The Essential Step of Historical Research in Writing Jawbone Holler
Writing historical fiction is a balancing act between creativity and accuracy. For my debut novel, Jawbone Holler, set between 1858 and 1864 in the U.S., historical research was not just an essential part of the process—it was the backbone that grounded the story in reality while allowing for creative freedom. Without the internet, the research alone could have taken months, if not years, to complete.
The Internet: A Lifesaver for Research
For a novel set in such a pivotal period in American history, like Jawbone Holler, historical research was indispensable. In the pre-internet days, writing a historically accurate novel would have required endless hours in libraries, sifting through archives and letters, and consulting hard-to-find books. Luckily, we now have access to vast amounts of information online. The internet is a lifesaver for this kind of project, but it’s important to emphasize that not all sources are equal.
I had to be mindful of the websites I trusted, seeking out those that are vetted and authoritative. While Wikipedia can be a good starting point, I often relied on academic sources, digital archives, and respected historical societies to ensure accuracy. Websites like the Library of Congress, National Archives, and American Battlefield Trust were invaluable. These sources helped me verify details like the make and model of era-appropriate rifles and pistols, the broader historical timeline of the Civil War era, and even more nuanced aspects like how people spoke, dressed, and shopped in frontier towns.
Historical Fiction Allows Creative License
One of the joys of historical fiction is the freedom to blend real history with fiction. In Jawbone Holler, while the events and settings are fictionalized, I took care to ensure the key historical connections were accurate. Creative license allows for storytelling to flourish, but staying faithful to the larger historical context is critical. Readers of historical fiction expect a story that feels authentic to the time period, and for me, that meant paying attention to details like what a frontier general store might have stocked in 1860 or how people interacted socially.
Of course, this doesn’t mean every moment of the novel had to be historically documented. Some characters, events, and locations were invented for the sake of the narrative. However, as long as those elements fit seamlessly into the historically accurate backdrop, the story retained its integrity. For example, while the town of Jawbone Holler may not have existed, the tensions of the time—civil unrest, frontier life, and the looming threat of war—had to ring true.
From Draft to Final in Three Months
I cranked out Jawbone Holler in about three months, from first draft to finished manuscript, without narrative assistance from AI. A large part of this rapid process was my characters were fully developed and started telling their own stories. My progress was also due to the internet’s ability to provide immediate answers to research questions. Without the digital resources available today, it’s safe to say the research alone could have taken an additional three months, if not longer. Imagine needing to track down first-hand accounts or comb through reference books to check something as simple as a specific model of rifle used in the Civil War era. The time saved by having this information readily available online was enormous.
However, having the internet at my fingertips didn’t mean I could rush through the research. Accuracy still required careful vetting of sources, cross-checking facts, and verifying the credibility of the information. But the convenience of instant access to digital archives, scholarly articles, and even vintage catalogs helped speed up the process significantly.
What to Research
Writing Jawbone Holler demanded more than just a surface-level understanding of the Civil War period. The research had to dig deep into everyday details, like what people wore in frontier towns, how they spoke, what tools or weapons they used, and what kind of products were sold in general stores. Here are some key research areas I focused on:
• Weapons: Knowing the right firearms for the time was crucial for my characters. I had to verify which rifles and pistols were popular and widely available between 1858 and 1864. For example, the Colt Navy revolver was a common sidearm, and I needed to confirm it was historically appropriate.
• Fashion: The clothing worn by my characters had to reflect the time. While fashion evolved slower on the frontier than in big cities, understanding what materials were used and how garments were constructed was critical to painting an authentic picture.
• Language: How did people talk back then? Dialect and mannerisms from the 1860s were different from today, and I had to find ways to incorporate these subtle changes into dialogue without making it unreadable.
• Daily Life: What was available in a frontier general store? I researched typical goods—like canned food, ammunition, fabric, and simple tools—to ensure accuracy when describing the shelves of such establishments.
The Research Process
I started by identifying the major historical elements of the era, like the Civil War, but quickly moved into the smaller, daily-life details that would make the world of Jawbone Holler feel real. Websites like the Library of Congress, online newspapers from the era, and specialized historical fiction forums were invaluable. I also found historical fashion websites, firearms enthusiasts’ communities, and even forums where Civil War re-enactors discussed period-correct items and customs. These niche sources helped ensure I wasn’t just relying on broad, well-known facts but could build a world that felt immersive and lived-in.
The Bottom Line
Historical research isn’t just an afterthought when writing a historical fiction novel—it’s the foundation. Whether you’re checking details like weapons or speech patterns, or ensuring that your creative liberties don’t stray too far from historical fact, research is a key component in delivering a story that’s both engaging and authentic. For Jawbone Holler, the internet was essential in speeding up the process, but careful attention to trusted, authoritative sources was equally important in getting it right.
In the end, historical fiction allows for creative storytelling, but readers expect—and deserve—a strong grounding in the reality of the period. Balancing those elements while cranking out a novel in a few months’ time was no small feat, but thanks to digital resources, I was able to bring Jawbone Holler to life while staying true to its historical roots.