Historical fiction writers have a long and rich history, often shrouded in mystery. What methods are used by these authors to bring their stories to life? How do they know what to include and exclude from their narratives to portray the period they are writing about accurately? And how do they come up with the ideas for their tales? These are just some of the questions historians and other experts interested in historical fiction are searching for answers to. The answers are still being discovered, but some key things can be learned about historical fiction. Namely, how the story is created and how it is written.
What’s the Story Like? The first step for most historical fiction authors writing about the 18th century is to develop a story. The story must be interesting enough to keep readers reading, and it must also be historically accurate to be accepted as valid. “Historical fiction is a form of historical research, but no one can be allowed to write an entire history,” says Carol McWilliams, author of the historical novels “The Gentleman’s Wardrobe” and “A Life in Pieces. “The history must be based on actual events, and a writer must also understand contemporary values and customs. “In research, it’s essential to read everything you can get your hands on about that period.
Why is historical fiction so addictive?
Historical fiction is so addictive because it lets readers escape into another time and place, where they can be someone else for a little while. It allows readers to explore the world without any real consequence, and in doing so, they are often able to learn things they might not have learned in their own lives. Furthermore, historical fiction often contains elements of mystery, which keeps readers reading until the end.
Differences between historical fiction writing styles
Historical fiction is a genre of writing that fuses the actual events of history with the author’s imagination. This can be done in many ways, but all historical fiction writers have certain stylistic elements in common. Here are three of the most important differences:
- Historical fiction often features scenes that could have happened, while fantasy and science fiction often involve scenes that would not have taken place in reality.
- Historical fiction writers often explore complex characters and their motivations, while many fantasy and science fiction writers focus on simple characters with clear motivations.
- Historical fiction often includes detailed descriptions of settings, while science fiction and fantasy authors may neglect this setting or use it only to provide background information for their story.