8 Tips To Write Excellent Historical Fiction

Historical fiction is a genre of fiction in which the story is set in the past. Writers of historical fiction have a fantastically rich backdrop to work with.

The primary characteristic of a good historical novel is authenticity. You should avoid include interesting but unproven facts in your book and instead work hard with sources to double-check the information.

1. Use papers from archives, as well as special libraries, in addition to material from books and the Internet (universities and museums). Getting access to those resources requires some effort, but the returns are well worth it. Facts found in parish records, copies of bylaws, and even historical documents of trade dealings might be incorporated into your narrative. Make use of a wide range of resources.

2. Excited experts – scientists, ethnographers, history professors, and attendees of subject events – can contribute a wealth of important information. You can use external assistance if you have already written the text but wish to double-check itd help to collect needed information.

3. Taking a tour to the locations where the events of your book unfold is quite beneficial. The further you go into the plot, the more exact your description of the historical period will become.

Creating a historical fiction novel’s plot

First and foremost, historical fiction should be engaging. As a result, the author should pay close attention to the text’s quality. For a historical work to be successful, it must have a well-constructed plot and a vibrant writing style.

1. Don’t be hesitant to use the first person in your writing. It is the most effective method of engulfing the reader in the whirlpool of events.

2. Unlike a textbook, historical literature focuses on a person rather than events and dates. The best option is to illustrate the progression of history through the eyes of a fascinating figure. Characters can be fictional or real-life individuals. The protagonist can also be “semi-real,” meaning that he is based on a model.

3. The genre of historical fiction is the most straightforward. It allows you to include more fictional narratives in the plot.

4. Pay closer attention to the small things! During the preparation phase, it is vital to research not only the basic facts about the historical period in question but also lesser-known facts that highlight the spirit of the era.

5. In historical fiction, choosing the correct storytelling style is very vital. Many writers, for example, prefer to employ words and phrases in dialogs that correspond to the age they are writing about.

To give you great ideas, here are some historical novels:

• The Iron King, Maurice Druon
The French author’s strongest point is his precision in describing historical facts and a captivating plot. In The Iron King, the conflict is well-chosen. Its premise is that all of the tragic events that occurred in France throughout the 14th century were caused by the Knights Templar’s curse on King Philip the Fair.

• Peter the First, Alexey Tolstoy
In 1917, Alexey Tolstoy started researching the character of his hero, Peter the First. Tolstoy was still working on this massive historical canvas some thirty years later, giving life and purpose to an important moment in Russian history.

• Queen Margot, Alexandre Dumas
The plot of Alexandre Dumas‘ trilogy centers around Queen Margot’s personality. The plot concerning the struggle between Catholics and Huguenots is filled with court plots, political games, and love.