age, scared half the cattle in Sussex into a stampede, and allowed Charles to run down the road to Little Whinging to tell Harry Potter the Hun was coming!
NaNoWriMo is about writing. Editing is something you do later...like when the family Christmas gathering at Aunt Marge's has gone seriously boring.
Write first. Write fast. Write lots. Toss out the junque later.
----------
GP
--------------
2006 NaNo winner - Berlin, Witnesses at the Crossroads of History, Book I
2007 NaNo winner - Berlin, Witnesses at the Crossroads of History, Book II
2008 NaNo winner - Berlin, Witnesses at the Crossroads of History, Book III
2009 -
46,709 / 50,000
Oct 27, 2009 - 21 29
I saw this mentioned on BoingBoing a while ago, where one of the poster said they made up a word and used that as a placeholder. "Chen climbed the QXZ steps of the building." Then, when you get to editing, you can search for QXZ (or whatever you choose) in your document and look up the correct information. Star Trek writers would do the same, leaving a gap for the technology people to put in technobabble. Still, I do think researching basic technology, culture and attitudes of the time and place is vital to begin writing - it's just the extreme detail that we don't need right now!
6,245 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2009 - 10 33
One more tip, and, yes, it's that old chestnut: Try writing at least halfway about something you know. As in, if you're writing about a time period you don't know the first gosh-darn thing about, set it in a country or city that you know something about; conversely, if you're writing about a place you know nothing about, set it in a time period in which you do.
Also, find out the similarities between your time period and that time period, or anything you know about that time period and setting (think of The Crucible and McCarthyism, if you want). For instance, my story last year was set in Buenos Aires, in 1978. I am 28--was born in 1981--and so was not alive in that time period, but I remembered some of the Eighties, and figured out what 1978 had in common with the Eighties culturally. I made the protagonist American instead of Argentine, because I am American (most of the supporting characters were Argentine). I set it in Buenos Aires, because I lived there for a study abroad, and so knew the city better than just about any other part of the Southern Cone, so could more easily write a story there than, say, in Rio de Janeiro or Patagonia (neither of which I've ever visited). I also chose a time period I knew something about, because I studied human rights law/the Dirty War when I was down there, so I came to the time period with some knowledge already. Choosing that country/time period/historical event was much easier than, say, choosing the Boxer Rebellion (an event I know practically nothing about, from a time period I know practically nothing about, from a continent--never mind country--which I've never visited).
Hope this helps someone, too! It's kind of a truism, but oh well.
(Now, to rid myself of last year's banner...)
----------NaNo 09: The Shrouded Sea (Fantasy)
Ours are the tears, though few, sincerely shed,
While ocean shrouds and sepulchres our dead.
- Lord Byron
21,853 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2009 - 15 49
I'm a stickler for historical accuracy. I do loads of research before I start a novel and I pretty much always write NYC in the jazz era, but I can't always predict those little details that crop up.
When I have a question, I'll put a note in my text, usually in a diiferent color font, so I can find it easily when I'm editing.
If it's a fairly obscure detail, I'll hunt for it later. But, if it's something I could spend days hunting for, but someone else might know it off-hand. That's when I'll ask. And, I'll be happy to answer specific questions for anyone else.
But, with three days to NaNo, now's not the time for someone to be posting questions like "What can you tell me about New York?" or "What can you tell me about Prohibition?" You know what I mean?
If you don't know your locale, why not write about what you're familiar with? Then 'study up' for next year's NaNo set in New York.
----------"You can go much further with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone."
Al Capone
998 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2009 - 22 03
If you don't know your locale, why not write about what you're familiar with? Then 'study up' for next year's NaNo set in New York.
I feel the same way. I was planning to write my NaNo about RAF pilots during the Battle of Britain, but I don't know enough to really do the piece justice. So I'm writing it at a different time.
----------NaNo '09: The Unfortunate Misadventures of Dr. Adam R. Pryce
21,853 / 50,000
Oct 29, 2009 - 03 16
As for whether it matters:
In my first book, I had a great car chase between a Model A Ford and a Willys Whippet across the George Washington Bridge (from NYC to NJ) ---- 2 years before the bridge was built.
I'm STILL hearing about that!
----------"You can go much further with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone."
Al Capone
50,116 / 50,000
Oct 29, 2009 - 17 57
I know exactly what you mean. I love helping people with their research but I'm amazed at the basic nature of most of the research questions being asked in the forums. It's no fun answering if what people want you to do is write a general introductory essay on the topic.
For my own part, my novel will be telling a story that I've wanted to explore for some time now. I've already done a great deal of digging around in books, scoping out locations in person, and so on. Hopefully I'll be able to let go of the need to look things up and spend November just writing...
55,001 / 50,000
Oct 29, 2009 - 18 25
I read clicked on this because, halfway through the stack of giant books I have on the 1920s, fictional books written in the 1920s, and books on transmission engineering, I decided that NaNoWriMo was not the place to be accurate. However, I am an accuracy person (or at least, I like to know when I'm using creative license). My question is one that I'm sure has been asked, my apologies, but here it is:
How do I find out the tiny things? I don't have the time left to track down every invention and find out its exact introduction date, and I also am not enough of a plotter to figure out what day of which year my story will start, etc.
My story isn't EXACTLY historical fiction, if it matters; it's more of an era-piece in that it doesn't revolve around a historic even and the time period is more coincidental. It's mostly a mystery.
----------50,021 / 50,000
Oct 29, 2009 - 20 00
I'd hope anyone reading this believes that the details do matter. They do. They do. But that's what rewrites are for.
I have wondering how anyone write about a place/time they know little about. If it's important to the story, you need to spend more than a couple of days researching it. If it's not, um, why bother?
If you are familiar with the big picture and you get stuck on little details (horrid little, time wasting things), the Character & Plot Realism forum is handy, or away from Nano, try Little Details on Live Journal. There are other sites out there too.
----------Years done: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Years won: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Years didn't think it a good idea in October : 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
47,595 / 50,000
Oct 30, 2009 - 05 32
I write about the mediaeval period, but the stories are 'local' plot and character based, not dwelling on major political and historical events. Over the last few years of doing NaNo I have a much better idea of the general feel of the period and the people, and something of the history.
Even though I am writing for fun, and not for publication, I do hope to get things right, but if the war was held too early to allow one of my MCs to take part in ... I will gloss over exactly which war/border skirmish it was. I think if he is a believable mediaeval character that is far more important than the actual dates of the battles ...
On the other hand, I have asked for help, as when I was just about to write about an interesting conversation over breakfast, and my characters decided they wanted coffee, pain au chocolat and a cigarette.....
----------2005: The Cheese Gate Guard
2006: The Heron's Bridge
2007: Fair Warning
2009: Valley of Thorns
70,184 / 50,000
Oct 30, 2009 - 15 44
I know that if I had not done at least some research for my novel, I would not win this year (not that it's a sure thing anyway, but having 0 research would have put me at a real disadvantage). But I'm not too concerned with historical accuracy at this point. The research I did was designed for me to actually be able to write the story - to know my timeline, figure out what to do about plot holes, to just read up on what other people think about the period in which I'm writing (Jesus' life) and get ideas. The minutiae of day-to-day life in Jerusalem during that time can wait until the revision process happens.
----------www.allysonwhipple.com
My Lulu.com storefront
2005-2007: Epic fail!
2008: Winter White Lights (Winner!)
2009: Loveless Gospels
70,184 / 50,000
Oct 30, 2009 - 15 51
How do I find out the tiny things? I don't have the time left to track down every invention and find out its exact introduction date, and I also am not enough of a plotter to figure out what day of which year my story will start, etc.
My story isn't EXACTLY historical fiction, if it matters; it's more of an era-piece in that it doesn't revolve around a historic even and the time period is more coincidental. It's mostly a mystery.
Honestly, if I were that strapped for time, I'd make something up and insert the year in either in a different color or highlighted text, to come back to later when I revised. I am sure I will be doing that this year. I did a lot of research, but I am sure there are some things I did not consider, and that I won't have time to look up during the frenzy of November. So I'll just flag them in red font and correct them in December!
----------www.allysonwhipple.com
My Lulu.com storefront
2005-2007: Epic fail!
2008: Winter White Lights (Winner!)
2009: Loveless Gospels
44,058 / 50,000
Oct 30, 2009 - 21 49
First off - Nano is for writing, not rewriting...agree with all the others that note the ridiculousness of fiddling with minor inconsequential details. Highlight made up texts you want to research later, name it a funky name, do what ever you want just get the words down.
Second - I am a full believer in write by the seat of my pants style writing...I have a basic plot, outline, characters that could technically exist in that period, and a good round of maps, but when it gets right down to it, they tell me what they want to do not the other way around, and no amount of planning or research can prepare a writer for that in this sort of maniacal time crunch of Nano.
That said... I study and teach history, when I'm not writing... I've got 20 plot lines in a back log to pull from, most developed while studying a particular period in a college history class or research paper. I'm working on the Civil War era, so I've got some historical romance books (written by authors I know do their research) set in that era to prepare for Nano. I've also got maps, and a number of key sites for minor things from the period bookmarked. On top of that I have my senior thesis paper, which I chose to write about Women who fought in the Civil War...done a few years ago, which the idea for this novel in mind.
As for being concerned with history, get the facts straight, but get the words down first - perfect facts are for the rewriting process not Nano... and you, as the writer, do have creative liscense, don't be afraid to use it. I love reading Author's Notes in the back of historical romance/historical fiction, where they explain the concepts behind their work and the ties ins to history and where they used creative liscense to make history work for their story.
Just breathe deep, and put the words to paper. Have Fun.
^^
Write on!
Destiny Trevett
----------Destiny Trevett
NaNo 2009 - Defiance ( In Hyperdrive )
NaNo 2008 - Eldaron ( On Hold )
NaNo 2007 - Angel of the Stars ( Shelved )
NaNo 2006 - Holon: The Dragon Trinity ( Shelved )
NaNo 2005 - BETA: Identity Crisis (Completed - 70k -12/15/05)
36,786 / 50,000
Oct 31, 2009 - 18 07
Thanks for the tips there. I was already thinking about just writing, going with the flow, and then worrying about the tiny details/accuracies afterward. Now I know that sounds like the perfect plan to get me through this month! Fingers are the ready...
52,528 / 50,000
Oct 31, 2009 - 22 34
Thanks for the tips! I write historical fiction most of the time, but I have a degree in History and I emphasized in the time period that I write it (19th century America), so I have some background help. The one thing that always gets me: Clothes. I can't ever find great research online about 19th century clothing and styles! And this is the big thing I always think about!
----------Chantal
"Someday never comes." - CCR
chamahash.blogspot.com
35,506 / 50,000
Nov 1, 2009 - 00 31
Thats exactly what I am doing :)
My novel spans across pretty much the entire history of mankind (well not quite - but it will be covering about 15 different time periods, ranging from back to when we were cave dwellers to modern day and beyond). My knowledge of history is rudimentary at best, so I will need to research the finer details of each era, but that can be done after NANO. My novel is very much character driven and not really based around historic events so I think I can get away with this approach :)
----------2006 - Leaving Mirtan (Winner)
2009 - One Day at a Time
36,786 / 50,000
Nov 1, 2009 - 05 31
My novel spans across pretty much the entire history of mankind (well not quite - but it will be covering about 15 different time periods, ranging from back to when we were cave dwellers to modern day and beyond). My knowledge of history is rudimentary at best, so I will need to research the finer details of each era, but that can be done after NANO. My novel is very much character driven and not really based around historic events so I think I can get away with this approach :)
15 different eras? Wow, now that's a task and a half! And a whole lot of research to go with it! Good luck with that one. I'm sticking to just the good old fashioned Victorian era. lol
35,506 / 50,000
Nov 1, 2009 - 19 56
My novel is a bit hard to describe. It follows a series of 'days' in the life of Adam, a 19 year old man who has been born and raised in a variety of different time periods. The novel explores Adam’s different lives and examines the changes to his character that occur as a result of differing social norms, upbringing and personal experiences.
Each chapter is based in a different time period and only covers one day, starting with Adam waking up and finishing with him going to sleep. Considering that the world is viewed through the eyes of one man, and that it covers such a limited time frame (1 day) I don't really need to have thorough knowledge of minute details (for eg what the Pharaoh ate for breakfast). As long as I have a basic understanding of the way each society operated then I should be ok :)
The novel is more concerned with the human condition and the concept of 'nature vs. nurture' rather than actual historical events. Setting the character within different eras allows me to explore these issues in what I hope is a somewhat unique format. He doesn't travel through time or enter a portal or anything like that. He is 'born and bred' within each era. Each chapter is stand alone and separate from the next - there is no continuity as such.
I wasn’t sure how I should classify this novel. I decided to whack it into the Historical group because that seemed like a semi logical fit.
----------2006 - Leaving Mirtan (Winner)
2009 - One Day at a Time
36,786 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 03 47
Wow Sandster! That is a challenge and a very unique story. I can see that being an interesting read at the end of the month. Good luck with all of that!
1,002 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 14 15
First time Nano-er; I feel in some ways, that my family history has prepared me for the story I'm writing, but I find that lots of details do need researching as I go along, because I can write a LOT that needs to be incorporated. Even though my topic is historically rooted, it's not what I would choose to write, based on my own tastes; however, this story NEEDS to be told, so I am researching as I go along, and will have others crit me and will follow-up in Dec on my 'missed details'.
24,264 / 50,000
Nov 5, 2009 - 21 59
Thank you! That was exactly what I needed to know.
14,627 / 50,000
Nov 7, 2009 - 20 32
So, NaNo virgin. My story is set in and around Classical Greece, so I've had to do research on that period. I feel like I can fluff the incidental details, because the tone is more cross between psychological and supernatural adventure stories (or at least a close-to-realistic take on those issues - not really Cornwellian levels of detail, but definitely a historical/mythological hybrid on some level). I find that absorbing historical details has been great for generating plot ideas, but as you can probably its been pretty slow going. And of course, life is always apt to get in the way (*rolls eyes* stoopid life). Anyway, all the information is getting stored/noted - and most of the tips here on the nature of NaNo vs historical research are incredibly practical (thx guys!).
----------Tea. Darjeeling. Milk. One sugar. Cheers.