What are some tips for writing historical fiction stories?

Answer 1

First pick the moment in history you want to write about. Then research, research, research. Become an expert on that moment.

The purpose on becoming an expert is not to write a chronology of the event. If you're writing a novel, then it's important not to write in a time line fashion - this happened, and this happened, and then this happened. The purpose of becoming an expert is so that you have a wealth of knowledge to drawn on, and you can give that knowledge to your characters. For the history and the story you choose to tell, must be experienced through someone.

So once you know the moment, you next want to decide on a character, or characters who will experience that moment. Showing the moment through a character will make it more personal, and will allow the reader an inside voice to history.

Any idea that is interesting enough to you will be a good idea. You cannot write a story or novel based on ideas that someone else invents - you won't be interested enough in the subject to be able to research and write anything that will actually sell. Plus, anonymous people on the internet have no idea how old you are, what your interests are, or how well you can write!

In order to write, you need a personal connection to the subject. Write about whatever you enjoy, or whatever you find interesting, and you will end up with your novel or story.

WikiAnswers is happy to help you learn how to write better. We will not do your writing for you by giving you ideas and paragraphs to copy.

Here are some more suggestions from WikiAnswers contributors:

• Write about what you know. A good idea for a first novel is to write your own personal story. Everyone has at least one novel in them waiting to be written.

• Observe the world around you. Anything interesting can be an idea for a story or novel.

• Research. The more you know, the more ideas you will have.

• Read stories and books that other authors have written in your chosen genre. This way, you can see how other people do things.

A story can be either plot driven, character driven, or both. Most are stories are both but one or the other usually takes precedence. Charles Dickens' novels are primarily character driven Ian Flemings' are plot driven (although all the plots are the same.) If you need a place to start - trying thinking up interesting characters who can be developed and evolved against an interesting plot, or think up a good crisis that characters can be illuminated through.