Fact checking isn’t just for politics or non-fiction writing. As an author, you make a promise to your reader and enter into an unwritten contract. The terms are never explicit, the details are shrouded and vary from book to book, but the penalty for breaking that contract is severe—bad reviews and loss of readers.
No matter what genre you write, if your story is set in a real city, and you tell your readers the character turned onto Main Street from 6th Avenue, you better be sure that the city has a Main Street and it connects with 6th Avenue. It would be even better if you mention the department store on the corner or the vacant lot across the street. Just remember, you have readers everywhere. If even one reader notices that you put a bank where a gas station lives, that reader is pulled out of the story. At the very least, that reader will have an impression of sloppy writing.
Historical fiction requires more in-depth research than most other forms of fiction. People change over time. It’s not just fashion, it’s food, expressions, common knowledge—even attitudes, morals, and values. You need to do serious research to make your novel ring true, especially for a lover of historical fiction familiar with the period. Ever wonder why authors write novel after novel in the same period? Yes, it must have something to do with a love of the period because the research can be time consuming and difficult, but more than that, they’ve already done the work. They already know their characters and setting.
But what about high fantasy? There are no facts to check, right? Wrong! Even high fantasy has facts. The story must match reality, even if it’s not the reality we live in. Every world has rules, and the rules you set in Chapter One must be the same rules you follow in Chapter Twenty. The rules must be consistent, and they must follow their own logic. If the rules are broken, the reader has to push a reset button and loses the ability to suspend disbelief.
Even the most intriguing plot cannot make up for settings that don’t ring true with internal and external consistency.
Place: Geographically correct and consistent. Even if your story is set on a spaceship, there is geography. How many decks above the sleeping quarters is the bridge? Some authors sketch maps of their imaginary towns; some make floor plans of the structures.
Characters: Keep notes on every character—especially the minor ones. Their physical characteristics (The chipped left front tooth cannot be on the right three chapters later), their taste in clothing, their relationships with each other. Make sure their quirks and expressions are consistent throughout.
Time: Technology and common knowledge must be correct for the time and place. Remember that people believed the earth was the center of the universe for centuries, and flush toilets are quite modern inventions. Do your research!
Happy writing!