{"id":10261,"date":"2025-04-23T01:26:54","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T01:26:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.rutgers.edu\/books-we-read\/?p=10261"},"modified":"2025-04-24T16:49:51","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T16:49:51","slug":"historical-fiction-ai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.rutgers.edu\/books-we-read\/historical-fiction-ai\/","title":{"rendered":"AI and Writing: Historical Fiction"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Following up on previous posts about historical fiction and non-fiction, such as <\/span>The three sisters and historical fiction, <\/a>History through food<\/a>, and <\/span>Historical cookbooks<\/a>, let’s take a look at the incredible work of writing about anything related to historical events, places, and topics. <\/span>As a librarian, I applaud the research behind all books, most recently, Lisa Scottoline\u2019s thorough research on Alcoholics Anonymous and Philly<\/a>. Writing historical fiction in the vein of Fiona Davis, who uses historical landmarks for her compelling dual-time narratives<\/a>, requires extensive, multi-layered research.<\/p>\n

The AI prompt<\/h4>\n

For a start, I consulted major Artificial Intelligence platforms (ChatGPT, claude.ai, and Copilot) to advise aspiring authors what kind of research it would take to write a historical novel. The prompt was: What kind of research should be done for writing historical fiction like Fiona Davis’s books?<\/em> The answers, organized around topics in bullet points presented overwhelming lists of insurmountable research to be conducted in libraries and archives. Job security for librarians and archivists \u2013 thanks, AI.<\/p>\n

Completely missing was the logistics \u2013 the challenges of how to conduct, organize, and present the research, how to overcome roadblocks, and the overall process of historical research, never linear and never offering instant gratification.<\/p>\n

The three AI-generated answers listed at the end inspired me to share some thoughts and advice from the perspective of the librarian-archivist, who curates, preserves, and digitizes such resources; in addition to the benefits of using them to compile historical bibliographies of prominent scholars in alcohol studies.<\/p>\n

Start doing your homework<\/h4>\n

\"Website\"<\/a>Obviously, authors should first do their homework and research the time period and the physical locations they plan to write about. Most big cities (and many small towns) preserve their past one way or another. The local historical society, museums, churches, and government archives hide valuable location-related documents in any given time period. In my experience, a local archivist or historian can become an author\u2019s best friend, sharing the respect and mutual interest of promoting the collection.<\/p>\n

These archives would be the best source to locate so-called “primary resources.” The definition of a primary resource is different in the various disciplines. A tweet or social media post might qualify in communication studies; a document, recording, video or other artifact that is created by an advocacy organization also counts as a primary resource.<\/p>\n

For historical content, the researcher may need to stick with dusty-musty paper: all those handwritten, mimeographed, or printed documents in various preservation conditions. Luckily, many archives also offer the convenience of digitized copies through their repositories. Again, when in doubt, ask the librarian or archivist! We are intimately familiar with our collections and very willing to point researchers in the right direction.<\/p>\n

Expect the unorthodox<\/h4>\n

\"Screenshot\"<\/a>Historical research is a non-linear process. When you discover a document (a primary resource) and want to find more about the context, you will want to put your hands on anything related to the topic, including similar documents, books, articles, letters, drafts, and notes.<\/p>\n

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Here\u2019s when so-called Finding Aids come to play. Created by archivists well-versed in a particular topic, a good finding aid provides a lot more than just the details of the collection. For example, structured finding aids also contain a biographical sketch (if your research is tied to a person), in addition to the extensive content, scope notes and \u00a0arrangements of the collection. We are talking about a real biography written by the processing archivist who best knows the collection! Add to that the descriptions of the individual boxes \u2013 not just as a short summary, but by folders \u2013 the author might have just hit the jackpot in a single archive.<\/p>\n

Language matters<\/h4>\n

Plowing through documents will give an idea of the language used in a particular time period. You may want to take that lead for plot and character development, if applicable. Any first-hand account, such as correspondence or audio recording that reveal more than just the facts can be used to add the flavor of genuine emotions and personal perspectives crafted in the period-appropriate language. Photographs not only provide insight to the era and location, but also to what exactly was meant by a term at that time.<\/p>\n

\"Screenshot\"<\/a>The verdict<\/h4>\n
Contrary to the latest microtrend popularized by short videos, writing fiction based on historical research is time-consuming. However, the result is rewarding. The end product \u2013 a well-researched and masterfully written book, a competently curated exhibit, or a thought-provoking documentary \u2013 will stand the test of time and remain with us much longer than the ephemeral 60-second how-to clip.<\/div>\n
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Stay tuned for the next post by the librarian, who actually researched and published historical non-fiction and already gave a sneak peek into her research methods in a Books We Read interview on Historic Recipes and Stories from the Gilded Age<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Advice from AI<\/h4>\n

See below AI responses to the prompt What kind of research should be done for writing historical fiction like Fiona Davis’s books?
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Advice from Claude.ai<\/h4>\n

Researching for historical fiction in the style of Fiona Davis requires a multi-layered approach that balances historical accuracy with compelling storytelling. Davis is known for her novels centered around iconic New York City landmarks and their histories, with dual timeline narratives.<\/p>\n

Here’s what effective research should include:<\/p>\n

Location-Based Research<\/p>\n