Writing My New Historical Novel

fter my last novel, Monday's Child, which will be published in Spring, 2016, took me fourteen months to write I decided I need to write faster. I set myself the task of finishing a 75, word novel in 75 days or less, and to enter a young adult fiction competition as well as a short story competition. I've entered the competitions but fallen short of my target to finish Tuesday's Child yesterday. However, the good news is that I've written 65,000 words without stopping to edit, revise and check my research.

In order to reach my goals I stopped posting on social media. I've missed chatting, reading posts and posting messages but it's been worthwhile.

I know that many authors write a couple of thousand words or more a day but I don't have time to, so I'm pleased with my achievements.

Rosemary Morris

www.rosemaymorris.co.uk

Writing Historical Fiction and Research

I am pleased because I've nearly written half of my book, Tuesday's Child, a stand alone, follow on novel from my Regency Romances, Sunday's Child and Monday's Child. I had decided that I write too slowly so my plan was to finish Tuesday's Child without spending hours researching the historical background. I have notes in bold to indicate where I need to research something, or check if something is correct. However, I have found it impossible to develop the plot without some research. Fortunately, it hasn't prevented me from reaching my daily output, and keeping up with other 'writerly' matters. 

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

Don't Lose The Plot

edited and revised. Now that I am writing my new novel, Tuesday's Child, I want to finish the first draft as quickly as possible. I don't plan to edit and revise until I complete it. However, since I'm writing so quickly I'm afraid of losing the plot, so I've decided to backtrack and record the main events in each chapter. This means that even if I resist the temptation to edit and revise I need to read what have written and make a few notes. If anyone else I meet implies that writing is easy or that it is a nice little hobby I'll want to strangle the person.

Historical Novelist
www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

Research & Writing Historical Fiction

I had decided to complete the first draft of my new novel, Tuesday's Child, a traditional Regency Novel, without pausing to research. Until yesterday I put a word in bold to remind me to research a fact when I work on the second draft. Having made that decision I decided on the minimum number of words I should write every day in order to finish the first draft by mid December. Yesterday, the current chapter didn't evolve according to plan. I spent most of the time dedicated to writing researching essential facts and failed to complete my self-imposed number of words. That is annoying because it's so difficult to find time to catch up when I don't reach my targets. If I had a report card I would enter :'Must try harder.'

Deep Tissue Massage, Rest, Tuesday's Child.

Yesterday, due to various minor but annoying aches and pains, I had a full body deep tissue massage. It's relieved most of those little miseries but afterwards I was very sleepy. In the evening I watched Jerry Hall in Who Do You Think You Are but couldn't keep my eyes open. Half way through the program I gave up and went to bed. The masseur told me to take things very easy today and I'm pleased to do so as I'm still sleepy. So I've been researching old English Villages for my new novel Tuesday's Child. I'm now about to meet my daily writing target.

A New Method to Write Novels.

To write my sweet Regency  novel, Tuesday's Child I have changed my method. I have decided how many words I need to write a day in order to finish the first draft, which will be approximately 95,000 words. Previously, before I began to write the next part I would read the previous day's output. Now I continue without revising or editing. Also, instead of simultaneously researching and writing, I am now noting the need to research something in bold. I hope that by changing my method I will complete and submit Tuesday's Child more quickly than I finished and submitted my previous novels. It's a bit scary writing like this but I'm hoping it will be worthwhile.

Finding Time for Historical Research

Finding time to research historical facts by reading non-fiction.

Last night my five year old granddaughter had a sleepover at my house. This morning, as a reward for her excellent behaviour for the last month I took her to Gambados, an indoor play area. We were there for two hours. In spite of the loud background music, parents talking and many children having a good time, I got on with my research.

I read and put post it notes with remarks on pages of particular interest. An added bonus were the ideas for the plot and descriptions in my new clean Regency novel, Tuesday's Child.

Tuesday's Child - Traditional Regency Romance & Back Story

My new novel is Tuesday's Child, a traditional Regency Romance, by which I mean I don't open wide the hero and heroine's bedroom door.  It is a follow on novel from Sunday's Child and Monday's Child, which will be published in spring, 2016. It is a stand alone novel but because the heroine was a minor character who played an important part in Sunday's Child the back story is crucial. Back story is always tricky. I think I've solved the problem by the heroine observing a scene and reflecting on the effects of past events effects on her present and introducing conflict.

Birthday, Editing, Writing, Gardening

Yesterday was my twin son's birthday. I enjoyed lunch at The Loving Hut, in Edgeware, a vegan Chinese restaurant that serves delicious food.

 This morning,  I got up at 5.45 a.m. I read through and edited a printed chapter of my mediaeval novel set in the reign of Edward II. Next, I lugged the hosepipe out to the front garden and turned on the hosepipe. Then I loaded the washing machine and turned it on. Back at the laptop, I completed the character profile for the hero in Tuesday's Child. I now have a clear vision of his appearance, background, character, what makes him tick etc.

After I turned off the tap and lugged the hosepipe to the back garden I hung out the clothes and then made a healthy breakfast - porridge with strawberries, black grapes and blueberries with almond milk and organic honey.

At ten o'clock, after another session on the laptop when I worked on the character profile of the heroine in Tuesday's Child, I turned off the laptop and worked in the garden. I swept the greenhouse floor, planted out French Beans and did much more.

A Birthday, Writing, Gardening

Yesterday was my twin son's birthday. I enjoyed lunch at The Loving Hut, in Edgeware, a vegan Chinese restaurant that serves delicious food.
 This morning,  I got up at 5.45 a.m. I read through and edited a printed chapter of my mediaeval novel set in the reign of Edward II. Next, I lugged the hosepipe out to the front garden and turned on the hosepipe. Then I loaded the washing machine and turned it on. Back at the laptop, I completed the character profile for the hero in Tuesday's Child. I now have a clear vision of his appearance, background, character, what makes him tick etc.

After I turned off the tap and lugged the hosepipe to the back garden I hung out the clothes and then made a healthy breakfast - porridge with strawberries, black grapes and blueberries with almond milk and organic honey.
At ten o'clock, after another session on the laptop when I worked on the character profile of the heroine in Tuesday's Child, I turned off the laptop and worked in the garden. I swept the greenhouse floor, planted out French Beans and did much more.
 

Tuesday's Child, Traditional Regency Romance, Research

Since I wrote my first Traditional  Regency Romance I have accumulated a lot of non-fiction books about the era. Today I piled them up around me and began to answer the question when, i.e. when were the main characters born, when did the hero go to school, when did he go to university, when did the heroine's husband die, when was her posthumous son born, etc.

Sunday's Child ended in 1815 when news of Napoleon's escape from Elba arrived. So it's a question of working backward to fill in the correct dates on my character profiles.

Tuesday's Child - Character Profile

This morning I began filling in the character profiles for characters who will appear in Tuesday's Child, a follow on novel from my Regency Romances, Sunday's Child and Monday's Child.

The heroine is Harriet, the Dowager Viscountess Castleton, a widow, who has a four year old son, Viscount Castleton. I spent some time choosing his Christian name and chose Arthur.

At that time Arthur was popular because it was the future Duke of Wellington's Christian name.

After choosing the name, I spent an enjoyable fifteen minutes filling in various details on the character profile.

Dominic aka Nic - Final Surname

I chose Carlton for the surname of the hero in my sweet Regency novel, Tuesday's Child. However, when I went through the characters in Sunday's Child I remembered that the heroine's title is Lady Castleton. I heaved a very deep sigh and consulted Burke's Peerage in a final attempt to find a surname. After much a time consuming search and much thought I chose Markham.


I can't begin a novel until I have named the principal characters, so, another deep sigh, this time one of relief because I want to begin work on the character profiles.

Hero's Name for My New Novel

After a lot of thought, I have chosen the name for the hero of my new novel. It is Dominic aka Nic Carlton. I've also chosen his sister's name, Caroline Carlton.


When I choose names, I also research their history.




The origin of Dominic is the Latin word dominicus, which means 'of the Lord'. According to The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian names Dominic may have been given to children born on a Sunday. "The name was never common in England and after the Reformations was used almost exclusively by Roman Catholics."




With regard to the hero of Tuesday's Child, his family have chosen to name boys Dominic from generation to generation before and after the Reformation.


Caroline was introduced to England by George II's queen, Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach. "It became a favourite English Christian name in England in the 18th century."




Now that I have chosen their names I can work on their character profiles.




I hope you like the name I chose for a Regency gentleman.




P.S. I know the Prince Regent's house in London was Carlton House but I don't think my choice of Carlton is a problem.

First Step to Writing a New Novel

I have not finished the revision of my mediaeval novel but, after a lot of thought about the characters, plan and plot while doing housework, gardening or shopping, I am almost ready to begin writing Tuesday's Child, the follow on novel from my published novel Sunday's Child, and Monday's Child, which will be published in spring, 2016.

Before I begin a novel I name the main characters.

To choose the hero's name I searched The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names. I want a strong name which also implies an element of light-heartedness. My first choice was Harry Royston, but the name of the  heroine, who took part in Sunday's Child, is Harriet. So Harry, which would have been ideal is unsuitable because Harry and Harriet would be confusing.

So, back to the Dictionary to see if I can find the right name for the gentleman I have in mind.

Planning My New Novel, Tuesday's Child

The heroine of my new traditional Regency romance, Tuesday's Child, will be a character from Monday's Child. She is Lady Harriet, a widow, and mother of a young son. Lady Harriet is not beautiful but she is full of grace, both inner and outer.


After reading a chapter in a non-fiction book, I know where the novel will begin.


So, I have answered the question who about the heroine and two questions when and where. I know have to answer the questions what and how. In other words, what happens in the first chapter and how does it happen.


I am now looking forward to meeting the hero.

Next Task After Finishing Edits.

I have finished the pre-edits, which I wrote about recently, and have now finished editing Monday's Child the sequel to Sunday's Child, traditional Regency Novels.


I shall now make my contents editor happy by reading over 97,500 words aloud and tweaking the final revision.


My next task will be to the synopsis, then the happy day when I submit Monday's Child and the synopsis will arrive.


 I shall also list all the characters because I shall write a follow on novel called Tuesday's Child.

Monday's Child, Follow on Novel from Sunday's Child,

I am delighted because I have written the last chapter of Monday's Child, a traditional Regency Romance. By traditional I mean that I have not opened the bedroom door wide. Monday's Child is the follow on novel from Sunday's Child published by MuseItUp Publishing. I am now enjoying planning Tuesday's Child the next novel in the series.