HISTORICAL RESEARCH CONSULTING
Writing historical fiction involves more than
a good story set in a specific time period.
It’s the texture of voided velvet against skin Acrid scents in a tannery The precise weight of a gold coin pressed into a palm Lingering taste of roasted boar at a feast The exact colour of a tulip so rare it ruined men Particular shouts of sellers in a specific marketplace
It is social hierarchies, unspoken rules, and a world of objects that no longer exist, except in the hands of a writer who knows where to look.
You’re a Writer, Not a Historian (which is exactly how it should be)
Your job is to tell a compelling story. But readers of historical fiction are often deeply knowledgeable, and nothing breaks immersion faster than a detail that does not belong. Getting those details right is time-consuming, technically demanding, and easy to get wrong when research is not your primary discipline. That is where I come in.
Let me help you bring your story to life with accuracy and authenticity. I offer scholarly precision and sensory depth for historical fiction writers who refuse to get it wrong.
Aimee Blackledge | DPhil, University of Oxford | Art Historian, Consultant & Historical Fiction Author
As an Oxford-trained art historian and a historical fiction writer myself, I understand the gap between the archive and the page. I offer a rare combination: scholarly rigour and a novelist's instinct for what makes a world feel real.
I specialise in material culture, visual literacy, and the sensory world of the Early Modern period — the objects your characters touch, the clothes they wear, the rooms they move through, the hierarchies they navigate. I do not touch your plot, your prose, or your characters. I fix your history.
What does that mean in practice? The candle on her table will be the right material for her station. The medicine her physician prescribes will belong to its era. The letter she writes will follow the conventions of its time. The history in your novel will be sound — and your readers, including the ones who know, will feel it.
✦
Services
MOST POPULAR • ENTRY POINT
Manuscript ‘Vibe Check’
Is your historical world convincing? Before investing in deeper editing, find out whether your period feel is working and where the cracks are showing. I read the first 30,000 words of your manuscript and deliver a clear, candid report on historical accuracy and major anachronisms. I do not line-edit; I give you a map of what needs attention and why.
Assessment of the first 30,000 words
2–3 page written report on historical feel, consistency, and anachronisms
Covers dialogue, dress, architecture, social dynamics & material culture
Specific suggestions for improving historical depth
TURNAROUND: 4 WEEKS
FLAT RATE
£ 255
Early drafts and completed manuscripts, equally welcomed
01
MANUSCRIPT REPORT FOR SELF-REVISION
Manuscript Authenticity Report
A comprehensive overview of your complete manuscript’s historical plausibility. Rather than line edits, you receive a detailed report that gives you the tools to fix the history yourself. I do not fix your plot or your commas — I fix your history.
Full manuscript read (up to 100,000 words)
5–8 page report: etiquette, dress, architecture, social hierarchy & material culture
Flags anachronisms and highlights what is working well
30-minute Zoom debrief + email follow-up
TURNAROUND: 5-6 WEEKS
FEE PER WORD
02
Estimate your fee
Select your word count below
Select a word count to see your estimate
Estimated fee
Your manuscript exceeds 100,000 words. Please get in touch for a bespoke quote.
£0.007
PREMIUM • LINE-BY-LINE ASSESSMENT
Full Manuscript Annotations
The most thorough service I offer. I work through your entire manuscript in Word, leaving specific margin comments on historical details — the medicine that did not yet exist, the ceremony performed incorrectly, the coin of the wrong reign. Every anachronism caught before it reaches your readers.
Line-by-line annotation via Track Changes in Word
Covers specific objects, vocabulary, costume, etiquette & social convention
Summary report included
60-minute Zoom debrief + email follow-up
TURNAROUND: 7-8 WEEKS
FEE PER WORD
03
Estimate your fee
Select your word count below
Select a word count to see your estimate
Estimated fee
Your manuscript exceeds 100,000 words. Please get in touch for a bespoke quote.
£0.01
Historical Research Consulting
Writing historical fiction involves more than a good story set in a specific time period.
- Texture of voided velvet against skin
- Scents in a tannery
- The precise weight of a gold coin pressed into a palm
- Lingering taste of roasted boar at a feast
- The exact colour of a tulip so rare it ruined men
- Particular shouts of sellers in a particular marketplace
It is social hierarchies, unspoken rules, and a world of objects, smells, and sounds that no longer exist — except in the hands of a writer who knows where to look.
You are a writer. Not a historian. That is as it should be.
Your job is to tell a compelling story. But readers of historical fiction are often deeply knowledgeable, and nothing breaks immersion faster than a detail that does not belong. Getting those details right is time-consuming, technically demanding, and easy to get wrong when research is not your primary discipline. That is where I come in.
Scholarly precision and sensory depth for historical fiction writers who refuse to get it wrong. Aimee Blackledge · DPhil, University of Oxford · Art Historian, Consultant & Historical Fiction AuthorAs an Oxford-trained art historian and a historical fiction writer myself, I understand the gap between the archive and the page. I offer a rare combination: scholarly rigour and a novelist's instinct for what makes a world feel real.
I specialise in material culture, visual literacy, and the sensory world of the Early Modern period — the objects your characters touch, the clothes they wear, the rooms they move through, the hierarchies they navigate. I do not touch your plot, your prose, or your characters. I fix your history.
What does that mean in practice? The ledger your merchant keeps will use the right currency. The medicine her physician prescribes will belong to its era. The letter she writes will follow the conventions of its time. The history in your novel will be sound — and your readers, including the ones who know, will feel it.
Services
Most popular · Entry point
Manuscript ‘Vibe Check’
Is your historical world convincing? Before investing in deeper editing, find out whether your period feel is working — and where the cracks are showing. I read the first 30,000 words of your manuscript and deliver a clear, candid report on historical feel and major anachronisms. I do not line-edit; I give you a map of what needs attention and why.
- Assessment of the first 30,000 words
- 2–3 page written report on historical feel, consistency, and anachronisms
- Covers dialogue, dress, architecture, social dynamics & material culture
- Specific suggestions for improving historical depth
Full manuscript
Manuscript Authenticity Report
A comprehensive overview of your complete manuscript’s historical plausibility. Rather than line edits, you receive a detailed report that gives you the tools to fix the history yourself. I do not fix your plot or your commas — I fix your history.
- Full manuscript read (up to 100,000 words)
- 5–8 page report: etiquette, dress, architecture, social hierarchy & material culture
- Flags anachronisms and highlights what is working well
- 30-minute Zoom debrief + email follow-up
£0.007 per word
Turnaround: 4–6 weeksEstimate your fee
Select your word count below
Select a word count to see your estimate
Estimated fee
Your manuscript exceeds 100,000 words. Please get in touch for a bespoke quote.
Enquire About This ServicePremium · Line-by-line
Full Manuscript Annotation
The most thorough service I offer. I work through your entire manuscript in Word, leaving specific margin comments on historical details — the medicine that did not yet exist, the ceremony performed incorrectly, the coin of the wrong reign. Every anachronism caught before it reaches your readers.
- Line-by-line annotation via Track Changes in Word
- Covers specific objects, vocabulary, costume, etiquette & social convention
- Summary report included
- 60-minute Zoom debrief + email follow-up
£0.01 per word
Turnaround: 6–8 weeksEstimate your fee
Select your word count below
Select a word count to see your estimate
Estimated fee
Your manuscript exceeds 100,000 words. Please get in touch for a bespoke quote.
Enquire About This ServiceFlexible · On-demand
Hourly Consulting & Research Retainer
For specific questions, world-building sessions, or ongoing support while you draft. Think of it as having an art historian and researcher on call — available when you need a precise answer without commissioning a full assessment.
- 60-minute Zoom consultation with follow-up email
- 3–5 visual references or primary sources included
- Ideal for dress, objects, architecture, social etiquette & visual culture
- Retainer block: 3 hours to use as needed — no expiry
Single session
£120
60-minute Zoom + follow-up email with visual references
Research retainer
£250
A block of 3 hours to use whenever you need — no expiry
Short-form content
Short-Form Historical Accuracy
Need historical accuracy checked for an individual chapter, article, blog post, or other short-form content? I offer focused accuracy reviews at a per-word rate, with written feedback and suggested corrections.
- Individual chapters, essays, articles, blog posts, video scripts
- Written feedback on historical accuracy with suggested corrections
- Quick turnaround suitable for tighter deadlines
£0.03 per word · quoted per project
Turnaround by arrangementEstimate your fee
Enter your approximate word count
Enter a word count to see your estimate
Estimated fee
Please note: I do not offer genealogy research services. My specialism is material culture, visual history, and the sensory and social world of the Early Modern period, though I am happy to discuss adjacent eras on enquiry. All fees are estimates; final pricing confirmed on enquiry. A 50% deposit is required to secure your slot.
Ready to make your world
feel real?
Not sure which service is right for you? Get in touch and we can find the best fit for your manuscript and budget.
Enquire Now All projects begin with a brief email conversation.As an Oxford-trained art historian and a historical fiction writer myself, I understand the gap between the archive and the page. I offer a rare combination of scholarly rigour and a novelist's instinct for what makes a world feel real.
I specialise in material culture, visual literacy, and the sensory world of the Early Modern period — the objects your characters touch, the clothes they wear, the buildings they move through. I don’t focus on your plot, prose or character arcs. Instead, I ensure your history is sound and free from anachronisms, helping you create immersive storytelling.
I ensure you don't get 1-star reviews from history buffs pointing out that your protagonist is eating with a fork that wasn't invented yet. I provide the sensory details—the texture of the fabric, the specific layout of the room—that make your book feel like a bestseller.
Charles Meynier, Clio The Muse of History, 1800. Oil on canvas, 273 x 176 cm. The Cleveland Museum of Art.
