There are several fascinating people in history that can be used for inspiration, from Anne Frank to the love affair of Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. Don't be afraid to tell stories based on real life people, and give an inside look into the personal lives of those involved in big events. These stories are based in fact, but are largely fiction filling in the blanks with completely made up characters.

Sometimes it's easier to pick the specific year and start researching before going into the characters. If you wanted to dive into the world of speakeasies, flappers, and the rise of the talkies in film, the characters would need to fit into their surroundings.

Often the protagonist questions their role in society, which leads them to making a significant change that could affect society. A historical based novel doesn't have to center on an impactful movement or event, and can be the backdrop of events. A mystery can be the focal point like in the Veronica Speedwell Mysteries by Deanna Raybourn, which has a protagonist that goes against all conventions of Victorian society when she studies science and helps investigate murders. Historical romances are quite popular and often feature a love that's forbidden.

Research can uncover all sorts of secrets throughout history, and can lead to hidden gems. Going for something not well-known can present exciting opportunities. A few years ago an apartment was discovered in Paris, France, filled with paintings, furniture, and other amazing items from decades ago.

Research is the most important part of any historical novel:

Check out historical photos. Any image from the past can help you detail the surroundings and add a more visual quality. Though, the further back you date your novel, the harder it will be to find good image sources, and the more research it'll take. It'll be worth it in the long run.

Read books from that time period. If you're wanting to write books about the Wild West, then Westerns are the best books to obsess over. Authors should read as much as they can in the genre they want to write. It'll also be good to focus on non-fiction novels such as The Diary of Anne Frank and novels based in facts like Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff.

Look up as many details as possible. It's likely you won't use every detail, but the more you know the more you'll be able to bring history to life. Certain decades have specific criteria depending on social status, married status, and country. Make it specific to a year. Fashions can change drastically within a single decade.

Research jargon, dialect, and humor. Be sure to also look into what sort of technology would be around. Crime solving would be very different the further you go back in time, because they wouldn't have the technology we have today to solve a crime. Transportation would be vastly different and most likely feature the use of horses and wagons if set before the automobile, or if in 1960s could feature the bizarre and short lived car like the amphicar.

Remember to fact check. Make sure your sources provide accurate information. Typos on a website are usually a giveaway for a site that's not accurate. Lastly, don't just rehash all the facts you know, because this can bog down the story. Make sure you drop the details into the story or have your characters interact with certain aspects.