So I know this is perhaps the most understated of all understatements of all time, but it’s a problem for me. My Dakotashi series started out as kind of an more nebulous alternate world that echoed our own, like Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel’s Dart series. But then it morphed into something a little more based in our reality, but still with significant changes, especially for my alternate England (Breinnan) and alternate Japan (Kansa). So the whole world-building aspect has been a major roadblock for me.

Even simple things like—Do I call Shakespeare Shakespeare, or do I give him a different name?—cause rounds of debate with myself. I’ve already given him a slightly different background for his characters in Romeo and Juliet although the plot remains the same (I also renamed it as it no longer takes place in Italy–oh the ripples!). The monarchy, I’m thinking starting with Queen Elizabeth, is completely different. How much of the rest of politics and history stays the same? It’s times like these that I wish I had taken an English history course in college. I would have, but I think that professor was on sabbatical for part of the time, offered courses that weren’t the ones I wanted (which let’s face it would probably have focused on Queen Elizabeth; Young Bess was one of my favorite movies growing up), or were in conflict with other classes. Honestly, I don’t really remember. I just wish I had a better foundation beyond the numerous regency romance novels I’ve read.

Beyond the two main countries I’m focusing on, I think the rest of the world can remain basically the same, but it’s still a little overwhelming. So I’ve been avoiding doing anything about it. Well, that has to stop if I’m going to be able to continue with my revision for Book 2. In this book, Breinnan and Kansa (where the invaders were magically sent from hundreds of years ago) come into contact. In order to make the interactions with the delegation from Kansa have stakes and tension, I obviously need to know the motivations on both sides, which has a lot to do with what is going on elsewhere in the world.

So I read up on the period in my Complete Idiot’s Guide to World History and perused more details in Wikipedia. Stellar sources of information, I know. Still, it’s helping. I think. I haven’t nailed down exactly when my story takes place: during the early part of the French Revolution, the Reign of Terror or during the Napoleonic Wars, but at least I have a better overview of the timeline again. It’s been a long time since the general World History course I took in college.

I also read a little about the East India Trading Company, which could cause even more trouble for me. How would having a king of Asian descent affect trade in that part of the world? Would it matter? Would it be an advantage? I know even less about the history of Britain’s trading empire than I do the French Revolution/Napoleonic Wars.

I’m doing everything backwards! But the fact I’m thinking about all of this is a step in the right direction. Baby steps, people.