So, you have been reading historical fiction all your life. You have also been watching the latest historical movies for some time. Now, you have the persuasion to try a write new historical fiction. But where do you start? How do you ensure that your fiction book is amazing and will be loved by your potential readers? Are there mistakes that you should avoid?
Well, it’s advisable to take your time before putting pen to paper. Your story should be informative and interesting at the same time. It’s never easy to strike such a balance and that’s why you need a few ground rules to guide you. Here are 5 simple ones to get you started.
Go Back to the Old
There are so many sources of old information you can use to draw inspiration for creating your historical fiction. Your options include historical museums and archives. There you can get ancient books and manuscripts that may motivate you.
Don’t Judge Your Characters
We live in an age where people have different social values, religious views, and political standings. Thus, some characters may show traits that you may not agree with. Since your job is to write, make sure you don’t take sides. You need to bring out your characters as they are without sounding judgmental.
Use First-Person Selectively
The use of the first person is not disallowed in historical fiction since it gives the story an intimate tone. However, some readers may feel like you are describing yourself more than your characters if you use first-person a lot. So, learn to use it selectively.
Visit Your Setting
If you are looking to understand the setting of your historical fiction much better, you should visit it. If this is not possible, trying looking on the internet for reference materials that may help you connect with your setting. They’ll give you an artistic impression to create an impressive artistic fiction.
Let Things Flow
Lastly, though it’s good to do research, you shouldn’t sound so academic when writing your piece. Try to put your thoughts into the story while keeping the facts in mind. Pick a pen and paper and let the ideas flow. Besides, you can always go back to revise.
Conclusion
A new historical fiction needs to command the attention of the audience. They should be able to get the flow of your creation and trust the story. This means investing both time and creativity in the creation. Hopefully, the above tips will help you write a great new historical fiction book.
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