We admit to being intimidated by the amount of work involved in writing historical fiction. From choosing an era and topics and characters to researching setting, clothing, local customs and events, we find the whole thing daunting.
In an article for DIY MFA, Pamela Taylor says even writers of historical fiction aren’t sure where to start. While writers can start with any element – time, place, character, event – eventually they have to jump from concept to execution. But how?
“Start with what you love,” Taylor says. “Are you intrigued by the dangers faced by the resistance movements in Europe during World War II? Find a historical figure—or create your own character—and plunge into the story.”
Next, she urges you to find the more intimate story. Even among popular figures in historical fiction, there are new angles to explore and little known anecdotes to expand. “Henry’s break with the Church of Rome led to the dissolution of the monasteries in England,” Taylor notes. “There might be quite a poignant tale in the life of a monk who lived through that purge.” By telling the personal story of a character affected by great people and events, you can draw your reader back to your era. Taylor also suggests plumbing your family’s history for ideas using ancestry research sites. You might trace your family back a generation or two or perhaps hundreds of years.
