Tag: Historical writing

Behind the Doors of the Grocery Store: INEVITABLE CHANGE Part 2

Post author By Jeannine Brummett
Post date November 20, 2024
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CHANGE —A Spark for Writers Seeking an Innovative Angle for Their stories.

Change can bring new life or dread to an unfolding plot, and it can affect characters in both positive and negative ways.

The grocery store setting can be such a catalyst, having experienced numerous changes throughout the 20^th century.

1930s-The rise of the all-in-one market. Excited shopper: The butcher, the baker, and the produce grower are all under one roof! Dejected business owner: My mom-and-pop shop can’t sustain itself any longer

1937-The shopping cart arrived. Empowered shopper: I can choose products myself. Perplexed proprietor: Where do I fit?

1950s-The “International Aisle” appeared. Inconvenience shopper: What are oriental noodles and refried beans? And what happened to my peanut butter and jelly? Controversial shopper: This looks like racial bias to me.

1960s-Trading Stamps went wild. Grumpy shopper: Why does my favorite store offer green stamps when I want blue chips? Smiling shopper: My little girl wants a doll I can get with green stamps.

1952-Bar code patented. Curious Shopper: What are these stickers with unique bars and numbers? Do I need to know? Do I even care?

1960s-In-Store pharmacy. Recovering shopper: The pharmacist helped my husband find the best cold medicine for me. Pharmacist: It’s great to offer another convenience for customers.

1972-The 24/7 grocery stores open. Tired shopper: I may have just put in a night’s work, but the quiet, uncrowded aisles are wonderful. Weary clerk: These overnight hours are hard on my body.

1974-Price scanners. Delighted cashier: I don’t have to punch register keys anymore. I just slide the bar code across the glass plate. Disgruntled customer: The cashier made good money for accuracy in punching keys, now a child could do their job.

As the decades marched forward, stores designated seasonal space for specialty wares to celebrate New Years, Super Bowl, Valentines Day, Easter and Spring, and Thanksgiving.

Halloween grew in popularity and now holds second place in holiday sales. Fall shopper: In addition to the baker’s pumpkin goodies, I can find decorative squash, greeting cards, paper goods, knickknacks, and sometimes costumes. Wide-eyed child: Mom, look at all the candy.

Then there’s Christmas…everywhere you look…arriving as early as October. Even the grocery store climbs on board the marketing sleigh. Beyond celebratory meals and dessert items, the Plan-ahead shopper can choose Christmas cards, themed paper goods, and wrapping paper. For the Last-minute shopper, ribboned boxes of holiday candies and goodies, stuffed animals, and small toys fill the shelves.

Oops-don’t forget the poinsettias.

For the creative writer, change at the grocery store, good or bad, can enhance a scene. Or, if those creative juices are unleashed, the writer could employ market changes to unfold plot or subplots or reveal characters.

So, what plots and profiles might one bring to life at the grocery store?

Plots and Subplots: A kidnapped child or gun-toting robbers; pilfered green stamps or shoplifters; manager’s first store or the struggling mom’s second job. Romance on aisle 10. Characters: Store owner/manager, security guards, delivery men, cranky or curious children, harried shoppers, overwhelmed clerks, student baggers, late night shelf stockers.

So, creative writers, why not explore how the CHANGES behind the door of the grocery store might help you craft an atypical, entertaining story?

Click here for part one, Behind the Doors of the Grocery Store: The Early American Era.

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

Tags change of plans, changing times, Historical writing, history, History in the Making

History in the Making

The Desire for Street Cars-Then and Now

Post author By Kelly Barr
Post date January 20, 2023
No Comments on The Desire for Street Cars-Then and Now

In the early 1900s trolleys, otherwise known as “streetcars,” began popping up all over the United States. (For this article, I will use the words trolleys and streetcars interchangeably).

Omnibus, a horse-drawn wagon made to carry more than one family, were already in use and continued to be used during this time. However, omnibuses didn’t follow a track and the ride was often bumpy. Trolleys were larger than the omnibuses and had a more elaborate design, but still began with horses or mules pulling them. They didn’t look as much like wagons and they were designed to carry a fairly large number of people.

In the beginning, horses or mules pulled trolleys along tracks. Mules were preferred because they had more stamina than horses. These trolleys provided a smoother, faster ride than the omnibuses. Streetcars were used in towns and cities where there were a lot of people, so the streets had to be regularly cleaned of horse or mule manure. The streets in the towns and cities were grated, making it easier for trolleys to provide smoother, faster travel than walking, which had been the main way to get around in the city.

Companies were always looking to improve their trolleys to provide faster transportation and a smoother ride. So, in the late 19^th century, operators began trying steam engines and electricity. Some of the first cities to use electric trolleys were: Scranton, Pennsylvania; Montgomery, Alabama; and Omaha, Nebraska.

Electric streetcars followed a track, but also required a cable attached to the roof that would then clip onto an electrical wire strung across tall wooden poles along the track routes to power the electric engine. These trolleys allowed people to live farther outside of towns and cities, and what were called “interurban” lines became popular. The interurban lines connected cities within a state, and even cities from state to state.

Sadly, as soon as the streetcars became popular, automobiles started appearing, and it didn’t take long for automobiles to replace the trolleys in most locations.

However, some places like my hometown of Ephrata, Pennsylvania, still have trolley cars that are now run with a motor and wheels, like a bus. Each Christmas, Ephrata offers a Jingle Bell Trolley Tour for people to ride the trolley around the town and view the Christmas decorations of Ephrata homes and businesses. They also offer a family night that begins with arts and crafts activities and a visit with Santa.

So, though the streetcars may not be desired as much as they were decades ago, some of them have been refurbished and changed to still offer a taste of the past to those who want to experience a historical ride.

Kelly F. Barr lives in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She is married and has three sons. She writes historical romance. She has also been a blogger for ten years, and every Friday, you can find her Flash Fiction stories posted for your reading pleasure. She loves her family, including the family dog, books, walks, and chai lattes.

You can find her online at:

Website: kellyfbarr.com

MeWe: KellyBarr8

Tags historical research, Historical writing, History in the Making, street cars, street cars and trolleys

History in the Making

Some Interesting Facts and a Statue of Classic Author, Charles Dickens

Post author By Kelly Barr
Post date December 20, 2022
No Comments on Some Interesting Facts and a Statue of Classic Author, Charles Dickens

Did you know Charles Dickens’ full name was Charles John Huffam Dickens? I didn’t, and Dickens is one of my favorite authors. His classic stories of life in England in the 1800s were full of wonderful characters, some of which the stories were named after – Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickelby, and David Copperfield to name a few. But, there is also Pip, Miss Havisham, Fagin, and many more, including Little Nell.

Little Nell is the beloved little girl in Dickens’ novel, The Old Curiosity Shop. Charles Dickens published a weekly serial in 1840-1841, called Master Humphrey’s Clock. In it, he published two novels, one of which was The Old Curiosity Shop, along with short stories. The Old Curiosity Shop was such a popular feature of Master Humphrey’s Clock, that readers in New York stormed the wharf when the ship bringing the final installment arrived in 1841. Then The Old Curiosity Shop was published in book form later in 1841.

Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth, England. Dickens’ novels tell of the injustices of the times he lived in, often featuring the brutal treatment of the poor in a society that was divided by levels of wealth.

Dickens’ family also faced poverty and Charles was forced out of school at twelve years of age to take a job in Warren’s Blacking Warehouse, a shoe-polish factory. He was treated badly by the other boys working there. Then his father was imprisoned for debt. The humiliation of these two circumstances hurt Dickens profoundly and became his deepest secret. However, they obviously provided an unacknowledged foundation for his fiction.

Charles Dickens published 15 novels, one of which was left unfinished at his death, The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

I would like to call your attention back to Little Nell because there are three statues of Charles Dickens in existence – one in Sydney, Australia, one in his hometown of Portsmouth, England, and one in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The one in Philadelphia is the oldest of the three. It was created in 1890, and is the only one that also depicts one of his characters, Little Nell from The Old Curiosity Shop. Before it was moved to Philadelphia, this statue won two gold medals at the Chicago’s World Fair of 1893 and crossed the Atlantic Ocean twice. It was sculpted by Francis Edwin Ewell, who was the one to send it to Philadelphia.

There are two interesting things about the statue being placed in Philadelphia: 1) Charles Dickens, in his will, stated he did not want any memorials, and 2) the fact that the statue is in Philadelphia, a city that Dickens disliked. He said, of Philadelphia, “it is dull and out of spirits.”

Funny that, despite Dickens dislike of Philadelphia, the statue has become a symbol of the neighborhood, and both, Nell and Dickens are crowned with flower wreaths frequently, including each year on Dickens’ birthday, when a party is held and there are readings and dancing.

If you are a Dickens’ fan, like me, I also highly recommend the movie, “The Man Who Invented Christmas” from 2017, and I’d love to know which of his classic novels is your favorite.

Kelly F. Barr lives in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She is married and has three sons. She writes historical romance. She has also been a blogger for ten years, and every Friday, you can find her Flash Fiction stories posted for your reading pleasure. She loves her family, including the family dog, books, walks, and chai lattes.

You can find her online at:

Website: kellyfbarr.com

MeWe: KellyBarr8

Tags Charles Dickens, classics, Historical writing, history, History in the Making, literature

History in the Making

FIGGY PUDDING IN THE MAKING

Post author By Norma Poore - Managing Editor
Post date December 20, 2021

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 14^th and 15^th 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-13^th century England and early American periods, and onward into the 21^st 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 17^th 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 14^th 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 17^th 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.

Tags Christmas, Figgy Pudding, historical fiction, historical novel writing, Historical writing, History in the Making

History in the Making

An Unexpected Nugget

When doing research for a historical novel, you may find an unexpected nugget that could add some extra excitement, conflict, or an extra character you may want to include in your story.

While researching the town my main character lives in, in my WIP (work in progress), I found that a notorious outlaw had lived in that town as well. Though I have chosen not to include him in my WIP, I may include him in a future novel, either part of my current series or a stand alone.

It’s always wise to make note of unexpected finds in you research because they could be a valuable addition to your current work, or may invoke an idea for a future book.

If you choose to use an unexpected character or setting, be sure to research that character or setting in depth because it is important to portray them accurately in your work. Even though you may write historical fiction, you need to be sure any real life person or place is portrayed properly or your history knowledgeable readers will be upset and will let you know either through a book review or a personal email. You always want to keep your readers happy.

You may want to deliberately search for that unexpected nugget. You can begin your search by simply plugging a question, such as “what notorious people lived in the 1860s?” into a search engine and see what comes up. I will issue a word of caution here: do not rely completely on information you find on the internet, especially a site like Wikipedia, which is not always reliable. Also try to find more information by contacting a museum or historical society, or going to the library and looking for books on the subject.

I did an online search on the question from the previous paragraph and the following were the top ten articles that came up:

American History Timeline from 1860-1870
1860 Fast Facts—History—U.S. Census Bureau
Famous and Infamous Census Records – History – U.S. Census
1860s – the Hanneman Archive
The Living City | New York City>>1860s
Ozarks Gunfights and Other Notorious Incidents
List of Famous People of the 19^th Century
List of Slave Owners – Wikipedia
‘Dirty Old London’: A History of the Victorians
Infamous Mobsters – List and Notable Names – Biography.

If you are a historical writer, you most likely love history, so the above list has probably piqued your interest and you might want to rush off to check out at least one of those topics. But wait!

One more thing – books. You may find them at the library, but you will also want to keep your eyes open at used book sales and used book stores, as well as new book stores if you don’t mind paying new book prices. I have found several great gems for researching historical people. I have purchased them, and they now reside on my book shelf waiting for me to crack them open for a future novel.

You can find her online at:

Website: kellyfbarr.com
MeWe: KellyBarr8

Tags generating ideas, historical fiction, historical research, Historical writing, inspiration in writing

History in the Making

What Time is It?

When writing historical fiction, it’s important to be aware of your timeline. Timelines are significant in all genres of writing, but in historical fiction, they are imperative.

Why does your timeline carry so much weight? True history is becoming a thing of the past in most books and schools, so as writers who strive for excellence, we need to be sure the history of our novels is true and accurate. The truth and accuracy of your timeline is part of that—keeping historical events in proper sequential order and in the correct years.

How can you keep your historical facts in order, especially if you’re a pantser? As a historical romance writer who has always been a pantser, I have learned to become a “plantser” (that’s someone in between a pantser and a plotter). I research my time period and I make hard copies or handwritten notes of major historical facts and events, and I keep them close at hand as I write my novel.

Pacing is also an important part of keeping your timeline accurate. Determining how many historical events you want to include in your novel is key in creating your pacing. If you’re planning to create a series of historical fiction novels, you need to have a clear vision of what events will take place in each book of the series. You have to weave your fictional characters and story into that historical timeline and framework.

If you love including as many historical events as possible, like I do, this can become quite a challenge. You can collect so many historical facts and events that it can prove difficult to decide what to include in your story and what to leave out, which will also depend on your timeline.

The historical facts and timeline can be worked into every aspect of your story—the description of your setting, your characters’ clothes and dialogue. It doesn’t all have to come out in the plot. Painting your history throughout your novel brings balance and gives your readers a complete picture that allows them to experience a different time period as they are immersed in your novel.

What about your readers? Many people who read historical fiction read about their favorite historical time periods and already have a good bit of knowledge in regard to that time and its history. If you make an error in your historical facts, your readers will let you know, and that could be via a personal email or a book review posted on a prominent book site, either of which may not be kind and respectful.

As historical fiction writers, we should strive to create a story woven throughout historical events that satisfies both us and our readers.

You can find her online at:

Tags historical accuracy, Historical writing, history, plotting, timeline

History in the Making

A Parade of Events

Thanksgiving morning! Heroine’s day begins in the kitchen helping Mother stuff Tom Turkey. Task done, they lug the heavy roaster to the oven then hurry to the living room where the family has gathered. Hero has just arrived. Father turns on the television set and tunes into the Thanksgiving Day parade.

At this point, a writer of historical fiction who wishes to accurately portray the era, might ask this question:

Did the Thanksgiving Day parade exist during the time period of this story, and if so, had it been broadcast on television?

If the story is set in 1959, this family would probably be eagerly waiting for the first national television broadcast of the Thanksgiving Day parade. Every year thereafter, with the exception of a few years during World War 2, the parade provided television entertainment on Thanksgiving morning.

Before television, as early as 1931, radio aired the event. So the family gathering described above could be tweaked so that the family huddles around the radio.

The first Thanksgiving Day parades marched down the streets of Detroit and Philadelphia in 1921. It wasn’t until 1924 that New York City’s Macy’s Parade trekked to Herald Square. Absent television and radio, enjoying these spectacular events would have been limited to curbside seating.

Participants included the stores’ employees, marching bands, floats and balloons. Macy’s used live animals from the Central Park Zoo until 1928, at which time balloons replaced zoo critters. The arrival of Santa Claus at the end of the parade kicked off the Christmas buying season, a marketing strategy designed by the local department stores who sponsored the parades.

If our Hero, Heroine and family live in, or near, one of these three cities, they may have bundled up against a brisk morning and traveled to the parade site. Aha! Perhaps Heroine is a department store employee planning to walk the parade route. Hero might be a clown. Oh my, picture Father playing Santa Claus.

But what if the time period or setting precludes a parade? What might Thanksgiving Day look like?

Football!

In 1867, the first collegiate Thanksgiving Day game played in Philadelphia. Thereafter, the holiday game grew in popularity at both college and high school levels.

Professional football offered a Thanksgiving Day game as early as the 1890’s. The National Football League’s first Turkey Day game played on November 25, 1920, and the first televised football game was in 1953.

So, following the parade, Hero, Heroine and family may have watched football on television or found a local game to attend.

Traveling even further back in time, prior to the days of parades and football, a family’s Thanksgiving celebration would likely have been limited to a special meal. If a writer were inclined, researching the local traditions of the time period and setting might glean some story-enhancing tidbits. However, in the absence of such information, the tradition of feasting with family and friends would be a safe choice that would maintain the integrity of the story.

Thanksgiving Evening! The parade is over; Hero, Heroine and the family have devoured the turkey; and the final touchdown has scored.

Time for another piece of pie!

Tags historical research, Historical writing, holidays, Thanksgiving

History in the Making

Using Your Research for More than Your Novel

Post author By Kelly Barr
Post date October 20, 2020
No Comments on Using Your Research for More than Your Novel

Writing a novel is hard work and takes time. Writing a Historical Fiction novel may require more time and hard work due to necessary research.

Then there’s publishing. Whether you publish traditionally or indie publish, it takes time to publish the book and make sales. Let’s take a look at ways you can use your research while you wait:

1) Writing short pieces – you can purchase the current Writers Market Guide, the current Christian Writers Market Guide (or both) to find magazines that might be interested in an article about your research topic (i.e. the California Gold Rush). Then you will need to find the magazine’s website and download their guidelines. Be sure to follow their guidelines carefully because they will not consider your article if it isn’t written, formatted, and submitted according to their guidelines. You can do this any time during your novel writing process.

However, I don’t recommend putting the next two suggestions into practice until closer to the time of releasing your novel, six months to a year prior depending on how many pieces you can write and put into use. You don’t want to run out of writing subjects for these important items before your novel releases.

2)Building your audience and building your brand – I’ve been told many times that it is very important for a writer to have a presence on Social Media – specifically, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. I’ve also heard that Pinterest is a great place to connect with readers. You can connect with readers on these sites by posting interesting things from your research. Be sure to connect it to your novel by giving them a small tidbit of information like revealing the name of your novel’s town and sharing history about that town.

You can also create a blog and write blog posts about something you’ve researched for your novel. This is a great place to include pictures as well. You might write about men’s and women’s fashions from the time period of your novel and include a couple pictures showing some of the clothing from that time period.

3) Market your novel – You can write an additional story that connects with your novel and release it for a reasonable price or offer it as a free gift for purchasing your novel. It could be a novella about the backstory of one of your characters and how they ended up in the time, place, and/or situation of your novel. You could use a scene from your story to create Flash Fiction story, or maybe create a short story about one of your minor characters.

Any of these suggestions can put your research to good use and make it work for you as it builds your brand and/or audience or as it draws readers’ interest in your upcoming novel. Your research can serve multiple purposes and be an enjoyable endeavor, making all your hard work pay off.

You can find her online at:

Tags article writing, author brand, build a platform, historical research, Historical writing

History in the Making

Thinking Inside the Icebox

Post author By Jeannine Brummett
Post date August 20, 2020
No Comments on Thinking Inside the Icebox

From the ingenuity of Thomas Moore, the icebox first appeared on the American scene in 1802. Like many new inventions, its production was limited and thus affordable only to the rich. However, by 1884, increased capacity for ice, improved insulation and mass production led to an icebox in most homes.

Constructed of wood, the icebox looked like an attractive piece of box-sized cabinetry with several doors and a large drawer on top which served to house the ice. The shelves were made of zinc or tin as were the walls which were insulated with a material such as straw, sawdust, cork, or even seaweed. A pan at the bottom caught the water as the ice melted, requiring someone to empty the pan before it overflowed on the floor. In more expensive models, a spigot allowed for easy draining of accumulated water.

Ice needed to be replenished every two to three days and was available from the local ice house. Some folks picked up the solid block of ice and transported it home themselves. Others availed themselves of the delivery service, whereby a driver arrived with his horse-drawn carriage, pulled a block of ice from the back of the truck with a two-pronged hook, hauled it inside the customer’s house and lifted it into the ice drawer of the icebox.

An exciting acquisition to anyone’s kitchen, the icebox offered conveniences not enjoyed by previous generations:

It eliminated the need to trek out to an underground pit or brook house, or stoop at a hole dug in the cellar floor, which were common ways to keep foods cool in earlier time periods.
Daily trips to the local market to purchase fresh food were replaced by excursions only a few times a week.
Time and energy expended to preserve foods by smoking, salting or canning became more a cook’s choice than a necessity.

As thrilling as the icebox might have been, not everything about it was cause for celebration. It held odors. Whether a naturally odoriferous food or something that spoiled, the smell would not go away. And one food could take on the “aroma” of another. For example, the butter could smell like fish.

However, the benefits of being able to keep food fresh and fingertip close were huge, evidenced by the industry’s attention to continuing improvements of the appliance.

As writers, why should we care about old iceboxes?

Writers of historical fiction can utilize an icebox to add detail to a scene or enhance their stories:

(1) A character grabs a chunk of cheese to add to Sunday dinner and notices that the ice is getting low; (2) Perhaps a grandmother shares an “I remember when…” memory, giving a peek into long-ago day-to-day living; or (3) An overflowing water pan might reveal a character’s short-temperedness, or a nasty smell might add tension as the cooks sort out how to handle it.

Romance Writers, can you picture the growing attraction between the oldest daughter and the ice truck driver? Or perhaps the handsome town bachelor owns the ice house.

Contemporary writers are not left out of the possible uses of “iceboxes” in their works. A key character might be an antiques collector, or perhaps the CEO of an appliance store chain, having descended from a family involved in marketing early iceboxes. Mystery Writer, can you envision an unidentified body being discovered huddled against an ancient icebox in your heroine’s antique shop?

Whew! Who would have thought an icebox could reveal character traits, stimulate career choices or spark plot twists?

Well…probably not Mr. Moore.

But for writers? There are oodles of cool ideas inside the icebox.

Tags Creative Ideas, historical details, historical research, Historical writing, history, icebox

History in the Making

The History of Your Characters

Post author By Kelly Barr
Post date July 20, 2020
No Comments on The History of Your Characters

When we think of “historical”, we think the story is set in a historical time period, and many of us have a favorite time period – the Victorian Age, the Renaissance, the Old West, or any one of so many more. We imagine poring over history books, encyclopedias, or websites that provide information about the time period so that we can be sure the historical parts of our fiction stories are accurate.

What about the history of your characters? This is otherwise known as “backstory”. The history or backstory of our characters can be just as important, maybe even more important, than the history of our time period.

Just like people in real life, your characters need a history. You can’t write accurately portray a character without knowing their back story. Just like real people, the histories of your characters are important to who your character is. Their history has an effect on the character and personality of your character. It may even be important to their motivation and goals.

Therefore, whether you are a pantser, plantser, or plotter, you need to create a backstory for your characters before you write your story. The better you know and understand your characters’ histories, the more realistic and believable you can make them.

Do you have to create a backstory for every character? No, I wouldn’t say that. I would say it is most important to have well-developed backstories for your main characters, and at least a good idea of the backstories of the minor characters make regular appearances in your story.

Even though you need a thorough backstory for your characters, you won’t include all of their backstory in your novel. You will only include what you need for your readers to understand your characters.

For example, your twenty-eight year old female character is terrified of being outside in a thunderstorm. Why? Maybe in her backstory, when she was a little girl, she witnessed a tragedy that took place during a thunderstorm – maybe a tree struck by lightning fell on a relative and they were badly injured or killed, maybe she was raised by an abusive parent who locked her outside during a thunderstorm, or maybe lightning struck a tree stump near her and it burst into flames. I’m sure you can come up with more possibilities that would cause her to still be afraid of thunderstorms as an adult woman.

Why might this be important to the story? Well, maybe a thunderstorm begins quickly, with little to no warning, and her little boy is outside and she has to go out to bring him into the house or maybe she’s on her way home and there is no where to go to get out of the storm along the road she’s traveling and her only option is to get home.

I hope, by these examples, you can see how important your character’s backstory can be and how it can add tension to your story.

You can find her online at:

Website: https://kellyfbarr.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kellyb_26

Facebook: Kelly F. Barr, Writer

Tags backstory, character development, characters, historical fiction, Historical writing, history

History in the Making

Hospitality in Writing

Have you ever read any books by Shel Silverstein? Since 1963, his poems and drawings have delighted countless children and adults. Even though we lost “Uncle Shelby” in 1999, new generations are still discovering and enjoying his work today.

I appreciate his wit and wisdom and simple illustrations in The Giving Tree, A Light in the Attic, and Falling Up to name a few. He is silly and sad, yet profound in his work. Few have ever done it better.

But in Where The Sidewalk Ends, Shel does something really special. He graciously invites us into his world with this poem titled, Invitation:

If you are a dreamer, come in,
If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar,
A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer …
If you’re a pretender, come sit by my fire
For we have some flax-golden tales to spin.
Come in!
Come in!

I love that. The idea of showing the reader they are welcome, to invite them to come in and ‘sit a spell’ is an idea as old as Genesis, the first book to display hospitality.

The Bible teaches that acts of hospitality or inhospitality reveal the good or evil of a person or a community.
Christianity Today.

Our Christianity is on full display in our work. We willingly allow others in to observe us in our most vulnerable state, where our beliefs are vividly displayed in our prose. In the Bible, hospitality was shown in the host’s home. In the craft of writing, our readers take us into their homes when they buy our work. It would appear that we become the guest, but actually, we want them to enter the world we built and enjoy themselves. Therefore, we remain the hosts.

So how do we nurture a spirit of biblical hospitality in our work so a reader knows we love Jesus?

I believe we must come to the end of ourselves. We cannot trust or boast in our achievements, we cannot wallow in our rejections. We must find ourselves at the altar laying it all down at the feet of our Lord and Savior. We must allow the Holy Spirit to open us to the mystery of inviting others in, not just to our work, but our lives.

Come in! Come in! Sit with me in my world for a while. Let me offer you a little bit of me, let me warm your soul and make you feel welcome. And while you’re here, I pray you see Christ in me.

Grace to you and peace be multiplied,

KD Holmberg

K. D. 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 kdholmberg.com

Tags advice for Christian writers, Faith, Historical writing, history, hospitality, poetry

History in the Making

Why You Need to Get Your Historical Facts Straight

Post author By Kelly Barr
Post date May 31, 2020
No Comments on Why You Need to Get Your Historical Facts Straight

If you’re a historical fiction writer who is under quarantine or lockdown, whether voluntary or government mandated, now would be a great time to delve into the historical period for your next novel or maybe you need another historical tidbit for your current story. Either way, getting your head out of the news for a while and going back in time may be just what you need to help you focus on something more fun and interesting than the current state of the world.

“How much research should I do for a historical novel and why is it so important? After all, it’s historical fiction, right? So, can’t I just make up what I don’t know?”

No, you can’t—not if you want to gain and keep readers. Many people who read historical fiction do so because they enjoy history. Many are history buffs. Some people want to learn something from historical fiction, and they may just do some research after reading your book to see if you had your historical facts straight. You’re bound to have at least one reader who will be ready and willing to contact you and point out where you missed the mark.

As a writer somewhere between plotting and pantsing, I will say that I am careful to research anything that has to do with the time period of my setting. For instance, my current WIP, (work in progress), is set in 1860s United States, in the west, and my protagonist needs to carry a rifle and a handgun for his job, so I Googled rifles and handguns from that time period to be sure I didn’t give my character a gun that hadn’t been created yet.

When I took that chapter to a critique group that I was part of at the time, two of the men in the group challenged me on the rifle and handgun I chose to use. I was able to give them the information of the site where I found the facts and inform them of what I learned about my chosen weapons. My choice of weapons weren’t the only historical items the men in the group challenged me on, which is why I want to know my facts.

I also have read book reviews of other historical writers’ works and have found at least one review, that I can recall, that challenged the author’s historical facts. This reader gave the writer a lower star rating because the reader was certain the author had the facts wrong.

Readers who are history buffs will know their history and expect you to know yours. They will not hesitate to let you know if they believe you have gotten something wrong, and they may write a scathing review of your work. They may also decide not to read another one of your books. We work hard to gain our readers, therefore, we need to do our best to keep them by making sure we get our historical facts straight.

You can find her online at:

Website: https://kellyfbarr.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kellyb_26

Facebook: Kelly F. Barr, Writer

Tags historical research, Historical writing, Research

History in the Making

Decoration Day: The Joy of Remembering Ancestors

Post author By Jeannine Brummett
Post date May 20, 2020
No Comments on Decoration Day: The Joy of Remembering Ancestors

Decoration Day! It looks like an entry in a day planner, and visions of Christmas, a birthday, or a wedding might pop up in our minds. However, if we were to ask an older Southerner, “What is Decoration Day?” we would probably be regaled with childhood memories or stories heard from grannies and grampas about commemorating deceased ancestors.

This celebratory event traces back to the southern United States at a time before the Civil War. A family, white or black, would choose a Sunday after spring planting, but before the fields demanded heavier toil, to remember loved ones who had entered glory land.

The celebrants, laden with farm tools, hiked to the site of the host family’s burial site and spent the morning clearing weeds and overgrowth. Afterward, they laid fresh flowers on the graves. Often trees were planted−evergreen Cedars represented eternal life and flowering Dogwoods embodied the resurrection.

The patriarch shared lessons and blessings passed down by their ancestors. Folks joined their voices in wistful joy as they sang gospel music about being heaven bound. Then “dinner on the grounds” (a picnic lunch) filled their tummies, while fellowship encouraged their hearts.

Because Decoration Day was celebrated by individual families, folks might attend this special event with one family one Sunday and another in the coming weeks. Some communities held the event at the church, the pastor commemorating the lives of those who had gone to their reward.

Then came Change. On June 3, 1861, the first confederate soldier’s grave was decorated with flowers. It was as if a tree trunk sprang up, crowding a tender sapling, taking the focus away from deceased ancestors and moving it to military deaths. By 1868, the day to lay flowers on war graves had been designated as Decoration Day, and by 1882, Memorial Day emerged.

Nevertheless, the tender sapling survived. The tradition of honoring deceased family members continued, scheduled around the planting season. Over time, many families started melding their celebration with the 3-day Memorial Day weekend. However, some rural communities, especially Appalachia, might still be found celebrating Decoration Day (now sometimes called Cemetery Day).

For writers, such a commemorative congregation could provide a setting whereby characters are unveiled, plots and sub-plots unfolded, and social status displayed. Details, such as the condition and style of clothes, the good repair (or not) of gardening tools, the array of food, attitudes about hard work or people or life in general, budding romances, disagreements or a “knock-down drag-out” fight, can make for entertaining or gripping reading while moving the story forward.

Undoubtedly, usage of Decoration Day would be relevant for historical or contemporary pieces set in the South. However, because many Southern folks packed up belongings and traditions and travelled away from the Civil War-torn South to settle in other states, the concept of people gathering to decorate graves easily spreads to other genres and settings.

Imaginative writers can look beyond Decoration Day as a date on the calendar or the focus on a fading tradition. The event can spruce up works in progress or provide rich soil for a compelling scene in a cemetery setting.

Tags decoration day, Historical writing, history

History in the Making

Comic Relief: The Golden AGe of Comic Books Amidst Americans in Crisis

Post author By Jeannine Brummett
Post date February 20, 2020
No Comments on Comic Relief: The Golden AGe of Comic Books Amidst Americans in Crisis

Comics Book #1 landed on newsstands in June 1938, and from its pages Superman soared into the lives of weary Americans. A throng of superheroes quickly followed on the fringes of his red cape: Batman and Captain Marvel (1939), then Captain America, Green Lantern, and Flash (1940s). In 1941 Wonder Woman made her debut in All-Star Comics #8, followed by her 1942 first feature appearance in Sensation Comics #1.

By 1941, comic book creators had dreamed up the first team of superheroes−The Justice Society of America. Premiering in All Star Comics #3 (Winter 1940-41), the initial team−Doctor Fate, Hour-Man, Spectre, Sandman, Atom, Flash, Green Lantern and Hawkman−added diverse out-of-this-world skill sets in the fight against injustice.

These popular superheroes unveiled themselves as the years of The Great Depression waned (1929-1939) and World War II loomed (1939-1945). People were digging themselves out of huge holes made in their lives by a long season of want and need−unemployment lines, empty bank accounts and cupboards, and bone-weariness.

For Americans, one set of challenges shifted to another. The men, previously pounding the pavement for work, now marched to war. Women traded personal kitchen gardens for community victory gardens, and found themselves in factories, laboring to feed their families while their men were away. Instead of no money, Americans’ greater focus became loved ones in harm’s way, gas rationing, and shortage of supplies such as tires and sugar.

In such times of despair and uncertainty, might these comic book heroes have transported their fans to another world…splashed some comic relief into their lives…even if only for a few moments? Perhaps Jobless Joe pictured Superman picking him up by his coat tails and delivering him to the door of an eager employer. Betty Button Maker may have envisioned Wonder Woman’s golden lasso easing the burdens imposed by a harsh taskmaster. And might Charlie Childheart, torn between fear and a salute, have imagined his daddy strutting alongside a tank in a faraway land with Captain America at his side?

Only ten cents a copy, comic books were new and colorful and offered escape to universes inhabited by bigger-than-life heroes. And oh how Americans must have welcomed such diversions! It should come as no surprise that this era became known as The Golden Age of Comic Books (1938-1956).

However, despite this decade of superhero fanaticism, by the late 1940s their popularity began to diminish. Some have opined those exciting characters had become boring. Maybe the crises in America had dissipated. Regardless of the cause, publishers slowly changed out superheroes for other genres. War, westerns, romance, crime, and even horror, drew comic book fans’ interest.

Yet−and not so surprising−by 1956, superheroes showed that they may have been rendered powerless for a short while, but they were not defeated. They emerged again, unleashing The Silver Age of Comic Books (1956-1970), with encores of the Bronze Age (1970-1984) and Modern Age (mid-1980s to date). Nowadays, comic book stores, clubs, conventions, and successful full-length motion pictures, prove the timelessness of beloved superheroes.

For today’s writers, comic books and their superheroes have the power to zoom in with a flurry of creative ideas. Historical fiction writers might find that the plights of Americans during The Great Depression and World War II, teamed up with the popularity of comic book superheroes, provide much fodder for true-to-life plots colored by a comic-book-loving (or hating? Oh no!) character or two. Or maybe, for the sci-fi or fantasy writer, visions of the vast universe on display in comic books might birth new and glorious superheroes for their 21st century masterpieces.

Comic Relief− still swooping in to save the day.

Tags comic books, comics, historical fiction, Historical writing, History in the Making

History in the Making

Unexpected Treasures

As both a reader and a writer, I enjoy spending time in book stores and libraries. This year some of my reader/writer friends and I went on two Used Book Store Tours. If you haven’t been on a Used Book Store Tour, I encourage you to take one. We spent an entire day in a specific area exploring all of the Used Book Stores in that area. It was a fun and exciting adventure.

The store, where I took the above photo, had four floors of books. As we explored each floor, we found the history section and one of my friends asked me, “Are you still interested in the Old West time period?”

I replied, “I certainly am.”

So, he showed me a book he had discovered, and I quickly asked if I could take a look at it. He handed it to me and I sat in an old wooden rocking chair to peruse the pages. Not only did I find the book fascinating, but the illustrations were unique, and the most exciting thing was that there were two newspaper clippings tucked inside the front cover.

The book is about Virginia City in the 1860s and 1870s. The newspaper clippings were also about Virginia City – one from 1997 and the other from 2004. I was so excited as my mind started to consider the treasure I held in my hands.

At the checkout counter, I feared the clerk may confiscate the newspaper clippings, but to my joy and relief, he didn’t.

Now, I eagerly await the opportunity to sit down and read this book and these clippings, as I know a story idea will form in my mind. I will learn of interesting characters from history, a city I don’t know anything about, the history about that city – not just Old West history, but even a bit of more recent history, thanks to those newspaper clippings, and who knows what kind of story will begin to form in my head.

In another used book store on that same day, I found a book about a particular group of military men from a period in history, and as I read the inside of the dust jacket, the idea for a story pricked my brain.

This delightful experience taught me something I hadn’t considered before – a book store isn’t just a place for the reader in me. It’s also a wonderful place for the writer in me to find treasures that will lead me to my next story.

In the past, I have always gravitated to the historical fiction section of a book store or library. Now, I know to also check out the nonfiction history section. Not only can I learn something about history, but I may find my next story idea in a history book upon those shelves.

We plan to do more Used Book Store Tours in 2020 and I can’t wait to see what treasures I find on those tours.

You can find her online at:

Website: https://kellyfbarr.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kellyb_26

Facebook: Kelly F. Barr, Writer

Tags book stores, historical research, Historical writing, history, History in the Making, inspiration, story ideas

History in the Making

Notes from a Contest Judge

Post author By K D Holmberg
Post date December 20, 2019
No Comments on Notes from a Contest Judge

Have you ever entered your work in a writing contest? These contests are organized by organizations like the American Fiction Writers of America (www.acfw.com) and Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference (www.blueridgeconference.com).

There are categories for each genre, so you can submit and be judged against other historical fiction writers. Some of you probably just shuddered when I said be judged. But letting others look at your work is one of the best ways to improve it. Plus, this helps you develop thick skin, a must in this business.

I always spot someone new to writing through a few telltale signs when I judge a contest. These speed bumps slow the story for me, and will eventually do the same for an agent or publisher.

Here are some common mistakes to avoid:

The beginning of a new chapter, or a new scene, should not be indented. Flush left treatment is the general norm for submission.
An ellipsis can express a mood change, hesitation, or a thought that trails off … Think of it as a word and leave a space before and after the three dots.
Hyphens, en dash, and em dash are horizontal lines of varying lengths and it matters how you use them.
- A hyphen is the shortest line and used to generally hyphenate two or more words when they come before a noun they modify. They are not interchangeable with dashes.
- The en dash is used when you refer to a span of dates or numbers, like pages 10-20.
- The em dash creates a strong break in a sentence. It can be used in a pair¾like parenthesis (as I did here)¾to add more information. Although, the sentence should be able to stand alone without them and the extra info between them. You also use the em dash to detach the end of a sentence from the main body.
Capitalize the first letter in dialogue when it begins mid-sentence.
- Johnny narrowed his eyes and spat on the ground before adding, “You just stay out of my way.”

Also, read your work out loud. You’ll trip over sentences that need to be fixed and catch more typos. Enter the cleanest copy you can so you don’t lose points. Simple errors could cost you the contest.

There are many great contests for unpublished authors and a Goggle search will list several. But here are a few I know of:

*ACFW First Impressions Contest is open now and you can have your first five pages evaluated by professionals.

*ACFW Genesis Contest has many genres to enter for fiction writers and you get unbiased feedback from the judges. It opens January 2.

*BRMCWC Foundations Award is now open.

Visit their websites, look over the guidelines, and submit your work. Finalists and winners often draw the attention of agents and publishers.

Good luck becoming an award winning author!

Tags common mistakes, formatting, Grammar, Historical writing, punctuation, writing contests

History in the Making

BOGGED DOWN IN CRANBERRY SAUCE: A condensed history of a Thanksgiving favorite

Post author By Jeannine Brummett
Post date November 20, 2019
No Comments on BOGGED DOWN IN CRANBERRY SAUCE: A condensed history of a Thanksgiving favorite

Think cranberries!

From there, it’s not a long stretch to thoughts of Thanksgiving. And for a writer, creative juices might quickly stir up a Thanksgiving scene. Preparation of the feast provides a pantry full of opportunities to introduce characters and reveal personalities. Perhaps it creates tension, exposes secrets, or puts on an explosive display of the family dynamics.

Picture it: The hero says something−maybe innocently, maybe not.

The heroine’s blood boils akin to the cranberries and sugar bubbling furiously in the pot.

Or not.

If this piece is contemporary, the character can confidently cook up a pot of homemade cranberry sauce. It might be the traditional recipe of cranberries, water and sugar, or a zesty rendition with spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, or ginger.

But what if this piece is historical?

Was cranberry sauce readily available in the time period?

Consider the following:

The First Feast. Cranberries were native to northeast North America, thus they were likely not familiar to the settlers who had recently immigrated from Europe. Historians opine that the newcomers’ sugar supply had been depleted and they had no bread. Rising out of that and the influence of the local Indians, it has been suggested that raw cranberries and nuts might have been used to stuff the local fowl for that infamous meal.

Sweet and Saucy.

We may never know who concocted the first batch of cranberry sauce, or when. However, both German and Scandinavian immigrants are believed to have brought across the ocean the concept of cooking fruit. Further, John Josselyn, an English traveler (c. 1671), writes of boiling cranberries in water with sugar.

By the mid to late-nineteenth century, published cookbooks, which included recipes for cranberry sauce, appeared. The recipes reflected not only what has become traditional cranberry sauce (berries, water and sugar), but also the variations devised by pioneer cooks, such as sugar substitutes (honey, brown sugar, syrup, or molasses) and methods of preparation (mashing and straining, length of time to cook, and when to add sugar).

Availability of Cranberries. Early settlers in the New England region might have picked cranberries for their Thanksgiving table. However, folks living in other areas of America were likely dependent upon buying those celebratory berries in the marketplace…if the proprietors could acquire them.

The appearance of cranberry bogs in 1816 brought about an increase in the commercial distribution of cranberries. Nevertheless, markets would have remained limited to their seasonal nature (September to November), and to available modes of transportation from bog to market.

For example: Does the 19th century mid-west Mom and Pop general store boast a basket full of cranberries? Does the farmer’s wife have money to purchase a pound?

Canned Cranberry Sauce. In 1912, Marcus L. Urann explored canning cranberries. Success would expand the fruit’s availability from just the seasonal months to year round. By 1930, he joined with competing cranberry growers to form a cooperative which ultimately became Ocean Spray. Canned cranberry sauce arrived on market shelves in time for America’s 1941 Thanksgiving feast.

What can a writer glean from these tidbits to enhance a Thanksgiving scene?

For a basic historical setting, it may be enough to know that after 1890 the cook might open a cookbook or pull out a family recipe. After 1941, canned cranberry sauce might be the pick for the table.

However, if a main character is an aspiring and imaginative cook, or the plot is set in a cranberry growing community, getting bogged down in research on cranberry sauce might be a berry good experience.

Happy Feasting!

Tags historical fiction, historical research, Historical writing

History in the Making

Is This Story Historical?

Post author By Lisa E. Betz
Post date October 20, 2019
No Comments on Is This Story Historical?

As a writer, I like to continue writing flash fiction or short stories while working on a novel. My head is just too full of ideas and characters to focus on just my big project.

Recently, I found a short story contest I thought I could enter. The rules were simple and they were asking for clean contemporary romance. I began to write and the story was flowing.

Then I had an interesting conversation with someone who told me that if I’m writing for Young Adult (YA), in order for it to be contemporary, the story has to include today’s technology – laptops, tablets, smart phones, etc. I wasn’t writing for YA so I wasn’t worried, but decided to search for a current definition of “contemporary” fiction. The definition I found stated that anything after World War II is considered “contemporary”. So I thought I was okay.

But a little doubt kept niggling at the back of my head. Therefore I went to the contest website and posted my question: What is your definition of “contemporary”? A few days later a response came: anything that includes current technology.

I was flabbergasted! I mean, I’m a 50+ woman and don’t really consider things from my youth “historical”, but apparently things like pen pals who actually write snail mail are. Today’s technology didn’t exist in my youth. Therefore, the story I had begun did not qualify for this “contemporary short story contest”.

The story came to an abrupt halt, but my heart was broken. I love these characters and want to tell their story, but now there isn’t a pressing reason. I have a real historical romance novel to finish revising and send out into the world. Therefore, I don’t have time to work on a story I thought was “contemporary” but learned in today’s world is “historical”. So sadly, this story will have to wait, and maybe, instead of a short story, it will become a full-fledged “contemporary romance” story.

What’s the point of this article and what does it have to do with writing historical fiction?

The point is that you may have ideas for more wonderful historical fiction stories than you might think. If you’re in the 50+ age group, you, evidently, have a wealth of experience you could use to birth an historical fiction story. As long as your setting doesn’t include any of today’s technology, you can claim “historical fiction”.

You can find her online at:

Website: https://kellyfbarr.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kellyb_26

Facebook: Kelly F. Barr, Writer

Tags contemporary vs historical, historical fiction, Historical writing, short story

History in the Making

The Epistolary Novel Form

Post author By Lisa E. Betz
Post date September 20, 2019
No Comments on The Epistolary Novel Form

The popularity of this literary device dropped off prior to the turn of the nineteenth century, but its recent resurgence is something authors of Historical Fiction should take note of. Stories set in the past are perfect for telling through diaries or letters. It can give your reader a deeper connection to your characters than even first person POV.

Have you ever taken a sneak peek into someone else’s journal? That naughty element of voyeurism took you deep into their inner thoughts. It exposed things about that person you would not otherwise know. But in the Epistolary genre, even though diaries and letters are personal, reading them is allowed! You are encouraged to discover the writer’s deepest, darkest secrets, or read the private correspondence between two people.

What is Epistolary Style?

Epistle is the ancient name for letter. Epistolary is when a novel is composed entirely of letters or diary entries. Although, the contemporary epistolary genre may use emails, texts, and blog entries. It makes you feel as though you are receiving a running commentary of the ongoing events in the character’s lives.

Epistolary Novels Can Be:

· Monologic: The focus on one character.

·Dialogic: Two characters corresponding.

·Polylogic: Multiple people are represented.

Epistolary Novels of the Past and Present:

Arguably, the best known Epistolary novels are Dracula by Bram Stoker and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Both frame their text in letters and convey how powerful the use of intimate correspondence for narrative viewpoint can be. Both are still responsible for blood curdling nightmares centuries after they were written.

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis is a Christian apologetic novel written in the epistolary style. A senior demon, Screwtape, mentors his incompetent nephew, Wormwood, through a series of letters on how to secure the soul of a man.

The Color Purple by Alice Walker is a heartbreakingly poignant novel. Celie, a fourteen-year-old girl, unfolds her traumatic life before us through letters she has written to God. Make sure you have a box of tissues nearby.

The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. is the first novel in a well-crafted trilogy by Sandra Gulland. All three are written as though from the personal journals of Josephine Bonaparte, wife of Napoleon. Sandra Gulland reveals the sequence of events before, during, and after the French Revolution through the intimate sentiments of an island girl named Rose, who grew up to be Josephine, Empress of France.

One Voice or a Network of Voices.

Get your creative juices flowing and think of the many different forms this literary device could take in your next novel. You can use: post cards, newspaper clippings, memos, notes, or stick with the power of the personal letter. You can use one voice in a journal, like Sandra Gulland, or a network of voices, like Bram Stoker used with journals, letters, and newspaper clipping. In World War Z, Max Brook used interviews with survivors of the Zombie apocalypse for a United Nations report.

The Power of a Letter.

The Epistles comprise the majority of the books written in the New Testament. These Holy Spirit inspired letters, written to specific churches or people two thousand years ago, still speak into our lives today. They give us personal and significant insight, and even fresh revelation that we can use in our Christian walk.

Sometimes it takes my breath away to think on it.

The Epistles are a perfect example of how powerful using a letter to communicate can be. So, consider using this literary device in your next novel. And perhaps harness a little of that power as a Christian novelist.

Tags historical fiction, Historical writing, letters

History in the Making

How Much Research is Required in Historical Fiction?

Post author By Lisa E. Betz
Post date July 20, 2019
No Comments on How Much Research is Required in Historical Fiction?

As an historical romance author, I love history. I love learning about different historical time periods and the events that took place during those periods. I love learning what life was like during those periods: what people wore, what they ate, their jobs—everything about their lives. I love including many of these historical facts into my stories. However, this presents two problems: 1) how much research should or must I do; and 2) how much of the historical facts can actually be used in the story.

Let’s take a look at these problems one at a time. First, “how much research should or must I do”? If you talk to historical writers, many offer a different answer when asked how much research they do. One writer told me they spend months or even a year researching before they even begin to write their story. Another writer told me they do “as little as possible”. So I have come to the conclusion that there is no real requirement or “must” in the amount of research to be done.

Next, “how much research should I do”? I can’t say that either of the writers, mentioned above, is right or wrong in the amount of research they do, but here is my own experience. As a pantser, I did some research before beginning my current WIP—enough to have a solid, well-rounded main character and enough to know what his job required.

As I wrote, I sometimes had to stop to research something I hadn’t thought about before starting to write. One of those things was horses—my main character’s job deals with a lot of horses, and I knew little about them. Other things gave me pause throughout my writing as well, but I had no problem stopping, doing some researching, then continuing my story.

One thing I had to learn: there is such a thing as too much research. What do I mean? Well, some friends and I were shopping in a used book store, and I was about one-half to two-thirds finished with my novel, when one of my friends shows me a book she found on something that was paramount to the life of my main character. I got excited and bought the book.

When I got the book home and began to read it, I grew frustrated as I was learning more about the subject than I already knew and felt like I’d need to go back and rewrite and change a lot of stuff in my novel to include more historical facts.

Once again I spoke to other historical fiction writers and was told, “You have to draw the line on research somewhere. Otherwise, you could research for years.” I realized the truth of those words and put the book away. Besides, I write historical “fiction”. That means not everything in the story has to be historical fact, and maybe, in the future, I’ll write a short story or some magazine articles using that book.

Where do you draw the line between too little and too much research?

You can find her online at:

Website: https://kellyfbarr.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kellyb_26

Facebook: Kelly F. Barr, Writer

Tags historical fiction, Historical writing, reserach

History in the Making

Historical Fiction Basics and Top Ten Time Periods

Post author By Lisa E. Betz
Post date June 20, 2019
No Comments on 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):

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

Tags historical accuracy, historical fiction, Historical writing, popular eras, Research, time period

History in the Making

Fun and Games

Board games − at some time in our lives, most of us have awakened on Christmas morning to find the newest or most popular board game festively wrapped and sitting under the brightly ornamented tree. What smiles those games brought to us then, and what smiles they might bring now, if we were to add a splash of fun and games to our stories.

Choosing a game to embellish our contemporary stories would be easy−just tune in to the explosion of Christmas advertising in autumn, do an internet search for popular games, or venture out to a brick and mortar to eyeball the offerings. But what about stories in a historical setting?

Some historical board games

The game of Checkers has been around forever−okay, maybe not forever, but Checkers as we know it, has been around since 1400 B.C.. Bingo, Backgammon, Parcheesi and Chess, or versions thereof, date back centuries.

However, the 19th century brought about an increase in the design and distribution of board games. It is opined that the boost in interest and subsequent appearance of new board games rose as people found they had more leisure time.

Though some games were likely just for fun, others pointed toward social issues of the day or served as educational tools. Depending on the shape of our historical work, including one of these games might spice up dialog or even reveal qualities in our characters:

The Checkered Game of Life (c. 1860), created by Milton Bradley, exposed the challenges people face on the road to success. A derivative of this game, known to most of us as The Game of Life, is still on store shelves.
The Landlord Game (c. 1904), was created by Elizabeth Magie. A supporter of a philosophy known as Georgism, she developed the game to help explain and promote the concept that property owners (landlords) become rich and renters do not. The game was not only played in households, but used as a teaching tool at the university level. A deeper look into its history reveals a dispute over ownership of the game. This was resolved circa 1935 by Parker Brothers. By that time the game was known as− surprise!−Monopoly.
Suffragetto (c. 1908), of British origin, addressed the social and political issues faced by women in that time period. The game pitted cops against suffragettes. Cops tried to protect the House of Commons from entry by suffragettes while at the same time attempting to breach Albert Hall (where the suffragettes held their meetings). Meanwhile, suffragettes attempted to protect Albert Hall from penetration by cops while they sought to gain access to the House of Commons.

Games from other eras

A few other games that might appear beneath the Christmas tree (or any day) in our historical fiction, include Snakes and Ladders aka Chutes and Ladders (c. 1870), Sorry (c. 1934), Clue (c. 1948), Candy Land (c. 1949), and Risk (c. 1957). These games have survived decades and can still be found on today’s market.

Should we be inclined to conduct additional research on the subject of board games, the search words “history of board games” would likely glean sufficient fodder. Also searches on Milton Bradley, Parker Brothers and Hasbro, publishers of games in the 19th and 20th centuries, would prove enlightening.

If, however, we were to choose to invest precious time in other aspects of research, in most time periods it would be safe to wrap up a game of Checkers and plop it under the Christmas tree, or set the board between two characters in a shady spot on a hot summer day.

No matter the season or occasion, coloring our work with a bit of Fun and Games can add another aspect of interest for our readers.

Tags Board Games, Games, Historical writing, History in the Making, researching details

History in the Making

Electrifying Fiction

The dark house looked lonely and foreboding as Ellen pulled the key from her reticule and fumbled with the lock. Pushing open the door, she felt along the wall for the light switch…

Or did she?

Depending on the time period and setting of this story, Ellen might need to grope around a small table for a match to light the kerosene lamp.

Thomas Edison invented an incandescent light bulb in 1879, and by September 1882, he powered up the Pearl Street distribution center and distributed electricity to approximately 82 customers in Manhattan, New York. In 1893, electricity lit up the World’s Fair in Chicago. But it would not be advisable to rely on these tidbits of information to justify whether or not Ellen’s home had electricity.

If Ellen lives in a city in the 1920s-30s, there’s a good chance the flick of a wall switch will light up the room. But if Ellen’s story is set in a period prior to the early years of the twentieth century, it is probable that some other source of light scattered the darkness when she arrived home.

Before launching our search, we should also determine a few other things about Ellen.

Does she enjoy the city life or live in a rural area?

Is she rich or poor?

Answers to these questions may make a difference in the type of lighting in Ellen’s home.

Our research list (whether through the Internet, the local library, newspaper archives, or other favorite resources we have developed ) might include:

History of the city and surrounding area where Ellen lives. (If the answer is quick and obvious, we can breathe a sigh of relief and get back to writing our story.)
History of Electricity, especially a timeline
Check out possible light sources:
- Generators
- Gas lighting
- Kerosene lamps
- Candles
- Fireplace
A trip to the actual city or town can be invaluable overall, though probably not practical if made only to determine when power poles and lines were installed.

Stay focused. Unless we have the mind for it, following the progression of science in this area can be overwhelming and take us on unnecessary detours, robbing us of precious time to pursue our goal: writing.

Wrapping it up, be prepared for the possibility that your exploration will lead you to another research project:

The dark house looked lonely and foreboding as Ellen pulled the key from her reticule and fumbled with the lock. Pushing open the door, she felt around the table for a match…

They did have matches back then, didn’t they?

Tags details, historical research, Historical writing, researching details, Setting

History in the Making

Naming Characters in Your Historical Novels

Post author By Lisa E. Betz
Post date July 30, 2018
1 Comment on Naming Characters in Your Historical Novels

Have you ever read a fictional novel set in the 1700s where the main character is named Harper (22 on a current top girl’s name list) or Summer (76) or Sienna (20) for a woman? How about Jayden (67 on a top 100 boy’s name list) or Kai (85) or Dylan (43) for a man?

Using character names accurate for the novel’s time period lends another layer of authenticity for readers. So where can we find these names?

The easiest source for me is books written during my story’s time period. For instance, I write Civil War romances. Soldiers’ journals provide names of family and comrades. Nonfiction books about the war cite many names of officers and rank and file soldiers. At that time, many men had a family surname as their first name or middle name, such as Harrison or Carter. Often these names were from the mother’s side of the family, so this could be a fun aspect for a novel’s secondary character as well.

Many regiments published a short history. Included with battle details were the men who served in that regiment. Names of wives, children, siblings, and parents may also be listed, providing many ideas for first and last names.

If an author is stuck for names, reading about an event that took place near the time either gives some ideas or send the writer on a chase that leads to timely names.

If a novel is set in 1790, reading about the American Revolution will give plenty of period names. Is the location set in the New England area in 1645? Look at names found in the Salem Witch Trials.

Also consider the character’s surname. If the main character has Scottish parents, a German surname does not ring true. If the character has an Irish mother and an Italian father, a first name common to either country will work—and so will a name common to the novel’s location.

One source to find the history of names is Behind the Name, where writers can search by name, gender, or country. Authors may also browse for names under Ancient & Medieval, Biblical, or Mythology categories. The site even has a section for “Logical Names for Twins.”

Another fun tool is NameTrends. Search the site by clicking on the first letter of a name. Each letter has a listing that show when it was popular in history, beginning in 1880. Even if your novel is set earlier than this, it may provide ideas.

There is a lot to consider when naming characters in historical novels. Hopefully these sources have sparked some ideas for that next novel.

Award-winning and Amazon bestselling author Sandra Merville Hart loves to uncover little-known yet fascinating facts about our American history to include in her stories. Her debut Civil War Romance, A Stranger On My Land, was IRCA Finalist 2015. A Rebel in My House, set during the historic Battle of Gettysburg, won the 2018 Silver Illumination Award and 2018 Faith Hope and Love Reader’s Choice Award. A Musket in My Hands, where two sisters join the Confederate army with the men they love, releases November of 2018. Watch for her novellas, Surprised by Love in “From the Lake to the River” releasing in September of 2018, and Trail’s End, in “Smitten Novella Collection: The Cowboys” releasing in August of 2019.

Find her on her blog, sandramervillehart.wordpress.com.

Tags crafting character, historical research, Historical writing, names

History in the Making

Dialogue Contractions in Historical Novels

Post author By Sandra Hart - History in the Making
Post date May 21, 2017
No Comments on 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.

Tags contractions in dialogue, Dialogue, historical novel writing, historical novelist, Historical writing, Sandra Merville Hart, Writing Dialogue

CHANGE —A Spark for Writers Seeking an Innovative Angle for Their stories.

The grocery store setting can be such a catalyst, having experienced numerous changes throughout the 20th century.

So, what plots and profiles might one bring to life at the grocery store?

Here are some common mistakes to avoid:

Think cranberries!

Sweet and Saucy.

What is Epistolary Style?

Epistolary Novels of the Past and Present:

One Voice or a Network of Voices.

The Power of a Letter.

Some historical board games

Games from other eras

The grocery store setting can be such a catalyst, having experienced numerous changes throughout the 20^th century.