forum how to write in historic setting

Started April 03, 2023 by @FictionWriter09 group

tune

Wondering if anybody could help me however the story set in America specifically Maine from about late 1870s to early 1900s

omg omg omg the gilded age/progressive era this is my favorite US time period. I can answer any questions that you might have

ooooooogh okay let's go

1. So this is shortly after the Women's Suffrage Movement, which happened in the late 1840s-early 1850s. This brought lots of attention to a woman's role, but it was still very much a "seen not heard" type of role. To say the least, men wear the pants. Men are in charge, but that doesn't mean that there won't be a spitfire woman in a relationship. Among more high-class families, arranged marriages weren't entirely foreign.
2. The courting would still be much different than today, but it would still be a lot more formal, if that makes sense? I'd say it depends on how sappy your male love interest is. Does he want to woo a woman with poetry and a rose? Or is he more of a go-getter type who wants her parent's dowry? The dating is… kind of non-existent, but it can be existent with the right guy and gal, yknow? If they're of more money, then there would be galas and parties where they would drink some wine and dance on the floor and maybe sneak off to the beautiful rose gardens to stare into each others' eyes beneath the moonlight… Yeah. askdjf
3. Oogh,, Well, since Seamus is of more money, his job options are quite limited already. If you want something more high-class and bank-making, I would recommend either a partner or apprentice/intern to a Head of Industry (aka Robber Baron), a stock broker at the NYSE, or even a station master at the local railroad. If you want more of a fun/funky job, he could be a freelance muckraker (there were plenty of things to stir up), a casual information gatherer for a higher up (spy), or even maybe just a talent manager?
4. It depends on Maggie's social status and her marital status. A lot of women didn't have jobs at this point–in fact, most of them were unemployed and stayed at home. It wasn't until WWI and WWII did the workplace role for a woman increase. If Maggie is of relative high-class, then she shouldn't have to worry about having a job; the same goes for if Maggie marries rich. If she is of more lower income, then it wouldn't be impossible for her to have a low-level job such as a seamstress or nanny. Maybe even a more clerical job–such as a receptionist, secretary, or telephone operator–would be fitting.

hope I helped!! alskdjf if you have any more questions, feel free to shoot them at me