Straight from the Source: Jess Rinker on Writing Historical Fiction and Nonfiction
What typically comes first for you: a character? An era? A story idea? How do you proceed from there?
All of the above (and more) has happened! Sometimes I feel like ideas find me, or any creative, as if they are floating around us all the time, and now and then one lands on our shoulder and won’t leave. I’ve had “voices” speak to me, settings or places I’m enamored with, what if questions that bug me for days, and even dreams evolve into full stories. For my picture book biographies, it was simply interest in learning about modern women trailblazers. For Out of Time, I knew I wanted to incorporate the Titanic simply because it’s an iconic and mysterious story that kids are generally attracted to. For The Dare Sisters, it was the setting—Ocracoke NC, and the actual pirate activity (namely Blackbeard!) that took place there.
How do you conduct your research?
I begin with Google like any self-respecting knowledge seeker. I wish I could say I sit at the library for days at a time and page through books and archives, and there was a time when I did do some of that, but now it’s all virtually online. Once I am set on a story, I will then find books and either take them out of the library or buy them for a deeper dive and connection, and I will visit as many places as I can that are related to the character or topic, but the internet is such a gift, and such a great place to start for any project—historical or pure fiction.
What kinds of sources do you use?
Everything I find—books, websites, videos, interviews—especially personal face-to-face interviews—photographs, visiting a place or a museum or gallery that pertains to the topic. In the YA I’m working on right now, which is not historical fiction but deeply rooted in cognitive and dream psychology, I use a lot of scientific and medical journals (such as NIH) for studies that relate to the issues I’m writing about.
How long do you typically research before beginning to draft?
Until I feel like it’s time to get words down. I definitely don’t have a set time for any project, and research always continues as I write, but generally I’ll research until I just know it’s time to start something. I can feel the pull of needing to get my own words down, and am receptive to it otherwise one could research forever.
What is your favorite thing about research?
I’m an insatiably curious person so research helps to quench that. It also brings a story to life, makes the characters feel more real, and often comes with little surprise discoveries that can make the writing process even more fun.
What’s your least favorite thing about research?
Conflicting information. When writing Gloria Takes a Stand, I was the most anxious about this because it’s not fiction, it’s historical and a biography, and I was so afraid of quoting incorrectly or misinterpreting facts. I even found inconsistencies with when laws were passed versus introduced, versus put into action, so it required a lot of digging to be sure I was doing my due diligence to represent everything accurately. I was also put through a few intense fact-checking rounds by my publisher, which while tedious at times, I was grateful for.
What’s your favorite thing about writing historical fiction?
There is some validation, or reward maybe, when you’re able to weave true truths into fictional truths. When history aligns with your intended plot—that is the best! For example, with The Dare Sisters, which is set in the 90’s (I can’t believe that’s considered historical, but it is), I wanted to include a certain event that involved Blackbeard’s ship, and the date it was discovered lined up so perfectly with the story I wanted to tell, I was beyond thrilled. It feels like a little victory.
What are some obstacles writing historical fiction brings?
In the same way history can align with your plot, it can also do the complete opposite. Then you have to do some reconsideration of your plot or the fact/event/figure you want to use—it can be a complicated puzzle.
What’s one of the most interesting things you’ve learned while researching?
Learning about firefighter Brenda Berkman for Send a Girl! was one of the most eye-opening experiences. I worked with Brenda when writing that book so I got first-hand accounts of everything. It was sobering because a lot of the work she has done played out over the course of my childhood—so while I was busy climbing trees and catching frogs, she was busy fighting the patriarchy in the form of the FDNY. It makes me very grateful for activists like her.
Jess Rinker is a writer for ages 4 to 104. While much of her success has come by way of children’s books, she’s also published poetry, creative nonfiction, travel articles, theatre reviews, essays and short stories. Her titles for young readers include picture book biographies, chapter books and middle grade novels and she’s currently working on what she hopes will be her debut young adult. She lives in the Mountain State with her beloved, Joe McGee, also a children’s author and writer of all things.
Happy Holidays, all. I’ll see you in the new year!