How to Write a Historically-Based Novel When Living in the 21st Century

The 21st Century is amazing in a lot of ways.  We have medicine and other medical technologies that help us remain healthy.  We have electronics that help us stay closer connected.  We've made our own culture, the likes of which the world has never seen before.  And we have Twitter.  Twitter is definitely the best part of the 21st Century.

While many aspects of life now are much better, one of the hardest things about living in the modern age is the difficulty to connect to the past.  Even 100 years ago, culture was far closer to the ancient cultures of Rome and England, China and Egypt, to name a few.  In other words, our culture is so different from those we learn about in History class that it becomes hard to relate to them and envision them.

This is especially difficult for writers because unlike commoners non-writers, many of us write historically-based works.  Some of us write about specific moments in history, like during the fall of the Roman Empire or the reign of King George III.  Others (like myself) write about fictional places like Narnia or Middle Earth, but those places have similar culture to a historical culture, often Medieval Europe.

The challenge for authors here is transporting themselves back in time, per se, to actually write the story.  With cell phones in our pockets and pop music filling our ears, it can be quite a challenge to do that.

So today, I'm here to help all y'all escape from this stupid 21st Century!  So hop in the TARDIS, we're about to travel back in time!!

1.  Turn on some soundtrack music.

This is so important.  Stop listening to pop, rock, and country for a moment and hear me out.  If you want to write about a time period different from your own, you've got to act like you live in that time period.  And the best way to start it so listen to music that reminds you of that place or time.  If you need some good ideas, check out my blog post about soundtracks.  Also, check out Felicity's Youtube channel, felicjl.  Felicity has a bunch of soundtrack playlists that are based on a particular emotion or theme.  They're amazing.  Check it out, now.

2.  Watch a historical or fantasy-themed movie or TV show.

No, Doctor Who episodes involving Shakespeare or Pompeii don't count (drat!).  Find a good movie that takes you away from the world of concrete jungles.  I recommend The Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of The Rings, or Spirited Away.  For TV shows, watch Avatar: The Last Airbender or a good Jane Austin mini-series of your choosing.  Practically anything that doesn't include skyscrapers and cell phones is fair game.  This will help you get in the correct mood.

3.  Throw your phone into the trash and delete your Twitter account.

Okay, not really, but seriously, take a break from the internet!  Just turn your phone off for a few hours and take some time to do some distraction-free brainstorming, writing, or editing.

4.  Get involved with your characters' hobbies.

Does one of your characters have a hobby, like violin, chess, or archery?  Then try it!  Not only will this help you get into your novel's time period, but you'll also get a first-hand experience with something your characters love to do.  This will be invaluable information you can use in many aspects of writing your characters.

5.  Read a historical or fantasy-themed book.

This is probably better than watching the movie, but I'm listing it now because you should do these steps in order.  Do your music and movies, then unplug and read the book.  Narnia and Lord of The Rings, once again, are great picks.  Or the Princess Bride.  Sorry Princess Bride movie fans.  The movie was good, but the book was better.  Also, try combining this tip with #6 for added inspiration and helpfulness.

6.  Go outside.

Get out there, take a hike, smell the flowers, hear the wind in the trees, and picture yourself in your novel's setting.  Get as far away as you can from modern life and enjoy nature.  Also, take that book along with you and read it on a park bench or something.  And leave your phone at home.

That's all I got today.  But the bottom line is, try to escape from the 21st century and do your best to transport yourself back in time.  This is best done by ignoring everything that screams present-day and embracing everything timeless.

Thanks for reading!  I love you guys.  I can't wait until next week, I've got an exciting blog topic already booked!  See you then. :)

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