Writing & Researching Historical Fiction

I had decided to complete the first draft of my new novel, Tuesday's Child, a traditional Regency Novel, without pausing to research. Until yesterday I put a word in bold to remind me to research a fact when I work on the second draft. Having made that decision I decided on the minimum number of words I should write every day in order to finish the first draft by mid December. Yesterday, the current chapter didn't evolve according to plan. I spent most of the time dedicated to writing researching essential facts and failed to complete my self-imposed number of words. That is annoying because it's so difficult to find time to catch up when I don't reach my targets. If I had a report card I would enter :'Must try harder.'

New Method to Write My Novel

To write my sweet Regency  novel, Tuesday's Child I have changed my method. I have decided how many words I need to write a day in order to finish the first draft, which will be approximately 95,000 words. Previously, before I began to write the next part I would read the previous day's output. Now I continue without revising or editing. Also, instead of simultaneously researching and writing, I am now noting the need to research something in bold. I hope that by changing my method I will complete and submit Tuesday's Child more quickly than I finished and submitted my previous novels. It's a bit scary writing like this but I'm hoping it will be worthwhile.

Writing Technique for my New Novel

Really pleased with myself. I've kept to my target of writing a minimum number of words every day and have written the first 10,000 words of Tuesday's Child. On good days I exceed my target. I'm writing faster than usual because I'm leaving blanks re:historical details that I need to research. I have a comprehensive library of non-fiction books about the Regency Era so I should be able to fill in most of the blanks without much difficulty.
Rosemary Morris
Historical Novelist
www.rosemarymorris.co.uk