While I attended Life the Universe and Everything this year I took some great notes on a panel about how history can be a great source for plots and characters. Hope these notes will be of use.

• The historical event, war the roses, inspired the book series, Lord of thrones
• Do not use your person family history. Relatives can get upset.
• The accuracy of historical time. His influenced by the attitudes of that.
• If you read a fantasy that lacks any reference to religion that is a weird world.
• Pre-–industrial civilizations rely upon religion
• When writing about the past is important not to attach a modern sensibilities to that time.
• If you gonna borrow from history. You need to include the historical structure that was existing as a backdrop that contribute to the elements of that point of history.
• When showing the leaves that are considered in modern times to be crazy. Give the reasons why that time. Had those attitudes.
• Genius steals from history talent just boils.
• History is not written by the Victor. It is written by the survivor.
• History doesn’t repeat itself, but it rhymes: Mark Twain

Have something to add to the list? Please share in the comment section of this blog.