What is a good methodology for researching a historical novel?

I'm having difficulty with the research aspect of my historical novel. This question was originally going to be "how much research should one do to write a historical novel?" to which, answering my own question is, "as much as you need to". Thinking about this some more, it's not the 'what' or the 'how much' I'd like to explore, but rather the 'how'.

So far my approach has been very scattergun. I know the time period I am interested in, and know roughly the themes and places I wish the novel to include, so I've been reading books that match these parameters, but other than that it's pretty random.

Everytime I go to write a sentence, I find myself asking - "wait a minute, is that right?". Everytime someone looks at a building, or walks down a street, or eats some food, or interacts with the structure of society in any way, I'd struck with a fear that I've just typed complete nonsense and have to go away and research it. So far I've read 30 reference books and typed just one chapter.

Coming from a an engineering background, I'm used to applying methodologies, ie structured approaches to work. I have seen plenty of methodologies with regard to how to plan, plot and write, however none yet on how to research for a novel.

Can anyone assist?

posted about 13 years ago

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