Digging up the past

Writing a historical novel? Prepare with Jane Smith!

This is a 3 hour intensive course on how to research, write, and expand your historical book. Jane is a published archivist, librarian and editor who will guide you with confidence. All proceeds support free literacy workshops for children at The Lighthouse Toowoomba.

What you’ll get out of the workshop

• Learn how to find sources of historical information that will be useful in writing historical fiction or non-fiction

• Evaluate the relative merits of different sources and problems associated with them

• Learn how to incorporate your historical research into your writing.

Format

Part 1: Intro

Approaching your research

·       Where to start

·       Some of the problems you might face

Part 2: Information sources - primary and secondary sources:

·       Definitions and examples

·       Relative merits

·       Where to find them

Part 3: Case example/ group discussion

·       Use my ‘Captain Starlight’ book to illustrate pitfalls of research

Part 4: Activity

·       Group work to come up with list of possible sources for a sample topic

Part 5: How to incorporate your research into writing

·       Discussion of common mistakes in historical writing and how to avoid them.

Part 6: Group discussion about ideas for your own project.

Duration

3 hours (with a short break)

Cost:

$85

Requirements

Paper and pen OR laptop for note-taking and group work.