From Research Rabbit Trails to Finished Drafts
One of the great joys—and occasional dangers—of writing historical fiction is research.
It often starts innocently enough. You sit down to look up one small detail, and then one fascinating detail leads to another. Before long you’ve spent half the afternoon reading about 1920s train schedules, Victorian hatpins, or the daily routines of park rangers in the 1940s.
Research enriches our stories and helps readers feel like they’ve stepped into another time. But it can also become a convenient place to hide when the writing gets hard. If you’re not careful, research can quietly steal the hours you meant to spend composing your next chapter.
Over the years, I’ve discovered the key is finding a balance between preparation and progress.
Start with a broad foundation
When beginning a new project, I start with some background research to get a general feel for the setting and time period. I’m not trying to learn everything. Instead, I’m looking for the texture of the era—daily life, cultural attitudes, and the kinds of conflicts people might have faced.
This stage often turns up fascinating anecdotes that spark story ideas or deepen tension. It’s also a wonderful way to fall in love with the story world.
But once I have that foundation, I stop researching and start writing—before I accidentally become an expert on 1920s undergarments.
Let research build the world, not bury the plot
Historical details create the ambience of the story world, but they aren’t the story itself.
What draws readers in is the character’s inner journey—the hopes, fears, and choices unfolding across the pages. The historical setting provides the stage, but the characters carry the emotional weight.
Many beginning historical writers—myself included when I was starting out—pack in every fascinating detail they’ve uncovered. After all, we worked hard to find those tidbits. But there’s only so much history a reader can absorb before the narrative begins to feel like a lecture.
A few well-chosen details bring a scene to life. Too many, and the story stalls.
When in doubt, let the characters lead and allow the history to serve the story.
Protect your writing momentum
I’m a seat-of-the-pants writer, which means I discover much of the plot as I draft it. That naturally limits how much research I do ahead of time.
When questions arise while drafting, I resist the urge to chase every rabbit trail. Instead, I leave a quick note in the manuscript—usually marked with ###—so I can easily find it later.
Sometimes those notes are simple reminders: What kind of lipstick would a woman wear in 1945? What’s the most common snake in southern Utah?
I also participate in a weekly online writing sprint where writers gather for focused writing time. During those sessions my goal is simple: keep my fingers flying. If a research question pops up, I jot down a note and keep writing. The sprint isn’t the time to look things up—it’s the time to move the story forward.
Later, I return to those questions and fill in the details.
Don’t forget the goal
Research builds credibility and helps bring the past to life. But readers don’t pick up a novel for a history lesson. They come for characters, conflict, and emotional stakes. And stories don’t get finished in the research stage.
In my most recent book, my developmental editor highlighted a line I had accidentally left in the manuscript: “###insert geology joke here.” She found it hysterical. I was amused and slightly mortified. But it was also a reminder that writing first and fixing details later is far better than never finishing the story at all.
Gather enough research to begin. Let the story guide the questions that follow. Leave yourself notes when you need to—and then keep writing.
As Christian writers, we often talk about stewarding the gifts God has given us. Research helps us understand the world of our stories—but the calling is to tell them.
Close the history books and return to the page.
Sometimes the most faithful step forward is simply this: open the manuscript and keep writing.
Are you interested in writing an article for the newsletter? E-mail newsletter@westcoastchristianwriters.com
Mark Your Calendar - You Won’t Want to Miss This
✨ The Dawning — this year’s conference theme isn’t just poetic, it’s prophetic.
The dawn brings hope after a long night.
Illumination to what’s coming.
New understanding and awareness.
A dawn isn’t just the end of darkness, it’s the moment light becomes inevitable. Before the sun fully rises, the sky is already changing — reliably, as constant as our God.
Proverbs 4:18 ESV
“But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.”
What will your dawning reveal? Come find out at the 2026 West Coast Christian Writers Conference.
November 4-6, 2026 | Roseville, California
Keynote Speaker: Jennifer Dukes Lee
All conference details are now up on our website! Browse our faculty, workshops, and more. Registration launches this summer.
WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR?
We’re returning to our Northern California home at Bridgeway Church
We’re creating more space in 2026 for connection, growth, and those coveted AGENT AND EDITOR appointments.
Pitch Palooza
We’ve expanded and are offering more in-person and online pitch appointments for 2026!
Genre Jam
Because finding your people changes everything.
Online Ticket Options
Join us wherever you are, as you are! Try our NEW Genre-Focused tracks at an incredible price!
BECOME A MEMBER. GO FIRST.
WCCW members receive priority registration and early access to in-demand agent and editor appointments. To learn more about WCCW Membership click HERE.
P.S. As summer light begins to rise, so will our FlashSale - Watch for it around the Fourth of July
Remember that ALL 2026 West Coast Christian Writers Conference details will go LIVE on our website MAY 1! WE can’t wait to see you there!
Starred Reviews for Sarah Sundin’s New Historical Fiction Release
Mists over the Channel Islands Captivates Readers
When asked what historical aspect interested Sarah most from Mists over the Channel Islands, she responded:
Compassion is good. Caring for those who are suffering is good. Helping the oppressed is good. Those are values we’ve learned from Scripture and from Christ’s example. But in World War II under German occupation, those values could lead to prison, a concentration camp - even death. When I was researching life in Jersey for my novel Mists over the Channel Islands I learned about a network of physicians and other helpers who cared for forced laborers who escaped from German work camps. Most of these men were Soviet prisoners of war, and the Germans treated them abominably. Many of these workers escaped in search of food and freedom, and hundreds of ordinary people in Jersey took them into their homes, fed them, and cared for them - at great personal risk. The ring of physicians provided medical care, false papers, and clothing, and helped find shelter, even transporting the escapees in the island’s horse-drawn ambulance. When the law called one class of human beings “sub-human,” the people of Jersey refused to treat them that way. And when the law declared compassion illegal, they obeyed a higher law. This inspired me and my story, and I can’t stop thinking about these brave people who stood up for humane and godly principles.
Purchase Sarah’s Mists over the Channel Islands today!
Follow Sarah on Facebook.
Subscribe to her newsletter.
Our Community of Historical Fiction Authors
Historical fiction spans a vivid landscape, from the sandy beaches of ancient Greece to the harrowing realities of modern war, bringing both famous events and overlooked moments to life. The authors in our community do just that—reviving forgotten times and breathing life into stories that deepen our understanding of the past while captivating us with unforgettable journeys. Check out their works or follow them on social media for the latest updates!
Membership
West Coast Christian Writers offers an exciting way to make your creative experience more meaningful all year long. You are invited to join our membership program, which will stretch your mind, nourish your soul, and build your network within a well-respected, Christ-centered organization.
Become a Member Today! For just $70 a year, your membership unlocks critique groups and monthly membership events such as agent pitch slam, Mini-masterclasses, Writer Connex, and Latte & Lit book discussions along with much more (easily accessible through Zoom)!
Don’t forget to join our WCCW Facebook Membership Community and stay in the loop between events.
New Releases from WCCW Authors
Check Out These New Works From Our Community
AUTHOR BIO: Bitsy Kemper is an award-winning author of 30 kids’ books, including the 2025 DEVOTIONAL OF THE YEAR. She’s appeared on CNN, national CBS radio and been quoted in everything from Parenting Magazine to “Writing Children’s Books for Dummies.” Early in her career, she worked as a PR and Marketing manager in the computer industry. When blessed with mommyhood, she focused on the family. She’s been writing for children ever since her kids became obsessed with the frogs living in the pink shoe outside their front door (honestly, some books write themselves).
ILLUSTRATOR BIO: Amelia Grace Gossman creates illustrations using both traditional and digital materials, often featuring characters who are whimsical, clever, humorous, and a little mischievous. Her artwork tells a story through expressive, energetic, and gestural lines. When she is not illustrating, Amelia cares for two beehives and a large, ungrateful cat in her home in Baltimore, MD.
Purchase Best Friends with Grandma today!
Download your free companion journal to go deeper-reflect, process, and begin your own journey from rejection to healing in God’s love from Liz’s website.
AUTHOR BIO: Liz Collard Arnold is a Christian writer and memoirist whose work centers on healing, faith, and emotional restoration. Finding Freedom from Rejection is her debut memoir. Liz writes on Substack, has been published with Guideposts, and has contributed profile pieces to Kona Coast City Lifestyle magazine. A Canadian married to an American, she loves walking in nature, writing in cafés, and traveling. God is her anchor, and she and her husband volunteer with a missions organization. Follow her on Instagram @isaiah49.15 or on Substack @lizcollardarnold.substack.com.
Purchase Finding Freedom from Rejection today!
AUTHOR BIO: Laurie Davies is a writer, speaker, and lay counselor who helps women deal with their “emotional accumulation,” letting go of things like regret, grudges, bitterness, and shame. Her book, Emotional Hoarding: Letting Go of the Stuff That Keeps You Stuck, is available wherever books are sold. Laurie is a member of the Proverbs 31 writing team, and her writing has been featured in Guideposts books and magazines. With her husband of 30 years, Laurie lives in the Phoenix area, where she drinks hot coffee on 115-degree days, and has two schnockerpoo pups who run the show.
Purchase Emotional Hoarding today!
AUTHOR BIO: Deanna Nese is the author of six published novels. She has published short stories in Typishly and the VC Reporter. Her love of writing and reading runs deep. She teaches middle schoolers English and History, enjoys outdoor activities, traveling, and spending time with her family. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and West Coast Christian Writers.
Purchase Tee Time Tragedy today!
AUTHOR BIO: Joy Michelle Austin is an award-winning novelist writing contemporary fiction. Her debut found an immediate audience among readers drawn to heartfelt stories of healing and second chances, launching the Jane Austen’s Men series. She also wrote The Seaside Sleuths and the Bridal Batter Blunder, a cozy mystery tie-in project for young readers. Joy draws inspiration from real stories of courage, grace, and the quiet heroes found in everyday life, crafting fiction for readers who seek hope, honesty, and heart in contemporary storytelling. She is the recipient of the West Coast Christian Writers Encourager Award and the Walt Disney Legacy Award—an honor given to fewer than 1% of Cast Members worldwide for embodying Disney’s “Dream, Create, Inspire” legacy.
Purchase Half Agony, Half Hope today!
AUTHOR BIO: Alexandra Ely is a fantasy and science fiction novelist. Her journey as a storyteller began in childhood, when she played make-believe in the dusty High Desert of California. A pivotal moment came in high school, when an old Russian playwright became her tutor, teaching her the profound art of plot twists, drama, and conflict. That experience ignited her passion for story structure, leading her to earn a BA in Liberal Arts with a focus on English, history, and creative writing. Now, Alexandra is happily married with two wonderful children in the Ohio Valley. She is a homeschool graduate, sourdough baker, history buff, and cosplayer.
AUTHOR BIO: Makayla Nielson is a fantasy, science-fiction, and short story writer. Makayla has written short stories for Manawaker Studio’s Flash Fiction Podcast, Twisted Tales, Tall Tale TV, Flash Fiction Magazine, Balloons Lit. Journal, Inkpot Literary Magazine, Stance: Studies on the Family, and Collective Tales Publishing. She was raised in Normal, Illinois and currently resides in Lehi, Utah with her husband and four children. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Family Studies emphasizing Human Development, and a Gerontology minor from Brigham Young University, and a master’s degree in Gerontology from the University of Utah.
Purchase Chimera’s Blood today!
DO YOU HAVE A NEW BOOK?
Looking to get the word out about your new release? Feature it in the WCCW Newsletter by e-mailing newsletter@westcoastchristianwriters.com
WE ARE WRITERS SUPPORTING WRITERS
WCCW is more than just a conference; we’re also a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that supports writers in many different ways, including offering a hand-up to further the ministry of writers. Applications reopen in 2027.
Want to find out more about joining our Community of Champions, a group of committed donors? Click here to make a difference in the life of a Christian writer (and it’s tax deductible!)
APPLY FOR AN E-BLAST
Do you have special promotional news to share? Consider applying for a WCCW e-blast to share your message, service, or product with our audience. Apply here
Thanks for reading! Feel free to leave a comment or question by clicking on the button above.
This post is public, so feel free to share it.
Thanks for reading the West Coast Christian Writers monthly newsletter! Subscribe for FREE below to get the latest info on our annual conference, monthly events, membership community, and writer news.
West Coast Christian Writers,1750 Prairie City Road, Suite 130, #689, Folsom, California 95630 USA. For more info or to contact us, visit www.westcoastchristianwriters.com
Wow—a great article from one of my favorite novelists, Karen Barnett!
So true about research. I laughed till I cried.