There are many techniques that historical fiction writers employ to build believable worlds that existed in the past and still beckon to modern readers. Here is a peak at 10 techniques used by author Rebecca D'Harlingue and how she used them.
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!
Author Jennie Fields shares the inspiration behind her new novel, Atomic Love, and her advice for other writers.
In this post, Jeanne Mackin shares why she prefers writing historical fiction, how research guides her writing process, what her best piece of writing advice is, and more!
Novelist Michelle Cameron explain why she's driven to write Jewish historical fiction and why it's not about the Holocaust.
In this post, novelist Pamela Binnings Ewen shares her thoughts on writing better historical fiction by writing in the shadows of history and historical research.
In this author spotlight, Scott Kenemore, author of Zombie Ohio and The Grand Hotel, shares his experience of writing Lake of Darkness, how he uses historical research to write horror in historical fiction, and more.
History books are great for sharing a macro-level view of the past, but historical fiction reveals truths about the way people lived in history.
Melanie Benjamin—author of six historical novels about real people and events—offers four lessons she's learned about writing fiction from fact, and when to deviate from the truth.
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.
Author Mariah Fredericks reveals how she conducted research on The Gilded Age for her new book, Death of a New American.
Historical fiction author John Thorndike shares five considerations he's learned to keep in mind while writing novels about historical figures.
Dana Chamblee Carpenter recalls a panel on which Anne Perry tossed aside the idea that the historical fiction writer had a responsibility to get everything “right.” We’re storytellers, after all, not historians.
Whether in novels or nonfiction, when it comes to adding authenticity, bestselling author Jeff Guinn takes field research to the next level.
Writing the historical novel brings several unique challenges. Tailoring these techniques to your historical novel will help you capture and hold your readers’ attention.
Here are key elements all writers need to know about the wide open category of historical fiction, as told from a literary agent who represents successful historical fiction authors.
BY VICTORIA PATTERSON The Peerless Four, based on the historical precedent of the first women allowed to compete in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics in track and field on a trial basis, was a departure from my previous story collection and novel, Drift and This Vacant Paradise, both set at the end of the 20th century in my fictionalized home-turf of Newport Beach, California. This is what I learned about writing historical fiction.
Here are four smart, simple tips that should help writers navigate the murky waters of writing time-travel historical fiction.
What really makes an historical novel stand out is drawing on the knowledge you’ve gathered to create a world that is both vivid and believable. Here are seven tips for doing just that.
"Writing is a job...and requires the same day-to-day discipline—that is, showing up and getting your work done. I can think of no better advice for writers." While that's his best advice, he has other great tips for writers. Check them out here.
Once you have built real people, that’s the time to put them into a historical context. Here's how to do both.
