| How do you start writing a novel? | | | | the same time period. |
| The first thing I do is decide the genre and the | | | | Early settlers from Texas in Arizona could be told |
| setting. | | | | by their hats. |
| I suppose you saw some version of Back to the | | | | Other Factors: |
| Future. Here the setting is changing not because | | | | If your character is a nurse, you must know |
| of location, but because of time period. Flashing | | | | something about how a nurse performed at her |
| back or forward changes the appearance of the | | | | location and during her time period. |
| same location. The setting is new, isn't it? | | | | Don't have that soldier shoot someone with a |
| Genre is the type of novel you are writing. That | | | | Winchester during the War of 1812. Oliver |
| could be a western, action, romance, detective, | | | | Winchester was born in 1810. |
| mystery, gothic, or what ever you decide to | | | | Each character needs a history. A person's history |
| dream up. | | | | at least in part determines his or her actions. You |
| Science fiction would be another genre. | | | | may never mention such a history in your novel, |
| Did you notice a possible change in the genre in | | | | but you must know it. |
| one version of Back to the Future? The kid on | | | | Each character needs characteristics. You may |
| the skateboard changed to a gun-totting | | | | never mention most of them but you must know |
| westerner. Well, it was still science fiction. | | | | them. These are the things that in combination |
| The setting is where the action takes place. If the | | | | make your character distinct from all other |
| action is in the present, you will not have a great | | | | characters in the world. Take Superman for |
| deal of research to do on the time period of the | | | | instance or Henry the Eighth. |
| action. However, if the action takes place in 1850 | | | | The bottom line is that all things must be |
| or 130 B.C., you must do research on that time | | | | consistent and logical if you want your novel to |
| period as was done in Back to the Future. | | | | fly. |
| Once you have decided where the action is to | | | | If something is strange, you have some explaining |
| take place and in what time period, you can | | | | to do. |
| define your characters. Here are some things to | | | | How to do Research |
| consider: | | | | The easiest way to do your research is by |
| Names: | | | | reading in your genre. |
| Does the name of each character fit into the | | | | I don't like reading most novels. Therefore I do |
| location and time period? | | | | research on the time and place. |
| Don't call your Viking raider, Joe. | | | | I like to start with a map of the area. Then I like |
| Try Eric the Mad or some such. | | | | to read the history of the area even before the |
| Language: | | | | time period determined. I read history books, old |
| What would the language be of your character? | | | | magazine articles, Internet articles, etc. I like to |
| If he lived in 1750 in London, what phrases would | | | | visit the area and visit museums and historical |
| he use? | | | | societies. I like to talk to the people, especially the |
| What would he sound like? | | | | old timers that have significant tales to tell. |
| That will depend on his class won't it? | | | | Go into book stores, yard sales, book sales, junk |
| A London cobbler would not sound the same as | | | | shops, antiques shops, and other places you can |
| the Captain of the King's Guard would he? | | | | pick up magazines and books for a song. Look at |
| What about the King himself? | | | | the stuff they are selling in antique shops and ask |
| How would he sound? What vocabulary would he | | | | about the history of unusual items. The way you |
| use? | | | | do that is to say this: What is that thing? |
| Here is a Warning: | | | | In a way, it is much like being a newspaper |
| Don't write a period novel if you are not willing to | | | | reporter. I like to search old newspapers for |
| obtain the education and knowledge you will need | | | | interesting stories to see what other "reporters" |
| to write it. | | | | have done. |
| The key to good writing is to write about things | | | | Look in old encyclopedias, catalogs, and almanacs. |
| you know and understand. | | | | You will be surprised what you can learn. |
| Of course, if you are writing science fiction, you | | | | When I was writing Revenge on the Mogollon Rim, |
| can do anything you darn please as long as it | | | | I decided to read one of Zane Grey's novels, the |
| "rings true" to science fiction readers. | | | | settings of which was in the areas near my home |
| That's why the advice often given to writers is to | | | | in Arizona. |
| read heavily in the genre in which they intend to | | | | I knew something about Zane Grey because I |
| write. | | | | was a guide and worked on exhibits for the local |
| That's one way to get an education, isn't it? | | | | museum. |
| Dress | | | | I expected to help in the rebuilding of his cabin |
| If you met a man in Walgreen wearing a silver | | | | that was destroyed in the Dude Fire. However, I |
| body-tight jumpsuit and having antenna sticking | | | | moved from the area (Payson, AZ) before that |
| out of a gold helmet, you would think: That guy | | | | task was started. |
| isn't from here! | | | | Anyway, I was reading his novel and came up on |
| If your character walks into a Wild West bar in | | | | a phrase that didn't seem right to me. It was a |
| 1850 wearing a green suit, you will have some | | | | view his character saw from the Mogollon Rim. I |
| explaining to do. My guess would be that he is | | | | didn't think he had it right. I drove to the Rim and |
| Irish and will be asking for a Guinness. Note: | | | | parked very near the place he described. Then I |
| Guinness started in 1759 but I doubt that you | | | | saw that Zane Grey had described the view |
| would find it in the Wild West in 1850. | | | | perfectly. Mountains don't move that fast. |
| Dress must be consistent just as language is | | | | It's a good idea to know your subject, your |
| important. You need to know the local dress, not | | | | location (setting), and your characters before you |
| some stereotype dress you saw in a "B" movie. | | | | start writing the novel. Well, don't let that stop |
| Dress is also characteristic of vocation and class. | | | | you. You can fill in the blanks later. |
| A banker, a blacksmith, a millwright, etc., would all | | | | Just don't let some bold character take over your |
| be differently dressed in the same location during | | | | book. |