Historical Fiction Basics and Top Ten Time Periods

Those of us who write Historical Fiction are drawn to re-imagining the past and reconstructing times gone by. History interests us. But the details need to be believable to be successful at blending fact and fiction. We need to research how people talked, what they wore, what they ate, and how they lived. The rules for writing the historical fiction genre include three elements and six characteristics that must be present.

The three elements:

·  Fictional events, but real people.

·  Real events, but fictional people.

·  Real events and real people, but the plot, scenes, and dialogue are fictional.

The six characteristics:

• Setting: The time period must be real in history and the place must be authentic. Getting this right is imperative.           
• Characters: All or some of your characters may be fictional, but they must all behave in realistic ways for the time period.
• Plot: The plot may be based on real events, or may be based on fictional events, but has to make sense in the time period you are writing about.
• Descriptions: Characters, places, and events must be distinct. Weave historic information into your work so your reader will learn something they may be unfamiliar with about the time period.
• Dialogue: Reflects the thoughts and knowledge of the people in the time period you are writing about.
• Conflict: Again, the conflict or drama must reflect and be realist to the time period.

I mentioned time period a lot and readers have favorites. According to topten.com, these are the top ten historical time periods people like to read about (plus one of my favorite novels from each era):

1. Middle Ages (Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett)
2. Ancient Greece/Rome (Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn)
3. Golden Age of Piracy (Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson)
4. The Roaring 20’s (The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald)
5. World War I (Overseas by Beatriz Williams)
6. World War II (The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah)
7. 19^th Century Britain (Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood)
8. Renaissance (Wolf Hall by Hillary Mantel)
9. Ancient Egypt (Antony and Cleopatra by Colleen McCullough)
10. Wild West (Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry)

My first novel, The Story of Hagar, is set in Ancient Egypt. The second, More Than a Handmaid, is in Ancient Canaan. My current WIP, Reggie, takes place in depression era Alabama. I’m also outlining a novel drawn from 17^th century Alabama and France. It’s like spinning the wheel of a time machine and I love it!

What time period is your favorite?

Blessings,

KD Holmberg

KD Holmberg is an author, blogger, and freelance writer. She is a member of ACFW, Word Weavers International, and a founding member of the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild. She is represented by Hartline Literary Agency. A retired flight attendant, she has traveled and lived all over the globe. She and her husband, Keith, love to golf and live in South Carolina. You can find more about her: Facebook @authorkdholmberg, twitter @kdeniseholmberg, and website authorkdholmberg.com/