A Writer’s How To Guide
Do you want to write an historical novel, but are overwhelmed by the very idea? If you have an idea for a story ideally set in the past, and have no idea where to begin, I know exactly how you feel. But don’t worry, I’ve got some tips to help you better grasp this unique genre.
I’ve been writing contemporary stories for a while now (four years to be exact, not including my elementary and high school years which the Sears and Eaton’s boxes containing my stories can testify to) and was terrified of writing an historical novel.
I had so many questions, like: Could I write a story set in 1910? How did people think and speak then? Did they drink soda or eat Oreos at the turn of the century?
It wasn’t the genre that unnerved me, it was the details. Things that would create a believable story world for readers.
And readers of historical fiction know their details.
One afternoon I was sweating details about a projectile thrown into a mob. It was briefly mentioned in one textbook I was reading, but I wanted to know what it was that was thrown. I was obsessed with that one detail and wasted a lot of precious writing time pursuing the answer, which wouldn’t affect my story one bit. I asked a multi-published author friend how to deal with this issue. And her advice to me has found a special spot on the wall in front of my computer:
Don’t go chasing a pesky fork.
It doesn’t matter what the actual name was of the thingamabob, or how people used them. What matters is THE STORY.
Find Your Story Idea
It wasn’t until I started attending on-line workshops and webinars focused on crafting an historical novel, that I discovered the element I was missing. I was stressing over details and research when I didn’t even really know what my story was.
Details and research matter, but they aren’t the story.
What problem is your character faced with and how are they going to overcome it? Is your story question timeless? Does it work telling it in the past better than the present?
Stephanie Daniels, historical author
“All stories need interesting characters and conflict—and historical fiction isn’t any different. Often for historical fiction, a particular event (war, famine, natural disasters) can be the catalyst or inciting incident for the conflict in the story.”
The story idea for Though Trials Come came in a roundabout way. It was through reading about another topic I was interested in writing, that I found the seed of the story (The Journey of a Book- The Idea). It was from that nugget in research that I began asking those essential story questions.
Much like what award-winning, biblical fiction author Dana McNeely did:
When reading the Bible’s account of the prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 17, I was drawn to the moment when Elijah prays the widow’s son back from the dead. What would it be like to wake up from death? What would the boy have seen, in the other world? Then I started asking questions about who he and his mother were, before Elijah came into their lives. Those questions started my research of an early version of my book Rain.
So, what are your story questions?
Do Your Research
Now that you’ve asked those questions and have a story in mind, where does an author begin to research?
Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet. As an historical author, you need to use a variety of resources to build an historically accurate setting. Some blog posts or articles may prove fascinating, but lack the original informational source.
I asked a few author friends about resources for aspiring historical authors.
Betty Woods: I like historical sites, local museums for in person research. Read diaries or letters from your time period. Online, go to state historical organizations. Start googling key words for what you need. Children’s historical sites can have simplified small details the other sites don’t mention.
Danielle Grandinetti: Because I write stories set in the 30s, I enjoy looking over old newspapers and listening to stories of those who grew up during that time (or whose parents did) – whether in person, or via blogs or memoirs. I like to include little details about the technology changes, like electricity and appliances and indoor plumbing. Finding those details often takes me to historical societies and the history pages of a particular company.
Jen Turano: Libraries are a wonderful resource. Ask a research librarian to help you find books about your time era. I write in the Gilded Age. One of the first books I found was “The Court of Mrs. Astor in Gilded Age New York,” by Greg King. That was a treasure trove of information, but then, I flipped to the back and used the bibliography to find hundreds of additional resources. I then perused the internet to find copies of additional books, had my local librarians track down newspaper articles for me, and before I knew, I’d amassed a wonderful personal library of my own, which saves me time when I’m researching a specific area in the Gilded Age.
Other Resources I Found
When I had questions about The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of the Dominion of Canada, specifically the chapters located in Quebec, I turned to the BANQ (Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec) and The McCord Museum. These librarians and curators are an historical author’s heroes. I didn’t expect to receive photos and meeting minutes from the time period, let alone a map with the exact location of an obscure reading room that was mentioned in a newspaper article printed in 1910.
All of these places are excellent places to use in helping you find details about your chosen era. Perhaps you might even glean a nugget for another story!
What are the rest of the steps in writing historical fiction?
Stay tuned for part two to find out.
YOUR TURN: What is the scariest part of writing historical fiction for you? What do you love about reading historical fiction?