Ferreting Out Facts

When I first started writing historical fiction, I didn't have a clue that research was important. I mean, come on...it's fiction, for crying out loud! Can't I make up what I don't know? And if I do a good enough job with my descriptions, painting a vivid picture in my readers' head, isn't that kosher?


In a word...no. Why not? Great question.


You can't actually write what you don't know--especially if you don't know anything. Makes for a whole lot of mindless drivel on the page.


Plus, readers know when they're being scammed. It's a freakish fact that historical fiction readers often know more than the author. 


And I won't even mention that other authors in your genre will flay your flesh. Oops. Did I mention that?


At any rate, now I use all sorts of resources when I'm working on a story. Here are my favorite Top 5.


Non-fiction Historical Books
I know. Pretty obvious. A hot date for me is when hubby takes me to a used book store. Sad and slightly pathetic, but true.


The WWW
The internet is a wealth of information. Beware, though. Just like TV, not everything you see is true. A good rule of thumb is to find the information in at least 3 places before you accept it. And don't forget to document your sites.


Historical Writer Groups
There's some great historical fiction writer groups that meet both in person and via cyberspace where you can pick the brain of another author whose done research in a particular area.


Real (as opposed to fake) People
I've gleaned info from archeologists, linguistic professors, boat building experts, even police detectives. Don't be afraid to ask. Sure, you might earn a few strange looks, and be careful what you ask a cop, but it's so worth it. This can be done in person, or my favorite medium is e-mail.


Life Experience
While a time machine would be a pretty sweet ride, it's not likely you'll get any hands-on research using this technique. However, newsflash: horses haven't changed that much in the past, oh, let's say thousands of years or so. Riding a horse in 2012 is pretty much like riding a horse in 1807. Sometimes research is as simple as booking a trail ride.


There's a gazillion other outlets for fact finding, but these 5 are a solid foundation. What are some of your favorite research haunts?