Tag: historical novel writing

Categories
History in the Making

FIGGY PUDDING IN THE MAKING

History in the making

If there’s Figgy pudding, it must be Christmas!

Just ask Tiny Tim, the endearing child in Charles Dickens’ 1843 Christmas Classic, A Christmas Carol. Or consider the carolers as they sing for piggy pudding in a favorite yuletide song, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”.

Figgy pudding goes way back in English and American history.

In the land of England, as early as the 14th and 15th century, the concoction of chopped figs, raisins, almonds, ginger, bread crumbs, and wine, along with a pomegranate topping, was simply a dessert.

However, in mid-17th century England figgy pudding intertwined itself with Christmas, embraced a whole new era, and acquired another name, Christmas Pudding.

The dessert likely did some travelling also in the 1600’s. It is not far-fetched to think that figgy pudding—its recipes that is—set sail on the Mayflower tucked in the minds of the settlers. Thereafter, with the passing of decades, and the arrival of more English migrants, the tradition of figgy pudding at Christmas likely blossomed this side of the pond.

This is great news for writers. For stories set in post-13th century England and early American periods, and onward into the 21st century, figgy pudding can trickle across the pages of a Christmas story. Adding homey details to the setting, enhancing the plot, or revealing personality in characters can bring another layer of depth to a story.

 A flaming figgy pudding might be the cook’s claim to fame in the decked halls of a 17th century English manor, or in a contemporary New York high-rise following a skating party in Central Park.

Quiet celebrations might be found in rustic villages where fruits and nuts might have been foraged from the woods. Or a resourceful youngster from the poor side of town might scavenge the ingredients for the family’s Christmas pudding.

Figgy pudding can also show the dilemma of the “haves and have nots”. The ingredients are affordable for the rich. The poor might spend the year putting aside coins for the purchases.

A writer might also explore the aspect of making the pudding. Surprisingly, figgy pudding isn’t really pudding. Not in the 14th century and not now. In its early life the thickness was more soup-like. The fixings were boiled in a bag, sometimes twice. In recent decades, the pudding might be described as more cake-like, being poured into molds or bundt pans and slow-baked in an oven.

The fixings themselves can be introduced in the story, whether in a kitchen scene or on a shopping excursion. Figgy pudding has maintained many of the same elements over the centuries. In its early years, chopped figs were popular. By the 17th century, raisins and currants became the fruits of choice, along with suet. Contemporary recipes reveal a return to figs.

Ginger was the spice of choice in early versions of figgy pudding. With the passing of time, nutmeg, cloves and allspice became popular, along with candied orange peel or brown sugar instead of honey.   

The use of alcohol has remained consistent—wine or brandy, or none.

Whew! What a big pot of figgy pudding trivia. And if that’s enough to brainstorm, key word searches for Oliver Cromwell, King George I (the “pudding king”), “Stir-up Sunday”, or coins in the figgy pudding, should whip up more fun and intrigue to add to the mix.

Because if it’s Christmas, there’s figgy pudding.

Jeannine

Jeannine Brummett lives in South Carolina with her husband of nineteen years, Don, who shares his three adult sons and three grandchildren with her. Reading is big on her list of things to do, but she also thrives on TV crime dramas, NBA basketball, and marvels at the critters and fowl life that live at the pond behind their house. She loves to sing praise songs, attend Bible Study, and help at a local food pantry. 

Categories
Writer Encouragement

Ingredients are Key

Ever have a latte from your favorite coffee shop and they forgot to add a key ingredient?

I recently ordered a vanilla latte, only the barista forgot to add the vanilla. It didn’t take more than a second to realize the error. My taste buds shuddered at the omission while they wallowed in bland coffee and hot milk. Gross.

Manuscripts can be like that. Sometimes writers promise something in our selected genre—romance, history, suspense—but then the key ingredients might get omitted. Or you might have a combo genre like historical romance, which is what I write. Your book could be filled with battle scenes and drama, but somehow you forget there’s supposed to be a love story in the mix. Perhaps you focus on the war while forgetting the lass waging battles in her heart?

You might ask yourself, was it a bunny trail you followed that veered from the story to a whole new focus?

Perhaps while writing another book, you become so involved in the romance scenes that, although it takes place in World War I, it might as well be a contemporary novel. The historical elements somehow get lost. Somewhere.

We all have blind spots in our writing. Or perhaps, like the barista, we become distracted and just forget.

Historical fiction is especially challenging since anachronisms can sneak in—those odd phrases, cultural trends, or pieces of clothing that weren’t around in the era you are writing about.

One reader on social media groaned that she was so tired of Regency romance novels in which the dialogue included the simple expression, “OK.” It’s just not okay to include that when you’re writing about the Regency period, which was from 1811-1820. According to the Smithsonian, this expression was initially used in Boston around 1838.

Do you see why writing historicals is such a challenge? Someone always knows if you’re being inaccurate. I must be crazy for choosing to write historicals, but that’s a topic for another time …

It can be painfully obvious when a writer doesn’t do his or her homework. First rule of writing: Don’t cause pain for your readers.

There can be no more disappointment for a reader than expecting a romance, only to be left with a singular kiss with lips barely connecting. While I’m hardly suggesting a passionate bedroom scene, readers do expect a few sigh-worthy moments when the hero sweeps the heroine off her feet with a tender kiss.

A romance without a good kiss is like … like a latte without the flavoring! It’s just not what readers expect. Or want.

Carry on.

Elaine Marie Cooper has two historical fiction books that recently released: War’s Respite (Prequel novella) and Love’s Kindling. Love’s Kindling is available in both e-book and paperback. They are the first two books in the Dawn of America Series set in Revolutionary War Connecticut. Cooper is the award-winning author of Fields of the Fatherless and Bethany’s Calendar. Her 2016 release (Saratoga Letters) was finalist in Historical Romance in both the Selah Awards and Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She penned the three-book Deer Run Saga and has been published in numerous magazines and anthologies. You can visit her website/ blog at www.elainemariecooper.com

Categories
History in the Making

Discovering Personalities of Historical Characters with the Enneagram

History in the making

My recent novels are about two women who lived four thousand years ago, Hagar and Sarah. Their stories are told in the Bible, and I believe I will meet them in heaven someday. Looking at it like that, you realize the responsibility you incur, as a historical novelist, to portray your characters as close to right as possible.

[bctt tweet=”How do you identify the personality of a character who existed? #writers” username=””]

I use a personality profile called the Enneagram, a set of nine distinct personality types, with each number on the Enneagram denoting one type. Each type has exceptional talents and foreseeable difficulties in being who they are. Nine different ways to approach your character arc. I use the Enneagram as a map to the internal journey and transformation of my characters. It shows me what motivates them, what their basic fear is, their desire (what they want), and how they respond to conflict.

  • Type One: The Reformer. Leads with integrity but hindered by demanding perfectionism.
  • Type Two: The Helper. Generous and positive but can be people-pleasing and possessive.
  • Type Three: The Achiever. Inspiring and successful but status conscious and materialistic.
  • Type Four: The Individualist. Creative and intuitive but moody and self-conscious.
  • Type Five: The Investigator. Visionary and intellectual but isolated and distant.
  • Type Six: The Loyalist. Courageous and committed but defensive and anxious.
  • Type Seven: The Enthusiast. Adventurous and spirited but impulsive and unfocused.
  • Type Eight: The Challenger. Self-reliant and strong but controlling and intimidating.
  • Type Nine: The Peacemaker. They bring people together but can be stubborn or passive.

 

 Look for clues in your research.

 Before I began writing about Sarah, I searched the Bible for clues regarding her personality. Sarah was loyal to God, her husband, and known for hospitality. But also doubting and lashed out at Hagar when she perceived her as an enemy.

Sarah fit Type Six, the Loyalist. Ironically, and what made her arc interesting, the biggest fear of a Type Six is abandonment. As a writer, that gave me inner conflict for Sarah when her husband abandoned her to two kings.

Healthy sixes are warm and friendly, traits needed for hospitality. But the unhealthy side of their personality make them hysterical, suspicious, and paranoid. Acting out from anxiety, they blame others and complain to third parties about people they are frustrated with. Exactly what Sarah did when she complained to Abraham about Hagar. Given Abraham’s permission to do whatever she wanted with the haughty handmaid, Sarai mistreated Hagar, so Hagar ran away.

Perfect for a writer’s toolbox.

The Enneagram is a helpful tool for identifying the personalities of real-life historical people. Because you make them deep and real. It also works when you want to craft memorable characters from scratch that readers relate to. How they react in the world, grow, learn, and change, gives a writer genuine conflict to keep booklovers turning pages.

For more information visit my Facebook page: @authorkdholmberg.

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 kdeniseholmberg.blogspot.com

Categories
Fantasy-Sci-Fi

The Perfect Blend of History and Fantasy

Historical fantasy is a genre growing in popularity. Many famous historical figures have earned themselves a retelling of their story, with a fantastical twist to set the story apart from other historical fiction.

My Lady Jane is a fun retelling of the life of Lady Jane Grey, the Nine Days’ Queen who replaced King Edward VI in 1553. Although a tragic tale in reality, authors Ashton, Hand, and Meadows were able to create an interesting, magical tale to please a young adult audience. Readers otherwise unfamiliar with Jane Grey’s story have been captivated by the mystery of her very short reign as Queen of England, along with a the unique idea that the entire plot was influenced by shape-shifters.

Earlier this year, Nadine Brandes released her novel, Fawkes, which tells the true story of Guy Fawkes and his involvement in the Gun Powder Plot of 1605. In place of the tension between the Catholic and Protestant faiths, the main struggle within this narrative revolves around White magic and Color magic. Despite the fantastical change, the story is quite historically accurate.

Bookstores have seen an increase in sales of historical novels that have that fantasy spin. So, what is the best way for an author to go about writing a historical fantasy?

First decide which historical figure or event is right for your story. Not all historical events will lend themselves to a fantasy retelling. Evaluate the person you’ve chosen and pinpoint what event(s) in his/her life will make for the book’s climax, then work backwards to decide at what point in their life you will begin telling the story. Too much backstory can slow the story down, so be sure to drop the reader into the tale just as tension develops, sending the main character on the road towards the climax.

The next step is research. Regardless which time period you choose or which historical figure you pick to highlight, knowing the true story of the event is crucial. Understand not only the culture the person lived in, but also the build-up of social and political tensions, as well as any other influences that might make the story unique. Once you know the true history of the event or person, you can begin to piece together which elements can be stretched or changed for the fantasy addition.

Ask yourself what fantasy element fits nicely within their history? The fantasy element you choose should draw the reader in and keep them interested in the history of the story, as well. Keep as much of the history as accurate as possible, while being true to the new fantasy twist. This will impress the reader and keep them reading as they seek to learn the new fictional tale of this very real historical figure or event.

Don’t forget to have fun with your story! Regardless what historical figure you choose to write about, or which part of history they hail from, enjoy the fantasy world you create around the history of your story. A reader that chooses to pick up a fantasy retelling is likely looking for a new, unique twist to enjoy. So, focus on the character and the story they want to tell, and let the fantasy elements take your novel to a whole new level.

Laura L. Zimmerman is a homeschooling mama to three daughters and a doting wife to one husband. Besides writing, she is passionate about loving Jesus, singing, drinking coffee and anything Star Wars. You can connect with her through Facebook and Twitter @lauralzimm and at her website Caffeinated Fiction.

Categories
Talking Character

Writing Historical Characters

Sometimes fiction authors write about real people. Especially those who write historical fiction.

Real historical characters can add a sense of credibility or realism to a story. But they must be handled carefully, because your readers will know when you stray from the truth.

Well-known figures

If you are writing about a well-known figure, such as George Washington or Thomas Edison, you will need to do extensive research to ensure you have your facts straight. The good news is that someone so well known already has a lot written about them, so the facts are readily available. The bad news is that someone so well known already has a lot written about them, so your readers already know the facts and will notice your mistakes.

On the positive side, you already know their family history, their physical description, how they talked, what their voice sounded like, the name of their favorite pet, and a myriad of other details. Your job is to choose the details that are important for your story, without ignoring or twisting the facts you don’t mention.

On the negative side, you are stuck with whatever details are known about a person, even if those facts are inconvenient. Also, you must take care, because without doing sufficient research you can easily misrepresent the truth by making false assumptions, adding details carelessly, or promulgating the commonly-held-but-incorrect legends of the person’s history (such as George Washington and the cherry tree). Also, you risk annoying readers if you choose to invoke artistic license for the sake of your plot.

Other things to consider

The larger the role a well-known figure has in a story, the more research and care the writer must take in presenting them. Bringing George Washington into a scene or two is much easier to pull off than making him one of the main characters.

However you use well-known figures, don’t cheat your readers by making historical characters two-dimensional. Don’t be tempted to fall into lazy writing, assuming the reader already knows about the character so you don’t have to bother describing them. Historical characters deserve as much attention to description and characterization as fictional characters. Use the known details to your advantage. Which details would your POV character notice, and how would she feel about them?

Little-known historical people

Lesser-known historical figures can add the same note of credibility to your writing without the problems that come with using more well-known persons. There are plenty of real historical people who lived interesting lives, but for whom we now have only a handful of facts. That lack of information might frustrate a biographer, but it creates a prime opportunity for a fiction writer. The door is wide open to fill in all those blanks in whatever way suits your story.

Just take care that you stay within the boundaries of the facts that are known. You must honor the few details that are all that is left of the person’s legacy. When there are only a handful of details to keep track of, you have no excuse for getting them wrong.

Fictional characters based on real people

Sometimes a writer uncovers a fascinating historical person that would make a great story—except for a few bothersome details. If you cannot reconcile the facts with the story you want to write, or if the person’s story includes aspects you don’t want to face for one reason or another, there is another option: Create a completely fictional character based on the real one.

This technique allows you to start with the inspiration that a real person gives but then to develop a character that has the flaws, goals, attitudes and beliefs that suits your story, your themes, and your worldview.

Just be sure to play fair. If your fictional character bears more than a passing resemblance to a real person, don’t skew the character so far from the true story that it feels slanderous. Also, if a character is based significantly on a real person, give that person credit in an author’s note.

Bottom line: Don’t be afraid of including real historical characters in your story, but do your homework and don’t forget that real people need to be developed as much as fictional ones.

[bctt tweet=”Can a real historical character add punch to your story? #writing #writetips” username=””]

Lisa E. Betz believes that everyone has a story to tell the world. She loves to encourage fellow writers to be intentional about their craft and courageous in sharing their words with others. Lisa shares her words through dramas, Bible studies, historical fiction and her blog about intentional living.

Connect with her:

Website: www.lisaebetz.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LisaEBetzWriter/
Twitter: @LisaEBetz

Categories
History in the Making

Dialogue Contractions in Historical Novels

by Sandra Merville Hart

 

Historical novelists research ways of life, events, fashion, and a myriad of other topics. Another aspect of writing to consider is dialogue. Should we use contractions in our characters’ conservations?

Whatever we think, it is also important to consider our editor’s opinion. He or she might believe that the dialogue should be liberally sprinkled with contractions because readers will relate to it. Others may feel contractions weaken the historical authenticity.

I decided to pull a variety of novels written in earlier eras from my bookshelf to verify the use of contractions in dialogue. The results surprised me.

I didn’t find any dialogue contractions when leafing through Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. I didn’t reread the story, but this novel, published in 1813, contains few—if any. [bctt tweet=”Use #dialogue contractions in historical novels to enhance character’s style. #writing #histfic ” username=”@Sandra_M_Hart”] 

Mark Twain published The Innocents Abroad in 1869. This novel is a narrative with little dialogue yet those conversations contain contractions. His book about his adventures in the western territories of the United States, Roughing It, has a lot more dialogue with contractions. Twain’s novels, Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer, utilize contractions. They feel authentic.

Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables published in 1908. Montgomery used contractions in conversations.

Great Expectations, the classic novel by Charles Dickens, published in 1861. This master storyteller sprinkled contractions throughout his dialogue.

Ernest Hemingway published The Sun Also Rises in 1926. He also uses contractions in dialogue.

The only author of the five who didn’t use contractions is Jane Austen. Her writing has a formal feel, yet her dialogue still flows naturally.

Writers may be more influenced by Jane Austen’s style, choosing to write dialogue without contractions. Reading conversations aloud will show where to soften and tweak the wording. Writing without contractions may feel more authentic.

Other novelists decide to include contractions for every character.

Perhaps there is a happy medium. Don’t shy away from using contractions in historical novels. Don’t avoid them at all costs.

Instead use dialogue contractions as one more way to differentiate a particular character’s style—to add color and flavor and dimension. Some folks speak in formal language while others never do. The way they communicate reveals clues about who they are.

Dialogue then becomes another tool in a novelist’s arsenal for effective communication.

 

Categories
History in the Making

Historical Writing Requires Attention to Details

By Sandra Merville Hart

When it comes to research, contemporary writers have it so easy, right? I am teasing, because these novelists definitely research their topics. However, it is true that everyday objects don’t have to be described in great detail in those genres.

For instance, when a character answers a phone in a contemporary novel, writers don’t have to mention that they hold the object to their ear to hear the conversation. The ringtone isn’t described unless it says something about the character’s personality or holds meaning in the story.

On the other hand, historical writers pay attention to those details as they paint a picture from days gone by. For example, novelists add descriptions of landaus, a four-wheeled carriage, for readers who want to see the vehicle in their imagination. These carriages contained two seats that faced each other to accommodate four adults comfortably. The driver sat on an elevated seat while guiding a team of four horses.

Landaus are no longer common so writers realize the need to describe these modes of transportation. Many objects fall into this category and enhance reader’s pleasure to learn a bit about the past.

However, there are other familiar objects that we, as writers, simply assume have been around for generations. I discovered this while writing a novel set in 1877.[bctt tweet=”Historical novelists can’t trust assumptions. Verify with research. #histfic #writer ” username=”@Sandra_M_Hart”]

My character sat on a front porch swing enjoying a conversation with her niece and new stepdaughter. The scene almost wrote itself. It didn’t occur to me until editing to wonder when porch swings came into use. I swung on them during childhood visits to older relatives’ homes, making me assume that they had been gracing front porches for years.

Assumptions have to be verified, requiring additional research.

In another novel, I wanted to show a character’s brothers playing tricks on her for April Fool’s Day. When did such shenanigans begin? Research showed this tradition began in 1700, making it safe to include in my 1904 novel.

How about the celebration of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day? These are relatively new holidays honoring parents.

I wanted to include a scene where fourteen-year-old twins (not yet called teenagers in 1877) decorated a Christmas tree at their boarding house with ribbons. They strung popcorn to arrange across the evergreen branches. Including these activities in my story required researching when Americans began to chop down evergreen trees to bring into their homes for Christmas. Did they decorate with ribbons, hang presents on the tree, pop corn for the occasion? These nostalgic details, once verified, bring richness to stories.

A wonderful aspect of research is that it often reveals traditions that are no longer followed. Including long-forgotten details deepens both your story and your reader’s delight.

We are often fairly certain of our facts, such as the date an event took place, but it’s always worth checking if there is any doubt. An abundance of Internet sites often makes this a quick process.

 

Sources

“April Fools Tradition Popularized,” History.com, 2017/02/24 http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/april-fools-tradition-popularized.

“Landau,” Encyclopeadia Brittanica, Inc., 2017/02/24 https://www.britannica.com/technology/landau-carriage.

 

 

 

 

Categories
History in the Making

Combatting the Noise Issue

By Sandra Merville Hart

 

A few family members came over to watch a movie this weekend. The dramatic story prompted a lot of discussion. I asked my nephew what he thought. His surprising answer was that the movie had a “noise” issue. He mentioned that an important scene beside the pool had no sounds of kids splashing or folks walking by engaged in conservation. Even a maintenance man watering a flower bed would have added authenticity. The only thing happening in the scene was vital dialogue.

His insightful comment sparked my writerly reflections. The same mistake happens in novels. Historical fiction writers who ignore all important news events surrounding their story create a “noise” issue.[bctt tweet=”His surprising answer was that the movie had a noise issue. #Histfic #writing” username=”@Sandra_M_Hart”]

We can’t live in today’s world without being affected by news. Local events can affect us directly, perhaps something like a nearby business burning down. Not only do we know and sympathize with the owner’s family, we have to find another store to fill our needs until it is rebuilt. Our town, the nearest city, and state happenings affect us. And even though we may not live in close proximity with national/international scene, these happenings can still crush our spirits.

Though news didn’t travel as quickly in earlier eras, folks were just as upset by troubling events as we are today. Perhaps they grew more distressed than us because we are accustomed to hearing bad news on television around the clock.

Even if the novel being written is more about the attitudes, fashions, and morals of a particular era, consider adding one or two newsworthy items of the day. A few hours or days of research may be enough to add gems of authenticity to the story.

That sounds like extra work if you’re already in the midst of writing but it doesn’t have to be a time hog.

Say, for example, that your novel is set in 1832. You don’t have a clue about what’s happening in the United States or even how many states there are. The Internet has greatly simplified our work.

Google “1832 American History.” This search gives options for Wikipedia sites for “1832 in the United States” and “Timeline of United States (1820-59).” Onthisday.com lists “1832—Historical Events—on this day.” Another site, America’s Best History, has a post for “U.S. History Timeline: the 1830s.”

Wikipedia’s timeline shows that the 1830s saw the Second Great Awakening, a religious revival movement. A bit of research about this may reveal that it is something that fits easily into your novel.

The Oregon Trail started being used by folks determined to settle in the Pacific Northwest in the 1830s. Maybe a character in your novel has a family member already on the trail.

The Black Hawk War occurred in 1832. Did it happen near your novel’s setting?

This was a presidential election year. Andrew Jackson was reelected as our nation’s president in 1832. I found some fun traditions that folks used to follow on election day and wrote about them on my blog. Depending on the timing, election celebrations could be a festive event in your novel.

The sites referenced above are a springboard for ideas. Research further on details that snag your interest. You never know what you will find when opening the pages of history.

Allowing our characters to interact with actual historical events opens up a fascinating world and adds authenticity. Readers find it easier to “step back in time” with you.

It is one more way to add scene “noise” that many readers crave.

 

Sources

“1832 in the United States,” Wikipedia, 2017/01/22, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1832_in_the_United_States.

“Historical Events in 1832,” On This Day, 2017/01/23, http://www.onthisday.com/events/date/1832.

“Timeline of United States history (1820-59),” Wikipedia, 2017/01/22, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_United_States_history_(1820%E2%80%9359).

“U.S. Timeline: The 1830s, Conquering the West,” Americasbesthistory.com, 2017/01/23, http://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1830.html.