I’ve always believed we should live in the time in which we live (remember the movie Midnight in Paris?). We shouldn’t whine about how great the good ol’ days were or complain that the present is just too technical and fast paced. But, lately the good ol’ days seem kind of nice. I have a desktop, laptop, iPhone, Apple Watch, and Garmin watch, off of which consume a lot of my time and all seem to act up at once. I feel like I’m wrangling a bunch of demanding brats. But could—or should—I live without them? In this day and time, that idea seems impossible. That might be the reason why I enjoy writing stories set in the past.
While looking through the list of April holidays, I noticed that the 11th was National Eight-Track Tape Day. I began thinking about what was involved in setting a story in decades passed. Here are three tips to get you on the right track:
·     To make your story believable, do the research. Find out what was happening and what was popular during the time-period about which you are writing: books, music, art, food, architecture, politics, lifestyles, social issues, and even the language and slang.
·     Read books, fiction and nonfiction, that were published during that time, so you get a feel for the writing style. I write a series set in the 1950s. By reading a book also set in that decade, I was reminded of the “Blue Laws” that were in effect. Blue Laws prohibited retail businesses from opening on Sunday, so I had to adjust my timeline in order that my characters did not shop for shoes on the Lord’s Day.
·     Once you’ve amassed a collection of information, use it subtly so that readers slide comfortably into the era, but are not overwhelmed with detail. You don’t have to include everything you’ve discovered, or provide detailed definitions or explanations. If you mention the use of an eight-track tape, trust your younger readers to figure it out or look it up.

By gaining a strong knowledge of and feeling for the time period, you will better develop your characters and make your story more authentic And your readers will feel like they are living and enjoying in the time about which you’re writing.

Me and My Dad—1955