How to write historical fiction

Any work set in the past could be called historical fiction, but where does an author start? Here are some tips from a historian who writes historical fiction.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

1. Pick a year or era that interests you. Then research some lesser-known events from that time by finding contemporary documents, such as newspapers or curated art. Here’s where library databases, Google Books, and Hathi Trust can be useful. Libraries have access to many old newspapers and magazines, and reference librarians can be incredibly helpful. Old issues can often be found online. Going back to ancient times? Study artworks and books about the era. There are amazing stories that have never been told, and one might inspire your writing.
2. Think of a historical event you find interesting. What’s left out of the story? You hear about the sinking of a ship, and read up on it. But no one is talking about the crew, and what kind of people they were. Or you learn that George Washington’s troops were weakened by smallpox, and he mandated inoculation. Did it help? Find out, but be warned: sometimes this can turn into non-fiction history. For example, writer Hallie Rubenhold noticed that no one talked about the victims of Jack the Ripper as if they were real people with histories and agency, even at the time. The result was The Five, a great book of history that reclaims their lives.