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»Accidents and distempers, amputations and worms« In 1702, John Moyle has served as a sea surgeon in the navy for almost 40 years. Now old, he decides to write a how-to manual on practising surgery on a ship. His book »CHIRURGUS MARINUS« covers the most common diseases or wounds that sailors around the year 1700 A.D. might have suffered from. Therefore, it is an ideal resource for your seafare novel.
Write about Food in Iceland Iceland – the Nordic country first came to my attention when I read Hannah Kent’s breathtaking novel BURIAL RIGHTS. Now, I discovered an amazing source with hundreds of historical recipes from Iceland. Browse the selection here, and write a scene.
Write about Australian Food in the 1860s Battered kangaroo brains cooked in emu fat, anyone? Discover the best resource I know for authentic Australian recipes. Then, write a scene in which your protagonist prepares a TYPICAL Australian dish.
Why Isn’t There a Novel About a Ganerben-Burg Castle? A castle divided between multiple families … wouldn’t that be the perfect setting for a novel? Imagine: 3 to 5 different families, trapped in a confined space, sharing the same rooms, each and every day. It’s time for internal hostilities and atrocities. Conflict is inevitable. A very special setting that allows you to narrate a very special situation.
Write about Food from the German Democratic Republic Many childhood memories are connected to food — and those special foods cannot be bought any more. But what if you suddenly discovered them? Write the scene.
1945. A Dance with the enemy? It’s the end of the fraternisation ban in post-war Germany. Couples who have met and like each other, are *finally* allowed to meet officially for an evening out together. Narrate how a couple – a British soldier and a young German woman – who have just met, date for the first time.
Receive a new writing prompt from a historical location 1x per week.
Are you a curious novelist exploring uncharted genres or are you a current writer of the past seeking new adventures?
Whatever your purpose, these 40 historical writing prompts , partnered with a collection of vintage photographs , are guaranteed to help you get ideas, transcend to an inspiring era and help you to write your own piece of history.
And once you’re done with these prompts, please visit my post on “How to Write Historical Fiction.”
It’s 1864, and the United States is in the middle of a Civil War. Write a scene in which an undercover Union soldier passes through a quaint southern town brimming with Confederate rebels.
Imagine you’re an Irishman working at a factory in the 1930s. It’s your first day on the job. Without having the proper training, you accidentally set fire to the plant. Write a mock report of how the fire started and how your character escaped fault.
Write a chapter in the point of view of an English spy who attempts murder during Louis XIV’s coronation in 17th century France. How does your tyrant plan to execute their mission and are they successful?
A group of close friends meet for the last time before going in separate ways in 1940s England. Write a scene about their last moment together. Do they make a pact to see each other again in 10 years or do they reminisce back in time to the day they first met?
In 1950s Charleston, South Carolina, two teenagers escape the troubles of boyhood to go on an adventure of a lifetime. What conflict do they have with each other as they go on their voyage and where do they go?
See what’s cooking in this 1940s California kitchen. Imagine you are a food columnist for the local newspaper. Write a mock interview and include a secret family recipe that accidentally gets leaked.
As an airplane pilot you are much more aware of what’s happening in the sky rather than the ground. Write a scene where the pilot flies over a beach and spots a crowd of beach-goers flocking to the surf. Do a 15 minute freewrite of what you see in the water.
You are an inhabitant on a tropical Mediterranean island. One day you go out for a stroll along the cliffs when you notice a strange ship across the waters coming toward your home. Write one chapter where you describe who’s on board the ship and what they want. Are they friends or enemies?
Write a story about an orphaned child in the 1970s that meets a strange family who resides in an even stranger house on the California coast.
Write a scene about a family man traveling through a mountain pass in 19th century Oregon, unaware of what’s coming fast around the corner. Write a paragraph of how he connects fate with destiny.
Extra! Extra! Write a scene about a group gathering in the streets of Chicago, Illnois in the 19th century. Are employees going on strike? Are women fighting for equal rights against men? Or are people cheering for the one person that could lead a hopeless village to a brighter future?
Write one chapter about a female housekeeper who explores her master’s study in 19th century France. What all does she discover and is it something that she rather not have wished to find?
Write a story about a boy who ran from home after revealing a scandalous family secret that should have been kept jan drugs canada under lock and key. Now a man, fifteen years later, he’s returned home only to discover that there is still unrest after his plaguing mishap.
Write one chapter from the point of view of a 1970s mountain climber in Colorado, who discovers a brick hut on top of a mountain. Is it inhabited or is there a certain relic which transcends him to a different era?
Write a journal entry in the point of view of a female pioneer of her abduction by the Sioux Indian tribe in the early 19th century.
Write a story in which an ornament on a Christmas tree tells the story of a different era in time.
Write an outline about the adventures of four men, who meet as young postmen during WWII. What are their backstories? Give them features, disagreements, and opposing traits.
Write a character profile of a wealthy 19th century English banker, who was once a lion tamer in a past life.
Write a robbery scene that takes place in a popular jewelry boutique in 1960s New York. Is the jewel thief a stealthy shoplifter or a glass-shattering maniac? Does the crime take place at night when the store is closed or during business hours? And how does the robber know the jewelry store owner?
Write a scene where an undercover WWII American sneaks into a German radio room to send a message that could prove fatal to the enemy — if he isn’t caught.
Write a flash fiction story from the point of view of an owner of a hotel that is famous for being haunted by characters from the Roaring Twenties.
Write a story about a man who purchases a 1920 Ford Model T and discovers that the car has a life of its own.
Write a story about a 1980s New Yorker looking for adventure, who purchases a basket from an eccentric city merchant and discovers an item inside that takes the character back in time to 15th century Scotland.
There’s no rules in this card game. Describe the high stakes for this card game in 1800s England. Does the winner wind up wishing he had lost?
Write a story about a drifter passing through only to stop at a lone 1940s diner to get some lunch, but unintentionally ends up staying much longer than expected.
Write a story about a boy and a stray dog and their many adventures as a famous motor racer in 1920s America.
Write a letter from the point of view of a solider writing to his family during the Vietnam War.
Write a story about a contemporary novelist who physically appears into his Victorian England drama and falls for his female protagonist.
Write a love story about a female WWII veteran who saves a fireman from a burning movie theater in 1940s New York.
Write a story of a pioneer family from the city starting their new life on the Oregon Trail in the 1800s.
Write a story about an underrated scientist that turns out to have better ideas than most of his colleagues in 19th century Germany.
Write a story about five teenagers who first meet at a summer camp, and how their lives continue to intertwine throughout the years in 1950s Florida.
Write a diary entry of an infantry solider in the Revolutionary War who is on guard at his post when there is a sudden attack on his fort.
Write a character profile of a wayward Englishmen who treats the rules of proper Victorian England society like it’s a game.
Write a scene in which the passengers of this motor car are stopped by a mysterious rider in the 1920s English countryside.
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Oh my gosh. This is awesome. Going to write a story on it☺☺☺
Thank you! Happy writing!
yes, this is utterly amazing!!! I am a student and it is awesome.
What!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i am a student doing a story competition and yes this was great!!
Did you win?
I really like all these Ideas. The thing is, I am creating a book that mainly focuses around the age of piracy, age of exploration, and industrial revolution.. so around the timeline 1740-1800. I seem to have trouble on trying to recreate a “Similar” historical plot to that of real life.My main character Jack ater, the son of the infamous pirate allen ater, recently moves to London around the time line. From there I plan on him becoming a vigilante of some sort. I just want a bit of guidance to help me get on the right track.
Sounds great!! How’s your story going? I hope you’ve published it by now 🙂
I think that Donald Trump is history, so why isn’t he on this list.
I think you’re a dumbass. History can be a good way to learn about something, it also can show us future generations how to prevent specific events. Donald Trump is a orange dumbass. The only history that will be written about that racist orange bigot would be how he imprisoned immigrant kids and killed millions of diverse and beautiful people and so many religions so his white supremacist era could be successful.
i agree with mime
this was really helpful for my writing assignment and i love it
Oh my god this is wonderful i’m going to make a movie
I made my own topics using the given prompts and yes, It is awesome!
Thank you, these have helped me so much with my school English assignments!
I love this and this will so help me with my assignment! Thank you!
Gracias, Senor.
this is so scrumptious
This is amazing! These ideas are so creative! LOL I am going taking a “Creative Writing” elective in school. I am definitely going to base one one my stories on these prompts. Thanks!
I love these prompts! They saved my LIFE! (From getting screamed at……)
i’m writing a fictional chor story about how derek chauvin is a hero and need advice. Is murder heroic if it was on an evil person? Thanks!
Thank you! I’m using this as a reference for a book/ project idea!
i am going to use egypt
very good suggestions. Not exactly what I am looking for but provides ideas for possible themes.
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Pick a topic., choose your time and place, decide what to write about it., decide where to set the story., create a main character:, pick an antagonist:, decide where the story begins and ends, and plan accordingly., include details:, be accurate.
Essential elements and detailed insights.
If you love history and enjoy reading about the past, writing historical fiction could be the perfect genre. But where do you start? How do you make sure that your story is historically accurate and engaging at the same time? In this article, we’ll take you through twelve easy steps to writing historical fiction.
Pick A Topic, and for inspiration, you can explore LITRPG Fictions , a revolutionary genre. The first step to writing a historical-fiction novel is to pick a topic that interests you. Do some research into what has already been written about your chosen subject. Look at the success of those books or if there is an upcoming movie based on that story.
If people are interested in reading about it, there’s a good chance they’ll want more! Just look at how many new books are being published every year about Harry Potter and Game of Thrones.
You should also consider your topic’s relevance for yourself and others who may buy your book. For example, if you’re living through hard times financially or emotionally, perhaps writing about World War II would give readers hope.
Choose Your Time And Place, and consider The Significance of Book Reviews for Authors in your chosen era. The next step in writing historical fiction is to choose the time and place for your story. This could be a specific era, such as the American Civil War, or a particular location, such as the French Revolution. Whatever you choose, make sure that you do your research and immerse yourself in the details of that time and place.
The next step to writing historical fiction is to choose what you will write about. You should pick a topic that interests you. However, it must also be relevant to your audience and the current political or social climate.
Research! And learn How to Check for Plagiarism in Google Docs to ensure originality. Research is the key to good historical fiction. You need to know what you’re writing about, and there’s no excuse for not doing enough research. Research can be fun–you’ll find yourself learning new things and making connections between past events that are relevant today.
If you want to get into the details of your story, consider visiting archives or museums where documents from that period may still exist!
You can also look for primary sources written at the time of your story: diaries, letters, newspapers, etc. You can even find these online if you search hard enough! If you’re writing about a specific event or person in history, it’s important to get their side of the story too.
When deciding on a time and place for your story, you want to consider what interests you. You also want to choose a time and place that is not too familiar to your audience. If they know all about the era or location of your novel, then there will be no surprise or twist in the story. This can lead readers away from what they are reading because they already know what happened before.
Make sure to make your characters relatable when writing historical fiction. You should be able to put yourself in their shoes or at least imagine that someone like you would be living in this period and place. Your readers will feel more connected with the story if they think of themselves as part of it.
There are many ways to do this: make sure they’re dynamic, interesting, sympathetic and likable (or at least not unlikeable).
Maybe they have a secret or talent they don’t want to reveal. Maybe they’re the only person who can save their town from famine. Or maybe they’re the only ones who can fix the mill’s engine. Ensure your characters are active and doing things rather than just sitting around waiting for something interesting to happen.
You’ll want to pick an antagonist just as important as your hero. The antagonist should be in opposition to the hero and a character with his or her story arc throughout the novel. This will help give your reader something to root for. However, also keep them guessing about what will happen next.
Your antagonist should be complex and interesting enough to easily fill up an entire book on his/her own!
Decide Where The Story Begins And Ends, And Plan Accordingly, ensuring you Unlock the Secrets of How to Write a Mystery Short Story . The inciting incident is when your main character’s life changes forever. It’s not always a big moment: it can be as simple as realizing their boss hates them or finding out that their job has been outsourced to another country. The inciting incident is often subtle enough that it goes unnoticed by the characters themselves. But not so subtle that it happens off-screen (unless you want to take this route).
The resolution of conflict should come at around 85% through your book. It should be clear enough so readers know what happens next but still leave room for surprises in later chapters!
Include Details, and consider Illustrations in Writing to enhance your storytelling. It’s important to avoid overwhelming your readers with excessive detail, as this can lead to boredom. However, it’s important to include enough information so that they understand what is happening in the story.
Details make historical fiction come alive and add depth and context to your characters’ experiences. If you don’t include enough details, it can be hard for readers to visualize what life was like during this period or place. And if they can’t visualize it, they won’t care about what happens!
If you’re unsure how much detail to include, try writing a few different versions of your story and see which one works best.
Historical fiction readers are often history buffs, and they expect a high level of accuracy in the details of your story. Ensure that your facts are correct and that you don’t take too many liberties with history. However, remember that you’re writing fiction, not a history book, so it’s okay to take some creative liberties. However, to ensure that your details are accurate, you can also hire Book Writing Services , who can proofread your work. They will check the facts and confirm their accuracy, saving you from making a fool of yourself.
The best way to show a character’s feelings is through actions and dialogue. For example, if you want readers to know that your protagonist is angry, don’t tell them so in narration–show them by having her slam doors or yell at people.
Humor is a great way to keep your readers engaged and make them care about the characters. It’s one of the most powerful tools in any writer’s toolkit. However,
It can also be overused and become cloying if you don’t use it sparingly. In historical fiction, humor can come in many different forms: dry wit or off-handed comments are often used by authors like Jane Austen and Tom Sharpe to lighten up dark situations without going too far into parody. Meanwhile, other writers prefer to play up their characters’ quirks as they navigate difficult situations.
Some authors use humor to make their readers laugh. Others try to create a lighter mood in the story.
With this step-by-step guide, we hope you will become a better writer and help your readers enjoy your story. Remember to have fun with it! If you’re not enjoying the process of writing historical fiction, then there’s no point in doing it.
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Home / Book Writing / How to Write Historical Fiction: A Step-by-Step Guide
As someone who has spent a lot of time researching myths and ancient history for my historical fantasy novels (yes, I know they’re not the same thing), I feel I have a unique kinship to historical fiction.
But it can also be challenging. There’s a reason I write historical fantasy instead of straight-up historical fiction.
But in this article, I’ve done my best to show you some of the techniques I use, as well as a lot more I’ve researched that can definitely help you write an amazing historical novel.
So with that in mind, let’s dive in.
Historical fiction stories take place in the past, though the timeframe considered “historical” differs. Generally, historical fiction is set at least 50 years in the past, before the author's own lifetime. This transports readers to an era outside of their firsthand experience.
The story is paramount in historical fiction. While accuracy matters, the priority is on crafting an engaging plot and relatable characters. Historical fiction selects interesting snippets from the past and uses them to highlight universal human experiences.
Some common time periods for historical fiction include classical antiquity, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Napoleonic era, the Victorian period, the early 20th century, and World War II. But historical fiction can bring any time in history to life!
Certain types of characters and plot devices frequently show up in historical fiction. Here are some of the most common historical fiction tropes:
These recurring tropes allow readers to be instantly transported to the mood and themes of historical fiction. They serve as shortcuts for signaling the genre and time period. But in weaker stories, they can also become predictable or overused. The best historical fiction writers breathe new life into familiar tropes.
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When writing historical fiction, I keep the following elements in mind to fully immerse readers in the past:
When I brainstorm and craft my own historical fiction, I keep these elements in mind at every stage of the writing and editing process. This helps me craft stories that will fully immerse readers in the past.
Historical fiction is extremely diverse. For one, it varies by historical error, which in itself is a huge list of subgenres.
But most historical fiction novels fall into a few major subgenres. Here are some of the most popular types of historical fiction:
This blend of fantasy and historical fiction incorporates mythological or supernatural elements into a real historical setting. It uses imagined or magical components to explore the past in new ways. Examples include Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke and The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker.
What if historical events had gone differently? Alternate history explores hypothetical timelines, changing key facts about the past and imagining the ramifications. Fatherland by Robert Harris is one of the most famous examples, as is The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick.
Mysteries and detective stories have been set in just about every historical era imaginable. Historical details enrich the plotting and raise the stakes for sleuths trying to solve fictional cases within the confines of the past. The Alienist by Caleb Carr is a standout historical mystery.
These suspenseful tales use historical backdrops to amplify danger for the characters. The stakes are often exceedingly high, with characters caught up in major events and sweeping change. Ken Follett writes some of the best historical thrillers around.
Love stories set in the past allow readers to experience all the swoons and passion of romance while immersed in a bygone era. Settings range from Medieval Scotland to World War II England and beyond. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon is perhaps the most famous example.
Sea adventures have an enduring appeal, and nautical historical fiction takes readers aboard ships of the past. Pat O'Malley's Sharpe Books series brings the 18th century Royal Navy to rip-roaring life. There is also plenty of historical fiction about pirates!
Westerns conjure up images of cowboys, gun slingers, pioneers, and life on the 19th century American frontier. Classics like Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry transport readers to the Wild West.
Biographical historical fiction portrays the lives of actual historical figures, staying as accurate as possible while inventing conversations and imagining private moments. Memoirs of Hadrian by Marguerite Yourcenar does this beautifully for the Roman emperor.
As you can see, historical fiction provides unlimited possibilities for exploring the past through story. Keep these subgenres in mind as you conceptualize your own historical fiction ideas!
When writing historical fiction, how closely do you need to stick to the facts? Can you take creative license and deviate from what really happened?
This is a question that historical fiction writers grapple with all the time. The truth is, there are no hard and fast rules. Some authors aim to be as accurate as possible, while others are happy inventing freely in service of the story.
Here are a few things to keep in mind as you balance historical accuracy with creative license:
If you're writing biographical fiction about Abraham Lincoln, readers will likely expect a high degree of accuracy. But if you're writing a historical fantasy or time travel romance, you'll have more leeway to explore hypothetical scenarios.
While you don't need your fiction to read like a textbook, it should align with the overall historical consensus. The major events, timelines, and historical figures should match up with the facts. Don't contradict well-established history without good reason.
Many readers won't know or care if you're a little anachronistic with small details like clothing styles or dinner menus. But get too many obvious things wrong, and it will undermine the historical immersion.
However, on the flip side, getting a few smaller details right can actually set the mood, and allow readers to suspend their disbelief even more when you DO deviate.
Let readers know upfront when and where your story deviates from the facts. Explain why you made the choices you did to serve the narrative.
Most readers will appreciate your transparency. Plus, it’s a good way to let the critics know that you didn’t miss those important details, you just deliberately decided against using them.
Fiction set in times we know less about, like ancient Celtic history or the stone age, has more room for creative speculation since the historical record is patchier.
At the end of the day, historical authenticity comes down to plausibility. Your fiction should feel true to the spirit and general atmosphere of the time period you're writing about. Most of your readers will happily suspend disbelief if your historical world feels immersive.
Now that we've covered the basics of the genre, let's dig into the process of actually writing historical fiction . Here's my 7-step guide:
The setting and time period of your book is the most important part of historical fiction. So it’s best to start there.
The setting will shape the rest of the book more than any other element. For example, a woman in WWII-era France will act and behave differently than a woman in 14th-century France.
So start by figuring out where and when you want to set your novel. Then, before the research phase even begins, start to consume a bunch of media surrounding that era, both fiction and nonfiction.
I like to start by watching a lot of fictional movies and TV shows set in that era, along with a few documentaries. It’s a good way to get primed for the next step…
Once you've chosen a general era, the real research begins. Start wide by reading general history books about the time and place. Get a list of the major events, figures, cultural trends, and technological innovations you'll want to reference.
Then get more specific. Look for resources related to your characters' genders, classes, occupations, religions, ethnicities, and any other identities that will shape their perspectives. Seek out first-person sources like journals, letters, and artifacts that reveal what life was like back then.
Immerse yourself in the language of the time by reading literature, plays, newspapers, and speeches written during the period. Note unfamiliar words and style conventions you might mimic in your own prose and dialogue.
If possible, visit museums and historical sites to experience artifacts and places connected to your story. Handling objects from the past and walking in your characters' footsteps brings priceless insight.
You likely won't use more than 10% of your research in the actual writing. But letting your imagination soak in the sights, sounds, and details of the era will infuse your fiction with authentic spirit that readers will feel.
As you explore both primary and secondary sources, note down the specific details that grab you:
These vivid details will spice up your writing. Sprinkle them in strategically to delight readers with the essence of the era. Just don't info dump or force them in clumsily.
Now it's time to synthesize your research into a compelling plot. Brainstorm story ideas that allow you to showcase the fascinating slice of history you want to bring to life.
Develop a cast of fictional characters , making sure they fit plausibly within the constraints and opportunities of the historical setting you've chosen. Give them goals, conflicts, and motivations influenced by the time period they inhabit.
Map out a plot trajectory that intersects with major events of the era or uses them as turning points. Decide how closely you want to adhere to the historical timeline versus taking creative license.
I like to outline so I can visualize the cause-and-effect of events and make sure the pacing feels right. But do what works for your writing process.
One pitfall of historical fiction is depicting the past through an overly romanticized lens. The presentism of modern values often makes us view previous eras as simpler or more idyllic.
Resist glamorizing the past. Show the full spectrum of experiences, including the ugly parts of history many people choose to forget.
Remember that history is written by the victors. So try to show the other side that we don’t necessarily consider these days.
Tell well-rounded stories that don't shy away from challenging themes. Seek out voices and perspectives that were marginalized or excluded from the official historical record. Find the untold stories of those who have been overlooked.
The key to immersive historical fiction is populating your stories with characters readers connect with. Develop nuanced players who feel like real people despite being products of another time.
Give each character a distinct voice stylized to the cadence and diction of their era. Build cultural attitudes and constraints organically into their worldviews. Ensure their choices and conflicts align with the social mores they inhabit.
Beware of projecting modern sensibilities onto characters from less progressive eras. But also don't feel boxed in by history. Look for ways to develop complex, multi-faceted characters who subvert stereotypes.
Just like any fiction, your historical writing needs crisp prose on the sentence level. But it also requires you to meticulously construct an authentic backdrop that feels seamlessly woven into the story.
Pull description double-duty, using setting details to establish time and place. Use era-appropriate metaphors, idioms, and slang in narration and dialogue. Root your characters in specific locations, occupations, classes, fashions, religions, politics, and technologies.
On later drafts, check for any blips of modern language or customs that break the historical spell. Keep referring back to your research materials even in the final polishing phase.
Thorough editing will catch any inaccuracies and ensure historical components are integrated smoothly rather than feeling shoehorned in.
Beyond the major steps above, here are some other tips for crafting incredible historical fiction:
No matter how extensive your research, you'll likely still have questions that arise during the writing process. Little details like what the inside of a 1940s taxi looked like or how Victorian children entertained themselves on rainy days.
This is where AI comes in handy! You can ask an AI assistant to fill in missing details based on the era and location of your story. Just be sure to verify any important facts it provides, if possible.
The most transportive historical fiction incorporates vocabulary and syntax appropriate for the time period. But you need a balance that still feels readable today.
Use completely era-accurate dialogue only for very short snippets, like quotes from diaries or news headlines. In all other dialogue and narration, blend historical words and sentence structures sparingly into mostly modern language.
Aim to give readers a flavor of the speech patterns without slowing the story's pace or making it a chore to read.
Don't let rigid accuracy derail your storytelling. The point of historical fiction is bringing the essence of an era to life through narrative, not creating a flawless replica of events.
If fudging dates or adding imagined details makes your plot flow better, go for it. Just try to preserve the overall context and spirit of the time. Use an author's note to explain your approach if needed.
In the end, vivid characters and compelling drama should take precedence over historical precision. Find creative ways to truthfully capture the past while still surprising readers. After all, you're writing fiction!
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Writing historical fiction is a delicate dance between accuracy and imagination. But the research required pays off in stories that truly transport readers to bygone eras.
By following the steps and tips in this article, you'll gain the knowledge and tools needed to start your own journey into historical fiction. Just remember to let the creative process take the lead once your research foundation is laid.
Immerse yourself in lively settings and characters. Capture the attitudes, worldviews, challenges, and triumphs of the past through the lens of engaging fiction. Historical details should complement your plot and themes, not override them.
Stay flexible, have fun wandering down research rabbit holes, and don't worry about getting every tiny detail right. If you maintain historical plausibility while crafting page-turning drama, your readers will eagerly lose themselves in the vivid historical world you create!
When I’m not sipping tea with princesses or lightsaber dueling with little Jedi, I’m a book marketing nut. Having consulted multiple publishing companies and NYT best-selling authors, I created Kindlepreneur to help authors sell more books. I’ve even been called “The Kindlepreneur” by Amazon publicly, and I’m here to help you with your author journey.
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Throughout the powerful novel Unbroken A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand, Louis Zamperini shows a relentless will to survive in extreme ways that most could not, also demonstrating many counts of leadership. Louis Zamperini has been innovative and...
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel Purple Hibiscus unleashes the lives of two young characters Kambili, the main character and Jaja, her older brother, that are brought up by a religiously rigid father, Papa, who adheres to Catholicism consequently overshadowing his paternal love. Papa eventually punishes his...
When raised in a country hindered by the hardships of domestic violence, voicing one's true thoughts can often carry savage consequences, Purple Hibiscus is no exception. When the voice of the Achike family is confined in an oppressive society and home under Eugene, an authoritarian...
In every household, there are many unspoken rules and norms which members structure their behavior around. According to the Marxian Class Theory, the development of these norms, ideological consciousness, are dependent on the social class of the members in a given household. This theory was...
The novel Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Adichie, set in post-colonial Nigeria during the Civil War in the late 1960s, is a bildungsroman that focuses greatly on family relationships as well as religious and cultural ideals. The passage describing Kambili and Jaja’s first meal at their...
The author I chose is Gabriel García Márquez (born March 6, 1927, Aracataca, Colombia—died April 17, 2014, Mexico City, Mexico), Colombian novelist and one of the greatest writers of the 20th century, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982, mostly for his...
Food is a key component and defining factor of all cultures. It connects people in ways that sometimes even language cannot, or even facilitates communication between people by bringing them together over the dining table. Although physical food and its role in daily life is...
Boccaccio presents an earthly system of justice to show how messy human life is. This tells us that the divine system of justice (one that Dante adheres to) does not fit with the complications that life presents us. Dante’s use of his moral system, which...
The novel, Purple Hibiscus uses many types of symbolism to express Papa’s abusive behavior towards his wife and children. Within the novel, There are many symbols being used to help develop the novel, in the text; the four major ones being Love Sip Tea, Figurines,...
Conflicting ideas within people that are not resolved can lead to savagery and pain. In William Golding's novel Lord of the Flies, Ralph and young British boys are left stranded from a plane crash on an island. The boys start to become civilized on the...
'The Swimmer' by John Cheever and 'A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings' by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, both focus on magic realism in the way that people are never content. 'The Swimmer' is a story of how one man's ego can change his life. The...
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand is one of the most interesting books that I've at any point perused. This true to life piece has even made me have an alternate point of view and made me consider the lesson of the story in an edifying manner....
As an eminent historian, indicating the significance of filmic narrative of history, Bruno Ramirez emphasises that scholars, who must not be necessarily historians but other social, or pertinent disciplines, should not perceive historical films as only stories about past but also contemporary cultural outputs, intrinsic...
There is never a moment in life when adversity is absent, but the true test of resilience presents itself in times when the misfortune seems completely grim and utterly unrelenting. In the novel Unbroken, Laura Hillenbrand describes the tumultuous life of one man through his...
In the Old Bible in Titus chapter 1 verse 16 it saids “They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work”, this words utterly emphetazie with Gabriel Garcia Marquez and the message in...
“It was a wrong number that started it…Much later…he would conclude that nothing was real except chance.’’ (Auster, Paul. City Of Glass,1985:1) The first sentences of the book although We don’t notice at the first glimpse informs the reader about the possibility of this detective...
Summary The Mark of Cain by Roxane Gay The short story is about a young unnamed woman who is married to a man called Caleb, Caleb has an identical twin, Jacob. They both switch places for days. The woman knows about their actions but does...
Flannery O’Connor: A Background Mary Flannery O’Connor was an American writer born in Savannah, Georgia, in 1925. She had spent years in Iowa and New York for her education, while the rest of her life was spent in her birth state, though more in Milledgeville,...
Throughout its history, science fiction is associated and dominated by white male writers, readers, editors, and protagonists (Salvaggio, 1984, p. 78). Carrington (2016) has used the expression “The Whiteness of Science Fiction” to refer to two things: first, “the overrepresentation of white people among the...
A woman can interact with spirits, a man can live one hundred and forty years, and characters can have conversations with the walls. In Magical Realism, anything is possible. All the rules we applied to the ordinary world can be bent at any moment. Writers...
This article aimed to rationale how science fiction content describe and illustrate human culture through zombies. There was no formal concept of probability in Europe prior to the mid-17th century [3], despite the idea of randomized objects was already commonly seen. Asides from the first...
Introduction The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a short story of speculative fiction by American author Washington Irving, contained in his collection of 34 essays and short stories entitled The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.. Written while Irving was living abroad in Birmingham, England,...
What settles the difference between nonfiction and fiction? The specifics. In a nonfiction novel, the author is recounting on purely true events. However, in a fictional text, the author has a wide range of possibilities and can be very subjective. The specifics can be used...
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark aTwin is a classic novel about a young boy growing up along the Mississippi River. It is set in the 1840s in the fictional town of St. Petersburg, inspired by Hannibal, Missouri, where Twain lived as a boy....
Tui T. Sutherland, is a children's book author of several books (such as Wings of Fire, Avatars, Spirit Animals, etc.) and usually writes from 11:00 to 4:00 am instead of during the day. Some of the pen names she goes by are Heather Williams, Rob...
Annie john incorporates a weird relationship to power and her mother with regards to power. She perpetually changes. what is more the manner her and her mother act continuously modified and differs. Finally we have a tendency to see this within the initial 2 chapters...
In the historical fiction novel, Fever: 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson, citizens in the city Philadelphia are suffering and dying from yellow fever. The epidemic is spreading all throughout the town and not many people can stop it. The main character Mattie, who is 14,...
The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah, was truly a remarkable story. It's poignant! I will beg everyone who loves historical fiction to read this. Although the book is considered fiction, I believe it was planted in well-researched truth. The Nightingale was glamorous and powerful; it is...
A Wrinkle in Time is a classic in the fantasy fiction genre. It has won numerous awards with the most prestigious being the john newberry medal award, won in 1963. Written by Madeleine L'Engle, it is the first in the Time Quintet series, which targets...
Something that makes the classic children’s novel A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle, such an interesting story is that it succeeds in straddling the border between science fiction and fantasy. It brings the two genres together by including, for example, both the concept of...
I don’t think there was too much opinion in this novel, it was a very long novel but honestly short at the same time, once you get into the book, you want to keep reading to see what is going to happened next. It really...
In Gods and Generals, Shaara tells old stories in his own style and prose, using factual information to create a realistic yet still entertaining narrative. The author’s tales revolve around four generals and the events surrounding them, particularly in reference to the Civil War. Shaara...
Keywords: In the Time of the Butterflies, Julia Alvarez, Dominican Republic, Historical fiction, Symbolism, Political oppression, Feminism, Identity The desire for overcoming corruption became a battle for everyone living in those times. The passion that many had and the hope that wasn’t lost kept them...
Part II of this story is changing like how Don Quixote’s fantasy is changing, and it is turning a part as the story goes on. Reality is rising up in his imaginative world, and he starts to doubt his views. He is beginning to see...
The most resourceful genre that involves movies shows art and books is science fiction. Most science fiction are labeled as drama, or comedy.It is much more than those two things that is what makes it so much more interesting and enjoyable.There are many definitions and...
Fantastic fiction be used to bring about social changes and/or political reforms In order to better understand fantastic fiction we should also understand other fictions. The most resourceful genre that involves movies shows art and books is science fiction. Most science fiction is labeled as...
Dystopian genre blossomed in literature during the nineteenth century and developed significantly as a critical response and an antithesis to utopian fiction and shows utopia gone awry. The word ‘dystopia’ can be translated from Greek as ‘bad place’ and usually it depicts something a society...
Oscar Wilde wrote his melodramatic, light-hearted comedic play, “The Importance of Being Earnest”, and his darker, tragic, allegorical novella, “The Picture of Dorian Gray”, encompassing the thematic content of internal conflict using his “Wildean paradox and humour to ensure readers into confronting their own prejudices...
For most years, my husband Alan, his brother Sean and I have enjoyed getting into the great outdoors, which includes a lot of hiking and day fishing, specifically for my brother-in-law who considers himself a sort of authority in fly sport fishing. When we camped...
Kaveri Nambian, who did her FRCS at the Royal College of Surgery in England and who works in the rural place in India, has also emerged as an innovative author in fiction. She at first wrote for women's magazines and for children. Her first fictional...
It has to be made clear here that in Anita Nair’s fictional works she has presented episodes that delineate the testimonies of girl protagonists. Cambridge Dictionary defines “protagonist” as “ONE of the MAIN characters in a story or a play”. And in Anita Nair‟s novel...
Elastic Girl by Olivia Rana is a heart-wrenching fictional story centered around circus life in India. It touches on many big themes such as the oppression and objectification of women and girls, poverty, sexual exploitation, and the ways in which families scapegoat one another. The...
During the first two practicum data sets, I have learned quite a bit about my learner regarding his current reading skills. Through two read alouds and planned activities, my learner has taught me countless elements of how young children learn and develop literacy skills. For...
Best topics on Fiction
1. Critical Analysis of Emotions That Build Historical Fiction Literature
2. Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale as Dystopian Fiction
3. The Concepts Of Good And Evil In Good Man Is Hard To Find
4. Stereotypes And Identity Of Beneatha In Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin In The Sun
5. Out Of The Wallpaper: The Imagery Of Mentally Ill In Yellow Wallpaper
6. The Theme Of Betrayal And Redemption In The Kite Runner
7. Finding The Meaning Behind The Symbolism In The Yellow Wallpaper
8. Topic Of Equality In Harrison Bergeron
9. Unbroken: The Struggles Of Warriors In Life
10. Gender Roles And Womanhood In Adichie Purple Hibiscus And Emecheta‘s The Bride Price
11. Capturing The Anxiety And Mental Struggles In The Thing Around Your Neck
12. Analysis Of Class Interests In The Garden Party
13. Gender Roles and Victimization Of Women In Adichie’s “Purple Hibiscus”
14. Unbroken And The Tale Of Almost Broken And Hurt People
15. Reflection On Louis Zamperini’s Life In Unbroken
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252 Of The Best Writing Prompts For All Writers. 26. American Blood. Your family came to the U.S. after government intervention essentially handed rule in your native country to an organized crime network. A former friend is recruited to their ranks and comes to the U.S. for a business deal. 27.
by The History Quill. We're delighted to share this list of 60 historical fiction writing prompts to inspire your creative writing. We've put them on a historical timeline, starting in 399 BCE and ending in 1969. They cover a range of periods, places, and situations. Feel free to adapt them in any way you like.
Romantic Epochs. Cultural Revolution. Shadows of the Past. Turn of the Century. Conflict and Resolution. Artistic Endeavors. Explore the depths of the past with our list of 75 Historical Fiction Writing Prompts. Ignite your creativity and embark on a journey through time with compelling story ideas that bring history to life.
Here are our top ten historical fiction writing prompts: A bard falls in love with the monarch who employs them. You're Shakespeare's apprentice, and he's always taking credit for your ideas. You worked at one of the first printing presses during the Printing Revolution of the 15th century. You are a gossip columnist — in 1905.
Write about a fictional character who is behind the scenes during the fall of the Roman Empire. He's working to uncover the powerful cabal pulling strings to cause the empire to collapse so they can get rich in the process. 8. Write about a police officer in London in the late 19th century.
Here are 50 historical writing prompts to get you started. Bring the past to life with these 50 vivid story ideas! Historical fiction is a captivating genre that immerses readers in bygone eras. This extensive list of writing prompts covers a wide range of history, from ancient Egypt to World War II. Pick an intriguing setting, step into a ...
Writing prompt: Fleeing persecution from the Romans, a family escapes into the hidden city of Derinkuyu, where they must carve out new lives for themselves in a strange, subterranean world. 4. From a slave to an Empress. Trigger warning: This prompt includes references to abuse and trafficking.
Here are 67 ideas that could make great stories in this genre: 1. A brave girl joins the Union forces in the Civil War and strives to be remembered. 2. An African-American family in rural Georgia during Reconstruction faces racism, poverty, and injustice as they strive to make a better life for themselves. 3.
This is a challenging novel writing activity. Choose any historical point in time you like and write a scene set in an underground cavern with a series of grooves carved into the walls. It's July 5, 1776, and you are a guest at General George Washington's retreat in Harlem Heights during the Revolutionary War.
Historical Fiction Prompts … or story prompts, written and curated by me, Dr. Barbara Ellermeier, a historian and author. With my writing prompts, you can use the original historical material to conjure up the world of the past. I publish exclusively to my newsletter, The Idea Catapult, on Tuesdays. Some of those articles appear below a few ...
24 Creative Historical Fiction Writing Prompts. Hooray for interesting historical fiction writing prompts to spark your creativity. Whether you're a curious student exploring new genres or a writer — of any age or skill level — who wants to expand your writing skills, historical fiction writing is a wonderful way to stretch and grow. Yes ...
25. Hotel of Haunts. Write a flash fiction story from the point of view of an owner of a hotel that is famous for being haunted by characters from the Roaring Twenties. 26. Let's Shake On It. Write a story about a man who purchases a 1920 Ford Model T and discovers that the car has a life of its own. 27.
Think to yourself that you are massaging the truth to create the best story possible. Make sure that you tabulate, in whatever way works best for you, your historical details as you write your story. So, important dates (battles, marriages, births, deaths, political decisions) are kept consistent. Note down the day, month, weather, the time too.
6. Write about a character who experiences the horrific destruction of Pompeii. 7. In 1977, New York experienced a blackout. Write about a character who's just trying to make it home safely. 8. Write about a character who, every weekend, wakes up as a different historical figure in their time period.
Voice. If, like me, you aren't initially comfortable with the intricate details of physical description, try to capture the voice of the period. Read the fiction of the era. Absorb the attitudes. Be strict about vocabulary. I regularly Google the etymology of words to make sure that word belongs in the story.
Pick a topic. Pick A Topic, and for inspiration, you can explore LITRPG Fictions, a revolutionary genre. The first step to writing a historical-fiction novel is to pick a topic that interests you. Do some research into what has already been written about your chosen subject. Look at the success of those books or if there is an upcoming movie ...
Step 1: Develop your story concept. One of the great things about writing historical fiction is that history is a wonderful source of inspiration. There are a few different approaches you can take to utilising it: 1) Tell a fictionalised (but accurate) version of a true story.
Step 2: Do Lots and Lots of Research. Once you've chosen a general era, the real research begins. Start wide by reading general history books about the time and place. Get a list of the major events, figures, cultural trends, and technological innovations you'll want to reference. Then get more specific.
3. Do your research. In addition to getting the historical facts correct, the smaller details are important, too. Write an inventory of the details in your work that you haven't researched but should check. Likely, these will be small things—for example, the color of refrigerators—whose accuracy will keep a reader interested and make your ...
historical fiction Writing Historical Fiction Historical. By. Kerri Maher. Kerri Maher is the author of The Girl in White Gloves, The Kennedy Debutante, and, under the name Kerri Majors, This Is Not a Writing Manual: Notes for the Young Writer in the Real World. She holds an MFA from Columbia University and was a writing professor for many years.
Historical Writers' Association. The Historical Writers' Association is composed of authors, agents, and publishers of historical fiction. Their mission is to provide professional and social support to their members, as well to create opportunities for them to meet readers and fellow writers. They also publish a popular magazine, Historia.
Sinmisola Ogunyinka. My top tip for writing historical fiction: Decide the genre you want to write in, the era and then find and read at least three books in the same genre. Be deliberate about the books you choose. Go on Amazon, look at the bestseller ranks of the books and the reviews.
Critical Analysis of Emotions That Build Historical Fiction Literature. 2. Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale as Dystopian Fiction. 3. The Concepts Of Good And Evil In Good Man Is Hard To Find. 4. Stereotypes And Identity Of Beneatha In Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun. 5. Out Of The Wallpaper: The Imagery Of Mentally Ill In ...