| You're writing a story set in your local city, but | | | | there easily, the rest is as simple as driving off in |
| one hundred years in the past. How can you | | | | your car or jumping on a train. Book yourself into |
| recreate the feel of the past in your words of | | | | a guided tourist walk. Put on your most |
| the present? Local knowledge, that's how. And | | | | comfortable walking shoes, grab your camera and |
| how do you get this sort of knowledge when | | | | a notebook, and off you go. From pub tours to |
| your characters were walking around one hundred | | | | historic house tours, there's a walk that will suit |
| years ago and you're situated well and truly in the | | | | your historical needs. Don't be afraid to ask |
| 21st century? Exploration on foot, a reliable | | | | questions. Relate them to your characters and |
| camera and a willingness to stand on a street | | | | storyline, and not only will you get pertinent, |
| corner and imagine everything and everybody as | | | | accurate information, but you may also be |
| it was in the past. | | | | inspired with extra plots and new story ideas. |
| A good place to start, whether the city or town | | | | Visit the local museum for that area, obtain a |
| of your story is close by or not, is internet | | | | listing of historic houses, find the local public art |
| research. Major cities and many less major towns | | | | [often historical in inspiration], trek through |
| have their own tourist and business websites, | | | | transport museums and art galleries, attend |
| visitor information sites, museum and exhibition | | | | cultural events and participate in writers' festivals. |
| listings, historical society and genealogy sites, and | | | | Factually, the accuracy of your novel should be |
| maps galore. Look closely for any sites that offer | | | | vastly improved. Don't forget to take plenty of |
| free tourist booklets. As well as the usual | | | | photos and notes, and collect fliers, booklets and |
| restaurant and accommodation guides, maps and | | | | maps at every opportunity. These are all |
| business listings, most tourist booklets will also | | | | resources that you can refer to in the future. |
| include photographs and brief histories of the area. | | | | Good research shows through in every paragraph. |
| Next go to your local library or bookstore, and | | | | The next step is to walk the streets of your |
| find travel guides to the location you're interested | | | | novel setting on your own, if it's safe, or with a |
| in. These travel guides will provide a well-rounded | | | | friend if you prefer. You should already know |
| and "larger picture" of your area, and include | | | | where the most appropriate sites are, going back |
| customs, history, current information and maps. | | | | for a second or third look will cement details in |
| Other books that will be a boon to your research | | | | your head. Touch the walls, wander through |
| are historical novels and non-fiction works that are | | | | gardens and smell the flowers, listen to the traffic |
| set in similar settings to your own. Non-fiction | | | | and imagine how it must have sounded in the |
| books have the added resource of the | | | | time period of your story. Your characters will be |
| bibliography. Author talks are an extra benefit, | | | | able to walk the streets and see the buildings for |
| especially question time. Have your questions | | | | themselves. More importantly, your readers will be |
| prepared beforehand and listen to the questions | | | | able to connect and relate to the realism you've |
| and answers for other audience members. | | | | brought to the pages. |
| If you live close to your setting or can travel | | | | |