In an article for Writer’s Digest, Amanda Glaze shares four tips for writing a historical fantasy fiction.
- Let the Story Guide Your Research. “My personal approach to writing a historical setting is to start with a general overview of the time-period and then let the story and characters guide the deeper research from there,” Glaze says. Familiarize yourself with general historical events connected to your time period and follow threads that intrigue you. “The key in the beginning is to give yourself enough of a sense of the era so that you can start brainstorming the characters that might live in this world, as well as some of the obstacles they might face,” she adds.
- Vary Your Research Sources. Fact-based non-fiction accounts are great sources of information, but don’t rely on them alone. In addition to histories and biographies, look for first-person accounts of life in your time period, as well as fiction and newspaper articles written during the era. Even advertisements can give you an idea of what was important to people in your era or what they were told was important.
- Weave in Magic or Fantasy Elements. Even if you’re not writing fantasy, your world can include fantastical elements. “Were there any beliefs—supernatural or otherwise—during the time-period that might serve as inspiration?” Glaze asks. “Are there any ‘what ifs’ that emerged from your research that intrigue you?” You might debunk certain beliefs or lean into them, depending on the theme and mood of your story.
- When You Get Stuck, Go Back to the Research. “This advice works no matter the genre you are writing in, but I think it’s particularly fruitful if you have the great fortune of working with a historical setting,” Glaze says. “The thing about history is that it is absolutely wild. So many weird, strange, bizarre things have happened in this world. It is matched only by the many weird, strange, bizarre people who have inhabited it.”
