March 21st, 2016

5 Research Tips for Historical Fiction Writers

Every now and then I get a little jealous of the freedom that fantasy fiction novelists have to create a world and its history with such creative and even reckless abandon. Since I write historical fiction (emphasis on historical), I don’t experience the same level of artistic liberty.… Read the post

January 28th, 2015

Research trips: No passport required

Posted In:
Writing Craft

Sierra Godfrey

Remember when you booked a flight to Marseille, France for research purposes? You toured Fort Saint-Jean, strolled around the Vieux Port, and lunched on bouillabaisse at a charming little café in Old Le Panier? Or how about the way the fishing boats sounded when they chug-chug-chugged into the harbor and the fishermen poured their catches into light-blue tables for people to come and buy right off the boat?… Read the post

February 22nd, 2012

Throwdown Part 2: Write What You Don't Know

Posted In:
Miscellaneous | Other Obsessions | Writing Craft

by Fae Rowen

When Laura Drake originally suggested this topic months ago I knew I would be on the "don't know" end of the throwdown. Everyone else at Writers in the Storm writes about what they know. With Sharla Rae's historicals, she researches and researches until she has notebooks filled with information. … Read the post

November 14th, 2011

New & Improved Writer's Toolbox

Posted In:
Writing Craft

from Laura Drake's files...

You have found Laura's treasure map to her favorite, most useful, fun online locations for references, writer's resources, and just plain fun.

Warning: This blog could be hazardous to your time schedule. You're going to want to spend a lot of time mining for the gold buried in these links!… Read the post

May 3rd, 2010

Researching the Historical Novel

Posted In:
Writing Craft

Sharla Rae

For the writer who enjoys history, researching is often the best part of writing a historical novel. Even so, deciding where to start can be mind-boggling.

Why Research?