How to Time Travel for Research

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By Barbara M. Britton

When I asked my local ACFW chapter what they would like me to write about for this blog, one member wanted to know how I organized my research. I don’t organize my research well, but I have found facts and information that make me an expert on a specific time and place.

How was I going to make a WWI Historical authentic and accurate without being alive in 1918? Here’s what helped me add voice and accuracy to my story.

Ebay can be a treasure trove.

In my story, the heroine read a magazine called Women’s Home Companion. Imagine my delight when I was able to get copies of the magazine from 1917 and 1918 on eBay. Fashions of the day came alive. Advertisements helped me see product prices. Recipes helped me know what people ate for dinner. War stories gave me a glimpse of battle and what was happening on the home front to support the soldiers. I even enjoyed a romantic serial from the time period. Reading the magazine helped me learn phrases and language commonly used in that era.

I also “won” an 1880s cookbook. In another of my stories, I had a heroine who was a foodie. Margarine was not around in the 1800s, so I was able to see a list of ingredients for recipes.

Diaries are an author’s best friend.

My travel around Alaska has been relegated to cruise ship ports. When I found a diary written by a missionary to Alaska in the early 1900s, I was able to gain valuable insight into Alaskan life. The diary was from my local library. I learned about travel methods, food habits, and what animals lived in Alaska. Old family diaries hold valuable information for novels, too.

I check out children’s books from the library when I want some information on a topic, but not a dump truck of information. Children’s books usually have nice pictures. I checked out books on Alaska to learn about regional industries, wildlife, and the history of the state.

Do not be afraid to call a library in the town where your novel is set. Reference librarians hold a wealth of information about happenings in the area.

Paper maps are golden.

I use paper maps, especially Biblical maps, to decide how a character will travel and how many days it will take to get to a location. You can find old maps online and in libraries. Historical societies will have early maps of an area. Antique stores may have maps for sale. Maps helped me learn the names and pathways of bodies of water around Alaska.

Autobiographies keep it real.

The hero in my WWI novel had lost both his legs in a trench explosion. What would it be like to suddenly lose the ability to walk? I read an autobiography by Lewis B. Puller Jr. (“Fortunate Son”) that told how he had lost his legs in Vietnam. Prosthetics improved from 1918 to 1978, but the emotional impact would be similar.

Interviewing someone who lived in the setting of your novel will add details to your story and make the book sound authentic.

If you’re looking to add specificity, authenticity, or the elusive “voice” to your novel, try one of these research options. The treasures on eBay may prove useful in your research.

Research tips for your novel. Ebay can light the way. @BarbaraMBritton #writingtips #writinglife #encouragement #authorlife #ACFWBlogs #ACFWCommunity Click To Tweet

Barbara M. Britton writes Christian Fiction from Bible Times to present day USA. Her upcoming novel “Christmas at Whispering Creek,” is a compelling, yet entertaining, story that shines a light on breast cancer. Barbara has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. Find out more about Barbara’s books on Fiction Finder.

Comments 4

  1. My favorite stories are historical fiction and what I most like to read
    That is why Untill June is one of my favorites. I can imagine how much time you have to spend on facts from the periods. I love stories from the
    1800’s.

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