How to Research an Epoch for a Historical Novel: A Step-by-Step Plan

Creating a historical novel is just about writing a compelling story but it is also the difficult job of recreating the atmosphere of the past. Every reader expects to be immersed in a world where every detail, from the characters' clothing to the architecture, seems real. Historical novels require special attention to detail, so here we are going to discuss in detail how to conduct step-by-step research of the era and use it to create a vivid and realistic historical novel and how the Coin ID Scanner app (https://coin-identifier.com/) can help you to create a realistic historical setting.

Things to Consider for Creating Historical Credibility

Before getting into the nuances, it is important to realize that the process of studying an era encompasses not only major events, but also many little things: the economy, daily life, culture, and language. Each of these areas requires attention in order for the story to “breathe” realism. Thus, below you will find detailed recommendations that will help you gather the necessary information and weave it harmoniously into your novel.

Choosing an Era and Posing Questions

The first step towards creating a historical novel is choosing an era. Here, it is worth thinking about and starting with the period that interests you the most. The more passionate you are, the easier it will be to immerse yourself in the study of that historical period. Here you should think hard about the following:

• What key events occurred during this time?

• What challenges and conflicts characterized this era?

• What makes it unique?

For example, if you are writing about the French Revolution, you will have to study not only the events themselves, but also the causes of the crisis, the daily lives of Parisians, revolutionary fashion, and symbolism like Phrygian caps.

Lifehack: Make a list of questions to help structure your research and write down the answers to use this information in your novel. For example, it will be helpful to find out, “How did people make a living?”, “What technology was used?”, “What did society live by, what legends and myths were popular?”. The more precise your questions are, the easier it will be to look for answers.

Study the Sources: Books, Archives, Letters

Written sources are the cornerstone of any historical study. All these sources provide insight into past events and reveal people's ways of thinking, their experiences, fears, and joys. This kind of thinking makes your novel not just realistic, but also emotionally rich.

Sources can be conditionally classified into several categories:

• Books. These can be both scholarly works analyzing the era and works of fiction written by contemporaries.

• Diaries and letters, as they contain unique details about everyday life (i.e. about how people behave in private settings).

• Chronicles and annals. Useful for studying events that affected politics and society.

• Newspapers and magazines. Show public opinion and features of how news was presented.

• Laws and official documents. Allow you to understand the structure of the state and society.

So, for example, if you are researching the Victorian era, start with works by Charles Dickens, such as The Cold House or Oliver Twist. They describe everyday life and mores and raise poignant social issues such as poverty, child labor, and social inequality. These details can inspire you to create multifaceted characters and a realistic world.

Lifehacks for working with written sources: Pay attention to language and writing style. Contemporaries often used metaphors, turns of phrase, and expressions that can add flavor to your text. For example, phrases such as “your most humble servant” are found in 18th-century letters, emphasizing formality and respect. Moreover, in diaries and sources, you can find references to everyday trivia: the weather, food prices, daily routines. These little things make your novel more authentic.

Consider Art as a Source of Inspiration

Art is a mirror of an era that reflects its values, aspirations, and perceptions of the world. Due to studying paintings, sculptures, architecture and everyday objects, we can learn what cities looked like, what people wore, how they furnished their homes and what ideas inspired them.

Each type of art helps to recreate the historical setting: paintings convey details of daily life, furnishings, and clothing; sculptures illustrate canons of beauty and physical power; architecture demonstrates technological advances and cultural priorities; decorative objects show the skill level of artisans and everyday habits.

Examples of art for exploring the ages

Lifehacks: Pay attention to symbolism, as there are cultural codes hidden in every work of art. For example, during the Renaissance, noblewomen were often depicted holding a book (a symbol of education). Moreover, comparing art from different eras allows us to understand how society's values changed. For example, medieval stained glass windows with their strict symmetry are very different from the expressive paintings of the Baroque.

Pay Attention to Coins - Key to Culture and Economy

Coins are more than a means of payment; they are true historical witnesses that can tell a lot about the time in which they were issued. What is more, coins can be considered as an important indicator of economic status, cultural and religious beliefs, and political and social witness of the time.

On coins, you can find images of monarchs, coats of arms, dates, and even phrases that reflect the spirit of the time: which figures of power were important, which gods were honored, and which cultural achievements were especially important to the people of the period.

For example, Roman coins often depicted victories of emperors and the most important battles (battles with barbarians or victories on the frontlines). Thus, coins depicting Emperor Augustus and his victories over Rome, as well as Trajan's victory in Dacia, are not only about politics, but also serve as a document of how the Romans saw themselves as an invincible empire.

Tip: In order to accurately capture the details of the coins in your historical novel, you need to use trusted sources, and that's where the Coin ID Scanner app comes in. With its help you can get quick and accurate information: who is depicted on the coin, when it was issued, where, and what events may have prompted its minting. You will even clarify its degree of rarity and current estimated market value (which can be especially useful when you want to add historical accuracy to your text and connect fictional events to real historical facts).

Dig Deeper into the Era

To make your historical novel truly vivid and believable, it is important not only to work with books and archives, but also to do more detailed research. Here you can use the following approaches:

Language research

To make the characters sound natural, study the language of the era. Find outdated expressions that will give the dialogues a flavor. For example, in the Middle Ages, archaisms were used in speech, and Victorian language was full of formalities.

Field research

Visiting historical sites and museums will play to your advantage here, because there you will get not only information, but inspiration. You will be able to feel the atmosphere of the era, see real artifacts and transfer your feelings into the text.

The Power of Words

Creating a historical novel is a challenging but incredibly exciting task. Remember that every detail-from a coin found by a character to a turn of phrase-helps immerse the reader in the past. So consider using modern tools, studying information in depth, and  finally trust your research. Inspiration lies in the details you bring to life for your readers.