Researching historical settings for a first novel can feel like stepping into another world—a world where every detail, from the clothes people wore to the way they spoke, shapes the experience. But what if you don’t have access to museums, historical landmarks, or archives? What if your only tools are a computer, a library, and a good imagination?
The good news is that researching historical settings for a first novel doesn’t require expensive trips or rare resources. With today’s technology and storytelling tools, anyone can bring history to life, even from their bedroom.
This guide will show you how to research historical settings step-by-step, using tools and resources that are accessible to most people, no matter where they are.
1. Start with the Big Picture: Understand the Era
Before focusing on the fine details, start with the time period you want to write about. Imagine the broader world your characters live in—what defines their daily lives and struggles?
Questions to Ask About the Era:
- What major events or movements shaped the time? (Wars, inventions, revolutions?)
- Who held power—governments, kings, or religious leaders?
- What were the social rules about family, gender, and work?
- What technologies were common?
Example: Writing about World War II? You’d want to know about rations, blackouts, and how families were affected by soldiers leaving for war.
Where to Start:
- Free Timelines Online: Websites like BBC History, History.com, and World History Encyclopedia offer timelines and summaries of historical periods.
- YouTube Documentaries: Channels like Timeline – World History Documentaries provide free visual summaries of historical eras.
- Ebooks and Audiobooks: Many public libraries provide free digital resources through apps like Libby and OverDrive.
2. Focus on Daily Life—The Details That Make It Real
While big events shape history, it’s the small details that make your setting feel alive. Readers will believe your world when they can picture your characters cooking a meal, lighting a candle, or crossing a marketplace.
Key Areas to Research:
- Food: What did people eat? Were there specific dishes or ingredients common to the time?
- Clothing: What fabrics, colors, and designs were popular? Were clothes handmade or bought?
- Jobs: What trades and professions were available?
- Houses and Furniture: How were homes decorated? What tools or utensils were used?
- Hobbies and Games: What did people do for fun?
Example:
- In “Little House on the Prairie” by Laura Ingalls Wilder, descriptions of cooking over a fire and making butter help readers imagine pioneer life without modern conveniences.
- In “Anne of Green Gables” by L.M. Montgomery, Anne’s dresses and chores reflect 19th-century rural living.
Research Tools for Daily Life:
- Pinterest: Search for historical clothing, tools, or art styles by century.
- Recipe Blogs and Videos: Look up historical recipes to get a feel for the flavors of the time.
- Google Images: Search terms like “Victorian kitchen” or “medieval furniture” to see visual examples.
3. Use Primary Sources Whenever Possible
Primary sources—materials created during the time you’re writing about—are your best tool for authenticity. They give firsthand insights into what life felt like in that era.
Examples of Primary Sources:
- Letters and Diaries: Offer personal emotions and thoughts. (Example: “The Diary of Anne Frank.”)
- Old Maps and Blueprints: Show the layout of cities and towns.
- Paintings and Photographs: Capture clothing, landscapes, and celebrations. (Search: National Archives and Wikimedia Commons.)
- Speeches and Newspapers: Reveal how people communicated and what issues mattered to them.
No Libraries Nearby? No Problem.
- Google Books and Project Gutenberg: Offer free digital versions of old texts.
- Online Archives: Sites like Europeana and Chronicling America provide access to old newspapers and documents.
- Virtual Tours: Many museums, like The British Museum and The Smithsonian, have free virtual exhibits.
4. Let Historical Fiction Guide You
Historical fiction can be a shortcut to understanding tone, setting, and dialogue. Other authors have already done the research—read their books to learn how they balance facts and imagination.
Examples of Well-Researched Books:
- “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak – Set in WWII Germany, this novel captures the fear and resilience of the time.
- “Esperanza Rising” by Pam Muñoz Ryan – Focuses on migrant farm workers in the 1930s, weaving historical struggles into a hopeful story.
- “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” by John Boyne – Offers a child’s perspective on life during the Holocaust.
Tip: Study how these authors create emotional connections without overwhelming readers with historical facts.
5. Capture Language and Speech Patterns
Dialogue must feel authentic without being hard to understand. It’s tempting to copy old styles of speech, but readers may struggle to follow it. Instead, aim for a balance—add flavor without overloading the text.
Quick Fixes for Language:
- Formal Words: Use slightly more formal speech patterns than today’s casual conversations.
- Slang or Idioms: Sprinkle in period-specific phrases for flavor. (Example: “By Jove!” in Victorian times.)
- Syntax: Use sentence structures that feel old-fashioned but remain readable.
Example:
- In “A Little Princess” by Frances Hodgson Burnett, the formal yet emotional tone fits the Victorian setting.
- In “Black Beauty” by Anna Sewell, the tone is gentle and reflective, matching the rural 19th-century setting.
6. Use Sensory Details to Build Atmosphere
The best historical novels make readers feel present through sensory details.
Ask Yourself for Each Scene:
- What does it smell like? Smoke, baked bread, damp wood?
- What does it sound like? Horses’ hooves, bells, or whispered secrets?
- What does it look like? Cobblestone streets, lantern-lit alleys, or crowded marketplaces?
Example:
- “Salt to the Sea” by Ruta Sepetys uses chilling descriptions of winter landscapes to reflect the harsh realities of WWII.
7. Research from Anywhere—No Museums Needed
Even if you can’t visit historical places, you can still research effectively:
- Google Earth: Explore old cities and landscapes virtually.
- YouTube Reenactments: Watch videos of battles, dances, or festivals.
- Podcasts and Documentaries: Learn history while multitasking. (Check out: “History Extra” or “Stuff You Missed in History Class.”)
FAQs About Researching Historical Settings for a First Novel
1. How do I research historical settings if I don’t live near museums or historical landmarks?
You don’t need to travel to research history effectively—there are plenty of tools available right at your fingertips.
Solutions:
- Online Archives and Libraries: Websites like Google Books, Project Gutenberg, and the Digital Public Library of America provide free access to old books, maps, and documents.
- Virtual Tours: Museums like The Louvre, The British Museum, and The Smithsonian offer free virtual exhibits that let you explore art, clothing, and artifacts online.
- Videos and Podcasts: Channels like CrashCourse History and podcasts like Stuff You Missed in History Class cover historical periods in engaging formats.
- Maps and Images: Use Google Earth to explore old city layouts or Wikimedia Commons for historical photos and illustrations.
- Forums and Groups: Join history forums, subreddits, or Facebook groups like Historical Fiction Writers for advice and shared resources.
Tip: When online research gets overwhelming, organize information into folders based on categories like daily life, politics, fashion, etc., to keep everything manageable.
2. How do I make my characters’ behavior fit the time period without making them unrelatable?
Readers want characters they can connect with, even in historical settings. The trick is to balance historical accuracy with modern relatability.
Strategies:
- Blend Universal Emotions with Context: People in every era have felt fear, love, anger, and joy. Focus on emotions your readers recognize, but tie them to historical events or social rules.
- Give Context for Progressive Views: If a character challenges societal norms, show why they think differently—maybe they were influenced by a well-traveled relative or personal experience.
- Avoid Unrealistic Modern Traits: A 14th-century girl wouldn’t casually discuss gender equality, but she might resent her lack of freedom in ways that feel believable.
Example:
- In “Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry” by Mildred D. Taylor, Cassie Logan’s perspective reflects her time’s struggles with racism and injustice, yet her boldness and desire for fairness make her relatable to modern readers.
3. What if I can’t find enough information about the time period I’m writing about?
Some historical periods lack detailed records, especially for ordinary people. Instead of abandoning the idea, focus on what’s available and fill in the gaps creatively.
Options to Fill Gaps:
- Find Similar Cultures: If direct information about your time period is limited, look at neighboring regions or similar eras for clues about customs, tools, and beliefs.
- Use Folktales and Legends: Myths and oral stories can reveal how people imagined their world, even if the specifics are unclear.
- Blend History and Fiction: Historical fiction doesn’t have to be perfect—it just needs to feel plausible. Use facts as a foundation and build fictional elements where records are missing.
Example:
- “The Night Diary” by Veera Hiranandani is set during India’s Partition in 1947. Since detailed accounts of ordinary families during that period are scarce, the author uses personal emotions and family dynamics to create authenticity.
4. How can I describe historical settings without overwhelming readers with too many details?
The key is to show, not tell. Readers don’t need long descriptions of every object in a room—they need enough detail to imagine the scene and feel grounded in it.
Techniques to Balance Details:
- Focus on What Characters Notice: Instead of listing items in a market, describe the smell of spices or the clink of coins.
- Limit Descriptions to One or Two Sentences: Use short, vivid details rather than lengthy paragraphs.
- Tie Details to Action: Show characters using objects rather than just describing them.
Example:
- Instead of: “The table was covered with lace cloth and pewter dishes, surrounded by heavy wooden chairs.”
- Try: “She ran her fingers over the lace cloth, wondering how long it had taken to stitch each flower, while pewter dishes reflected the dim candlelight.”
Tip: Treat descriptions like seasoning—enough to enhance the flavor but not so much that it overpowers the story.
5. What tools can I use to stay organized while researching historical details?
Research can get messy fast, so staying organized is crucial.
Tools for Organization:
- Notion or Evernote: Create notebooks and categorize research by themes like clothing, culture, or transportation.
- Scrivener: A popular tool for writers, especially for keeping research and drafts in one place.
- Google Docs and Sheets: Use folders to store links, notes, and outlines.
- Index Cards or Journals: Perfect for writers who prefer offline organization.
Tip: Highlight sources that need double-checking or fact verification before final edits.
6. How do I make historical dialogue sound realistic?
Dialogue is one of the hardest parts of writing historical fiction because language constantly evolves.
Steps to Create Authentic Dialogue:
- Study Letters and Plays: Read works from your chosen era to hear how people spoke.
- Sprinkle in Period Words: Use old-fashioned expressions sparingly to flavor dialogue without making it hard to follow. (Example: “By Jove!” or “Alas!”)
- Avoid Overusing Accents: Dialects and accents can add authenticity, but too much can distract readers.
- Balance Formal and Casual Speech: Make upper-class characters speak formally, while working-class characters use simpler language.
Example:
- In “The War That Saved My Life” by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, the dialogue captures British phrases without being confusing, keeping it accessible for modern readers.
7. What if my story blends real history with fantasy elements?
Historical fantasy allows for more creative freedom, but it still needs to feel grounded in history.
Tips for Blending Fantasy and History:
- Keep the rules of magic consistent and believable within the time period.
- Anchor the world in real historical references, such as architecture, clothing, or cultural customs.
- Use history to create conflict—magical creatures might be persecuted during witch hunts, for example.
Example:
- “Serafina and the Black Cloak” by Robert Beatty mixes historical settings with supernatural mysteries, balancing realism and fantasy.
8. How do I know when I’ve done enough research?
Research can easily turn into procrastination. The trick is to know when to stop gathering information and start writing.
Signs You’re Ready to Write:
- You can describe your setting clearly in a few sentences without looking up more facts.
- You’ve answered key questions about daily life, clothing, and culture.
- You have notes or outlines ready for quick reference if you need to check details later.
Tip: Write placeholders for scenes if research is holding you back, and add specifics later during editing.
Summary
Writing historical fiction is as much about bringing emotions to life as it is about getting the facts right. Whether you’re exploring medieval castles or war-torn cities, your job as a writer is to make readers feel like they’re there—even if they’ve never stepped foot in a museum or read a history book.
Key Takeaways:
- Focus on accessible research tools like online archives and free books.
- Prioritize daily life details to create a sense of realism.
- Organize your research and stop when you have enough to write confidently.
Now, take what you’ve learned and start writing! The past is waiting for you to bring it to life.
