advice: writing novel set in victorian era

[DeathAngel]

I've never really written something that's based
on true reality (i always manage to aqueeze in some fantasy)
so i've started a fresh one based on "love",
set in the victorian era (i'm using it for a playwrite also which is more difficult)
how do you capture the essence of that time period into a story?
i've used their dialect, but i want some sort of imagery.

I'm also basing this on real events,
girl likes guy, girl doesn't get the guy but her friend does,
their relationship affects the first girl (negatively)
and someone else attempts to break them apart,
the first girl takes responsibility for it before it blows up,
sets the couple back together,
realizes that this was meant to be,
and never gets the guy...

what a mouthful, any tips?

[NickAdams]

Research the era. Non-fiction can be informitive, but you can get a poetic essence through their art (poetry, paintings etc).

[alice-elvira]

Hi,

I have written short stories set in the Victorian era, and creating the atmosphere has to come from your own research as Nick has already suggests.

The problem - and I am currently writing a historical novel - is how much poetic licence can you get away with. Realist novelists usually write about the era in which they are living, but the trick is (apparently) to create an impression of realism ... hmm... wish I really knew what that meant!!!

But you say you like to incorporate a bit of fantasy ... as long as it doesn't include dragons, swords or scorcery you might get away with it... ;)

Hope this makes a bit of sense.

I am trying to be helpful... :rolleyes: :D