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Monday, May 24, 2010

Guest Post by Mitchell James Kaplan

Please join me in welcoming author Mitchell James Kaplan to The Maiden's Court. Kaplan is the author of the book By Fire, By Water set during the Inquisition in Spain.

Researching and Writing

Guest Post by Mitchell James Kaplan, author of
By Fire, By Water


“How did you do the research?” I’m amazed how many people ask this question, as if research were the hard part. For me, research is enjoyable, even exciting. You don’t have to think too much. You just explore.

I suppose every writer has a different way of doing research. My method is no method at all: I try to read everything and go everywhere that’s relevant: libraries, museums, foreign cities.

My research falls into two phases: the initial phase, which precedes writing; and the fact-checking phase, during and after the writing. The initial phase is all about feeding the imagination. You collect details. You look at paintings, statues, buildings. You observe the clothes people wear, their bearing, how they interact. A peasant in a painting by Breughel walks with a stoop, grasping a twisted walking-stick. A woman in a Vermeer holds herself with dignity. You read the works of authors from the time and place in which your novel will be set. You notice the authors’ tone. Cervantes’ voice is tinged with self-mockery and amusement. What does this say about his society? Caesar’s voice is practical, authoritative, devoid of self-doubt. Chaucer’s is full of wonderment. Milton’s is serious, probing, and powerful.

A great deal of the research, of course, comes from just living. For example, when I lived in Paris many years ago, I knew a woman who occupied a place near the pinnacle of French society (which is quite stratified, as compared to American society). I found this woman fascinating: her blend of ruthlessness and noblesse oblige; her uncanny ability to remove her Mask Of Warmth and replace it with a Mask of Ice – both of which were utterly convincing – so gracefully and effortlessly one hardly noticed the transition.
Years later, as I toiled on my first draft of “By Fire, By Water” and Queen Isabella materialized in my imagination, I realized she resembled this woman.

Even when you’re not actively thinking about them, the details you absorb arrange themselves in your mind, forming a world. Little by little, your imagination takes up residence in that world. Holding a candle in the face of vast darkness, your explore its back alleys, the sounds of cartwheels creaking and clattering down its streets, the odors of rotting vegetables and fresh pheasant in its open-air marketplaces.

Research, of course, is not an end in itself; it is the means to an end. The purpose of reading books and traveling to faraway lands and museums is to find the key to the world of your novel. After you enter, the key is no longer important. What is important is to look around, to observe, to note what you see.

My sense is that the story, in all its detail, exists somewhere even before the author discovers it. The author’s job is to go to that place and document everything. At night, when I go to sleep, I try to place myself in the world I’m researching. All the research is of no value unless I can see and taste and smell that world. During the entire time I’m writing a novel, I want to live in that world even more than this world. The world of the novel is real, in the same sense that numbers are real.

Again, just before writing a scene, I’ll close my eyes and place myself in that particular corner of that world. After that, the writing just happens. Sometimes, I’m thrilled with the result but find it doesn’t fit with the rest of the book. Sometimes a scene or sequence of scenes has to be adjusted or even discarded.

When I’m writing, I often leave blanks. What kind of bread did they eat? How much did it cost? How did they light that taper? My initial research didn’t provide all the detailed facts I needed, but I don’t want to interrupt the flow. I’ll fill in the blanks later.

As a historical novelist, you’re juggling three balls: psychological truth, dramatic form, and historical accuracy. Often, I’ll find I missed an important inflection in the arc of a character’s growth, or that a scene is out of place.

I’m not one of those writers who just sit down, write a book, and send it to their editors. I’m constantly going back and verifying that my story is valid – psychologically, dramatically, and historically – filling in gaps, rearranging the pieces. Sometimes it feels like I’ll never get it right. It’s a messy, often rewarding but occasionally infuriating business – just like life.

Thanks for that wonderfully informative post! You can visit Mitchell Kaplan's website for more information about his book.


Now for the giveaway...


I have two copies of By Fire, By Water, courtesy of Other Press, to offer up for giveaway. This giveaway is open to US/Canada only and will end June 6th. The only requirement is to be a follower of this blog. You can gain an additional entry for tweeting or blogging about this giveaway. Please leave your email as well.



Copyright © 2010 by The Maiden’s Court

25 comments:

  1. I would love to read this book. I'm a follower. =)

    tiredwkids at live dot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I follow you on my Google Reader! Thanks for the giveaway!!

    Rachelhwallen@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have read so many good things about this book.
    I am a follower.
    Thank you
    kaiminani at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am a follower and would love to be entered. Thanks!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  5. This is quite an interesting post. I can imagine the French woman with her different masks depending on the situation. Sounds like a fascinating read that will put me firmly in the setting. Thanks for the contest and good luck in your future endeavors Mitchell.

    jennygirl73(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Count me in!
    I am a follower.

    lisa.2713 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh what a great guest post! When he spoke of placing yourself into the time period while you sleep to write a novel I smiled, because thats what I like to do when I finish reading a novel. It makes for not only a great book but also lets the novel expand into your imagination!
    But I would love to have a chance to win a copy of BY Fire, By Water, and yes I am a follower(:

    And I tweeted about your giveaway:http://twitter.com/ScottishRose16

    Hot87Tamale(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am a Follower.
    librarypat AT comcast DOT net

    Thank your for a most interesting and informative post. Great insights into your methods and work. I appreciate the time and effort you put into your research and editing. When I read historical fiction, I want to BE there. I want to feel, hear, and smell what the characters do. I like the style of your post, and am certain I will like your novels. I look forward to reading BY FIRE, BY WATER.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Would love to read this book.

    I follow on GFC.

    mystica123athotmaildotcom

    ReplyDelete
  10. Count me in, I;m a GFC follower!

    delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm a follower I would love to read By
    Fire By Water.

    nancysoffice at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oohhh please enter me in the giveaway! I am a follower. Can't wait to read this book!

    tiger_fan_1997(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm a follower. Please enter me in the giveaway. Thank you!

    crittercrazyjen(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I would love to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway! I am a new follower!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm a follower. Please enter me in the giveaway. The cover is intriguing!

    wolfcarol451(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  16. This is the second interview I've read about this book and it sounds like a great read. Would love the read and to win :D Yes, I'm a follower and have you in my google reader as well.
    rlphilbr13@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm a follower & I'd love to win a copy of this book!

    srfbluemama[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'm a follower (through Google Reader) and I'd love to read this book. I esp. appreciate the time and effort that the author devotes to historical research.
    lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Wonderful post! I love the way Mr. Kaplan makes even his research techniques so interesting. I really like the idea that a story exists in all it's detail waiting for a writer to come along and tell it. Kind of like Michelangelo releasing David from all that marble.

    Thanks for the chance to win a copy of this intriguing title! (I am a Follower.)

    geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I am a newbie. No, really, I mean it! I just discovered Historical Fiction book blogs today. I have read author blogs and sites but until today never knew this world existed (I know, pathetic). HF blogs by readers who love the genre like me! My head is swirling!

    I am not sure if I am an official "follower" having signed in through Google but I will be watching and following form today forward.

    email: noseeroda (at) aol (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Please enter me in this giveaway!

    I follow.

    familyhistree at yahoo dot com

    Sarah E

    ReplyDelete
  22. I tweeted:

    http://twitter.com/saemmerson/status/15260964661

    familyhistree at yahoo dot com

    Sarah E

    ReplyDelete
  23. I follow your blog, and I tweeted about this giveaway: twitter.com/countingpetals

    Email: treehuggerchickee (at) yahoo (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  24. I follow and would love to read this book!

    adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Thank you for the chance to win this great sounding novel.

    I blogged about it here, http://bit.ly/dqLTCV


    Thanks,
    comethespring at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for leaving your comments! I love reading them and try to reply to all!