Historical Fiction
10 Dos and Don’ts of How to Write Historical Fiction That Sells
After making the jump from nonfiction to fiction, Verity Bright offers 10 dos and don’ts of writing historical fiction that sells.
5 Tips for Writing About Big Historical Events in Fiction
Novelist Anna Stuart shares her top five tips for writing about big historical events in fiction so that the story stays front and center...and engaging.
Stephanie Marie Thornton: On How an Entire Rewrite Added Suspense
USA Today bestselling author discusses how rewriting a portion of her new historical fiction novel, A Most Clever Girl, added suspense.
Gill Paul: On Accuracy in Historical Fiction
Bestselling author Gill Paul discusses how a lifetime fascination led her to writing her new historical fiction novel, The Collector's Daughter.
Kia Corthron: On Writing Epic Novels
Playwright turned novelist Kia Corthron discusses her process in writing her new literary fiction novel, Moon and the Mars.
Natasha Lester: On Writing History's Forgotten Women
New York Times bestselling author Natasha Lester discusses the process of researching for and writing her new historical fiction novel, The Riviera House.
6 Things Writers Should Know About the Middle Ages
Knowing what is myth is important in writing historical fiction, but so is knowing what isn't. Author Cait Stevenson shares 6 things writers should know about the Middle Ages to help enrich their historical fiction stories.
Georgie Blalock: On Brief Moments in Historical Fiction
Amateur historian and film buff Georgie Blalock discusses her process of writing her historical fiction novel, The Last Debutantes, in the midst of a global crisis.
Balancing Humor and Levity in Historical Romances
Life is full of peaks and valleys, of sadness and joy. So, too, should fiction. Author Christi Caldwell talks about balancing humor and levity in historical romances, and how her life is often her greatest inspiration.
Courtney Ellis: On How Writing for Fun Led to New Perspectives
Author Courtney Ellis discusses how she went from a sweeping war novel to an intimate family story in her historical fiction debut, At Summer's End.
Wendy Holden: Unlocking the Secrets of Historical Fiction
In this post, bestselling author Wendy Holden shares how her latest story literally fell at her feet, what her best piece of writing advice is, and more!
How I Interviewed a Serial Killer and Stayed Sane
Talking to a serial killer for research, Dr. Aysha Akhtar, MD, MPH, reveals the planning that went into her interviews and how she stayed sane through the process.
Sifting through Mythology: Finding the Grains of Your Story
Marc Graham explains how he used popular—and differing—myths and archaeological records to find the story of his new novel, Song of Songs: A Novel of the Queen of Sheba.
Getting the History Right in Historical Fiction Using Declassified Records
Award-winning historical fiction author Samuel Marquis tells how he was finally able to tell the true story of Operation Condor through declassified government documents made available to the public.
How to Write Historical Fiction
Author Mariah Fredericks reveals how she conducted research on The Gilded Age for her new book, Death of a New American.
Reddit for Writers: 47 Writing Subreddits to Explore
This supplement to the 2019 edition of our 101 Best Websites provides a guide to writing subreddits—destinations across Reddit where writers can find useful information, community, and resources.
Brad Meltzer on Research, Rejections, and More
"Don't let anyone tell you 'No.'"Bestselling author Brad Meltzer reveals the secrets around his new non-fiction book, 'The First Conspiracy'—plus thriller writing tips, and more.
This is NOT Research Advice
Kerri Maher, author of WD Books' This is Not a Writing Manual and the new novel The Kennedy Debutante, offers research advice—or rather, NOT research advice—explaining how diaries, letters and books she read made their way into her fiction.
5 Considerations for Writing About Historical Figures in Fiction
Historical fiction author John Thorndike shares five considerations he's learned to keep in mind while writing novels about historical figures.