Do you write historical fiction, or do you think you might want to, one day? Then don’t miss Bharti Kirchner’s recent article in The Writer, “Look Back with Historical Fiction.”
Kirchner offers five things to keep in mind while casting your writerly eye back in time.
1. Why historical? “You don’t have to be an expert in your chosen period and setting; the only requirement is the willingness to do research.”
2. Immerse yourself in the period. It’s necessary to “make judicious use of factual details and, as necessary, apply imagination to fill the gaps where history is undocumented.”
3. The crucial dialogue. Keep your dialogue sounding “realistic and natural.”
4. A broader perspective. Consider including “observations on political and economic struggles and tensions of society, gender and class.”
5. The story, above all. “In the end, what’s most important is the story your characters have to tell.”
To read the full article, click here.