Take your readers back in time and connect with the past through authentic storytelling. Research and accuracy matters, but not at the expense of good storytelling.
Writing historical fiction
Historical fiction writing cleverly blends facts into great stories. Taking a time period as the main focus, the job of the writer it to create characters and situations that would be appropriate, feel authentic and immerse the reader in the story.
Choosing a time period
Choose a time in history that interests you. This could be pretty much anything from ancient history to modern history! War, ancient civilisations, the Tudors… any time and place in history that appeals to you is likely to appeal to readers too.
The more specific you are, the deeper you will be able to dive into the story and the more authentic your story will feel. Taking World War Two as an example is quite broad, but narrowing that down to the East End of London during October 1940 will give your story more focus and allow you to explore a particular point in time.
By selecting a time you are interested, the research is going to be easier and more interesting for you.
Research, but not too much
For some writers, this is the fun part and the bit that’s easy to get lost in. I know one writer who will ensure that they know the timetable for the day they are writing about. While this level of research isn’t essential, it all helps to build the authenticity and immersion for the reader.
What you should be looking for will vary depending on your story; gathering as much information as possible about your time period will immerse you, as you write.
- How did people get around?
- Who were the political leaders?
- What were conditions like for ordinary people?
- What food was eaten? What was drunk?
The problem with research is that it can become all-consuming and you forget to write! Enjoy the research but remember you are telling a story and a strong cast of characters with a good plot is essential.
Writing historical characters
When it comes to characters, you have two options:
- Use real people
- Use imaginary people
Figures from history will lend some power to your story but it then becomes harder to place them in fictional scenarios. Creating characters allows you to explore other people’s perspectives on real events. That could be about finding out about what ordinary people felt about major world events or imagining the impact of world events on the more intimate lives of those in charge.
It goes without saying that characters need to be fleshed out, with backstories, wants and desires and character flaws, as in any genre. Readers connect with your story through the character so ensuring that they are believable and fit inside your chosen time period is key.
Historical plots
Historical fiction has to have some elements of truth about it. Events, characters and settings will all have elements of the truth, from your research, and this will impact the plot.
Again, being specific will help you with your writing as you place the characters in real events and have their reactions to it. What is it about the event that is either bringing the characters together or stopping them from reaching their goals? Are they playing a part in the history or is history happening around them?
Queer historical fiction
Queer people have always existed. Historical fiction provides a way to explore how LGBTQ+ people have survived and thrived through different historical time periods.
It’s not all been negative and it’s important to recognise the parts LGBTQ+ people have played throughout history. Fiction can be a great tool for readers to gain an insight into and empathy with the LGBTQ+ community.
Developing historical fiction
If you come to me in the early stages of the process, a developmental edit will help you to create a manuscript that is structured well and takes your readers on the journey with your characters.
A developmental edit is going to address a number of potential issues within your manuscript.
The plot
As a developmental editor, I will work with you to develop the plot, making it not only historically accurate but also engaging for the reader. You don’t want a simple retelling of a historical event: this is fiction that needs to be engaging!
Ensuring the pacing is right is also key in a historical fiction novel. You don’t want to focus too much on setting the scene at the expense of action and storytelling. This is one of the dangers of research. You end up regurgitating facts rather than telling a compelling story!
The characters
As always with a developmental edit, getting the character right is key. Your main character needs to hold the story and the readers’ attention. Getting the right backstory, flaws and a strong character arc is key.
Developmental editing won’t neglect your supporting cast, either. You’ll need a strong group of characters to hold the readers’ attention and provide some red herrings along the way.
- Do they act authentically to the time period?
- Do they speak with appropriate language?
- Do the react to the situations in the right way?
Copyediting historical fiction
Copyediting is the stage where your writing is polished and made ready for the reader. I take the text of your book and work with it sentence-by-sentence, addressing everything from spelling, punctuation and grammar to overall sense and flow.
I like to break copyediting down into these five C’s:
- Consistency
- Clarity
- Conciseness
- Correctness
- Conscious language
Copyediting is also the stage where I ensure that your book is clear for the reader, every sentence makes sense and that your writing is concise and to the point. If the crime or the solving of it aren’t clear, it’s going to put off the reader and they are not going to enjoy your writing.
If you are including queer characters and situations, it’s important that these are handled well with language that suits. As an LGBTQ+ specialist, this is something that I can support you with at the copyediting stage. For example, this could be about ensuring the language around homophobic crimes is handled sensitively and authentically to the time period.
Next steps
Once copyediting is complete, your text should be almost ready for your readers. After typesetting and formatting your book, a proofread will check for any last typos or errors and then you are good to go!
Nick (he/him) is an experienced, professional editor and proofreader, specialising in LGBTQ+ writing. Use this form to get in touch right now!
Receive my newsletter, Editing Queeries!
Your support helps!
Your Ko-fi donations help keep me blogging about writing and editing. They also ensure that I can create and provide free resources for editors and writers. Please consider buying me a cuppa!
Editorial services for fiction and non-fiction authors, businesses and organisations.
#
Leave a Reply