While the relative ease of research these days can be a boon to an
author, the influx of information can get rather… well, intense would work. (Painfully
belittling with a side of “Get me the heck out of here!” is another
option.)
This is particularly true when working on historical fiction.
Case in point: Just as I was finally getting at ease with the whole
life-in-the-American-Revolution thing, I make the mistake of glancing at
another research source. I nearly got blown away by all I realized I hadn’t
known.
I panicked… Yeah, yeah, big surprise for Ms. Chronic Panic Disorder, I
know. But trust me, this could easily happen to the most sane of you out there.
My mind went many places, including:
How dare I even consider writing a story about Revolutionary War-era
New York City when I hadn’t known that the Liberty House “prison” was located
on the west side of Broadway, directly across from the Common (today City Hall
Park)?
Or that there was a ferry wharf just down from Bear Market?
Or that the Provost House faced Chatham Street (now Park Row)?
Or…
Alright, I’m sure you get the picture. These tidbits of historical fact
can quickly drown a naive author. You may go into the story promising you’ll be
as “true” to the time period as you can possible be, but reality will sooner or
later hit you square in the face and send you sprawling.
So, if you don’t want to end up whining over your sore butt all the
time, call for the reality check early on.
Even if you were standing in the middle of Broadway as General Howe’s
troops came marching in, you still wouldn’t know everything.
It’s impossible.
So, give yourself a freaking break!
And here ends this essay on “Sleeping with Historical Inaccuracy and
Loving It.”
Until tomorrow…
Chloe
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