Diana Gabaldon at SiWC

Diana Gabaldon, author of the Outlander series, the Lord John Grey series and numerous other novels, anthologies, non-fiction and other bits of writing presented on how to include research in writing at the SiWC.

Workshop Description:

I've Done My Research and Now You are Going to Pay. Join bestselling author Diana Gabaldon for a discussion on how best to do research and how not to dump it all over your story.

Here are my miscellaneous university student notes. She gave much more interesting information than this that I never wrote down, having heard similar tips on her podcasts, etc. I would highly recommend giving them a listen.

Historical fiction

• Details must have an emotional stake. You can include any interesting bit of information, as long as it moves the story forward. Don't just dump it in.

• Write not only for accuracy, but historical plausibility.

• Children's books are fact-checked much more thoroughly than books for adults - you can use them as a reference at times.

• Painters from the period can give you an idea of what people looked like.

• Visit museums.

• Diana has written with a goose quill pen / dip pen. Doing things like this can help you to "live" through a scene. Some artifacts will have a certain vibration when you pick them up - give you an idea what it would be like to hold it, use it.

• Diana collects old Southebys catalogues.

Period expressions will add to a story.

Recommended readings:

A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English

-Eric Partridge

The Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue*

*This book gives examples of low slang expressions.

-Captain Francis Grose

Good Dialogue

• Consider details important to the character. The way they speak is most important to the character.

• Different people use language differently.

• Use short sentences.

• An old lady and a 12-year old shouldn't speak the same.

Background

• Info dumps vs atmosphere.

• It needs to be focused on (filtered through) the character.

• Experience as the character.

• Something should happen (you want to use action).

• When using description, have at least one sense of action per paragraph.

Randoms

• Trews, waistcoats (pronounced westkits).

• Regional tartan sets - 1 weaver / area (usually men). Waulking = to felt wool. Women used to sing waulking songs to pass the time.

You can find out more about Diana Gabaldon at her website, or on her blog. You can find links to her podcast series on her website, as well as on you can find on iTunes.