How to Use Reference for a Historical Novel and Make It Realistic
- Mar 28
- 7 min read
Updated: Mar 30
Writing a historical novel is like walking a tightrope. If you fall, your readers are dragged away from the past. It's not just about having an interesting plot or great characters – it's about having accuracy, atmosphere, and authenticity. That’s why referencing and research are so important for historical novels.
Table of Contents
10. Conclusion
11. Key Takeaways
Here's how to reference a historical novel and make your storytelling authentic.
1. Start with a broad overview of the time period
You should research a range of problems, including significant events, major sources of power, and tensions which existed, changes in culture, and the ideas held by the common people. To get started, ask yourself these questions:
a) What are the significant political and/or religious events in the time period?
b) Who is in charge, and how does that affect daily life?
c) What social and/or class issues were prevalent?
An example that illustrates this point is writing about 1857 India. You cannot write about this period without acknowledging the First War of Independence.
You should look for credible sources of information of your research such as:
Academic history books,
Documentaries,
University lectures (easily available on YouTube and platforms like Coursera)
2. Zoom In: The Everyday Life and Culture
To create true-to-life scenes, take time to immerse yourself in the daily life of the period you are writing in.
Reference & Research:
Fashion, textile and accessory
Food and drink
Language & slang
Social hierarchies (gender, caste/social class, ethnicity)
Medical knowledge and health practices
Occupations and trades
Sources for Research:
Historical archives and museum-type websites (e.g. British Museum, Indian National Archives, Smithsonian)
Primary documents (e.g. letters, diaries and court records) from the period you are writing in
Recommended blogs or journal-style historical sites (e.g. History Extra, JSTOR)
3. Use Primary Sources Whenever Possible
A primary source is an eyewitness account about the time you are writing in and adds unbelievable credibility and voice to your writing.
Examples:
Letters, memoirs, and autobiography
Newspaper articles for that period
Speeches, sermons and manifesto
Court transcripts or colonial documentation
Reading the language/style people used to write back then can give you insight into how to write your dialogue and write with the mood and mindset of the times.
4. Pay Attention to Language (Vocabulary, Dialogue)
The fastest way to destroy the historical immersive experience is to use modern language. The character's dialogue shouldn’t sound like a teenager from today unless you're writing a time-travel story.
Historical geographic knowledge is just as vital as history itself – thus, old cities might appear differently, their borders could change over time, and travel would probably take longer.
Things to Verify:
Was there a city or town in the location in your story at the time of the setting?
What were the current names of any countries or colonies?
How did people travel to/from different locations - either by horse, boat, foot etc.?
Were there any restrictions (political or geographical) to travelling from one location to another?
To Find Resources:
Use old maps to verify geographic locations (e.g. David Rumsey Map Collection, Library of Congress)
Read colonial gazettes from the time period.
Read travelogues from the time period.
5. Use Historical Figures, But With Caution
It’s possible to have real historical figures in your story, but you should make sure to stick closely to the facts of their lives, including their speech patterns, behavior, and beliefs. Changing the facts about real people may be detrimental to your work.
Suggestion: Famous people might be used as secondary characters or cameos but you should use fictional lead characters in order to keep open the possibility of creativity.
6. Find the Right Balance Between Authenticity and Storytelling
Remember your book is fiction and not an academic study. Only include historical data in your narrative, not as a separate filler. Use the facts to further develop action, dialogue and emotion.
Analyze whether the historical data:
Helps to enhance the motivation of characters.
Roots your story in the current decade without overloading the reader with unnecessary details.
7. Cite Your References (Even If You Never Publish Them)
Even if you do not need to provide a bibliography in the final published version of your book, keep a private record of your sources. The purpose of this is to help you:
To have a private record for interviews or author questions about where your source material came from.
To provide background to future sequels/spin-offs of the same time period in relation to your original novel.
You may need to verify facts when editing your manuscripts.
Applications such as Zotero or Notion will allow you to keep your research grouped by theme or chapter for future reference.
8. Consult Experts and Sensitivity Readers
If your story intersects with any culturally sensitive areas such as colonization, caste system, or war, look for cultural historians or people who specialize in that culture. Sensitivity readers can give you the ability to check for potential issues before they exist through cultural insensitivity or potentially offensive imagery.
9. Use History to Support the Novel, not vice-versa.
The aim of writing an engaging historical novel is to establish authenticity for both your characters and readers. Your characters should be fully developed in their historical setting; however, they do not need to be confined by strict historical accuracy. Your goal should be to utilize details that create a specific mood, enhance emotions, and/or create tension in the story. When writing a well-executed historical fiction, it isn't just about how much research the author has conducted—it's about the overall feel of the book itself.
Conclusion
The reference of a work of historical fiction is both researched and artistic, and it calls for thorough research, cultural understanding, and strong narrative expression. Good historical fiction allows a reader to experience time travel: to experience the feel of mud on the ground under their feet, to experience the sounds of sword fights and the movement of silk sarees, to experience living inside a lost world.
Do you want your historical fiction book to appear realistic? Our team can assist you in developing real, immersive stories, while not sacrificing voice and/or emotional depth.
Please feel free to reach out via WhatsApp to have a chat regarding your book.
Key Takeaways
The goal of writing historical fiction is to describe events, and the way those events affect the individuals alive during the time of the event.
Start with a grand view of the historical event; look closely at the event and the political systems of that time and finally, look closely at the finer details involved in everyday activities.
The historical documents from this time period will give you a primary way to verify the authenticity and voice of your work. To bring your readers into the story, it is important to use period appropriate language, as today's style of speaking may pull the reader out of the story.
Use the correct location, geographical area and how long it takes to travel there must conform to the history of the time.
Use true historical figures as appropriate, but cautiously.
Make sure to allow the emotion of your story to connect facts and action so that research does not sway your story.
Be sure to keep all the documents you collect organized as you will find it very surprising how many people will want to see them.
If you are unsure about something, seek the advice of professionals or readers who have a vested interest in the subject matter.
Keep in mind that history is the vehicle to tell your story, not the opposite way around.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much research do I need to do for my historical novel?
Do enough research so that you are comfortable writing your scenes without doubt, but don't delay writing the novel due to the amount of research you do. Aim for clarity over perfection.
2. Am I permitted to alter historical facts when writing my novel?
You may make small changes if they add or detract from your story but keep in mind that when you make a significant alteration of an historical fact, you run the risk of losing your readers' trust as an author. If you alter a fact, you might want to provide an author note explaining the inaccuracy.
3. How do I minimize the amount of "information dump"?
To prevent yourself from giving your readers excessive amounts of information at once, make sure any/most information comes through the character's perspectives or emotion. If the information is not creating an emotional response, creating tension/conflict or creating action, it is probably not going to be impactful to your readers.
4. Can I write historical fiction if I don't have extensive experience writing literature?
Yes. It would be advisable to begin with a specific time frame or era that you are familiar with, as opposed to selecting an elaborate or detailed representation of your culture or time period.
5. Should I include a bibliography in my work in progress?
That is completely dependent on you. By creating a bibliography for yourself, you will have access to all sources that you utilized to write your project in the future. This will provide a means to be consistent with the works you create, and to have documented credibility when posting your works online as an author.
If your story can transport the reader back in time but you find yourself struggling between doing your research and writing your story, you can seek support from our writers at Rolling Authors, who will assist you in creating fiction that has both historical accuracy and emotional content.
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