In this volume, we’ll talk about historical fiction, and then I’ll provide an assignment to help you get started. You can use the assignment to write a short-short fiction piece or a short story, or perhaps launch a longer project. I hope you’ll share what you’re working on! Be sure to use the tags #writing and #workshop.
What is historical fiction?
Not everyone agrees on the principles of historical fiction. Some definitions are more strict than others. For example, some people believe very firmly that if a story takes place in a specific time in history, it must remain true to all aspects of that time. What do you think?
Views vary wildly, but many feel that the fiction writer’s job is not to educate readers about historic facts, but to create a sense of time and place while spinning a tale; in this viewpoint, the author has poetic license regarding the actual details. See this blog post from The Guardian, if you’d like to read more about the debate.
For our purposes, let’s use this definition from YourDictionary.com: Historical fiction is defined as movies and novels in which a story is made up but is set in the past and sometimes borrows true characteristics of the time period in which it is set.
This description feels right to me. The simple idea is that you have a setting that is fairly true to a time period, and you'll want to enrich the story with as many details as possible from that time.
Let’s say you want to write a story that takes place in the mid-19th century, around 1865. Well, that happens to be the year that Abraham Lincoln, then President of the United States, was assassinated. That would be an amazing backdrop for a story, whether or not the story is about that specific topic.
Examples of historical fiction works
For many, the classics - War and Peace and Gone with the Wind will come to mind. But there are so many more. Here are a few more recent examples:
- All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr: A richly told story of a blind French girl and a German boy in occupied France during World War II.
- The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver: Set in the Belgian Congo, in 1959, this heart-wrenching novel tells the story of a Baptist minister and his family and everything that unfolds as they attempt to share their mission with the people of the Congo.
- Memoirs of a Geisha, by Arthur Golden: “A literary sensation and runaway bestseller, this brilliant debut novel presents with seamless authenticity and exquisite lyricism the true confessions of one of Japan's most celebrated geisha.” Quote from Goodreads.
In my humble opinion, people are hungry for historic works. We want to know about a time and place in history, and get a sense of what it must have been like at that time. The richness of history can be beautifully revealed through the eyes of fictional characters in story form. And the fact is, many people do not have the will or desire to consume history via history books. (I am not trying to fan the flames of debate, here. I’m just stating facts!) If you love history, or a particular era, this might be an exciting path to set upon in your writing journey.
Historical fiction writing assignment:
Look up newspaper headlines from a time in history that interests you. Find a headline. Research the people involved or anything about the event that inspires you. Write the backstory, a fictionalized account of the event, or a fiction piece about a character living in that time. Add rich details from that time in history, such as the music and dress of the time. A few headlines from a UK newspaper in 1962:
- 11th June 1962: Frank Morris, John Anglin and Clarence Anglin become the only successful escapees from the Alcatraz Island prison. There is no conclusive evidence that they survived this escape.
- 12th July 1962: The Rolling Stones perform their first formal gig at London's Marquee Club. They are the opening act for Long John Baldry.
- 5th August 1962: Marilyn Monroe, American actress (b. 1926) dies from an accidental overdose. Many conspiracy theories immediately surround her death, involving both John and Robert Kennedy. A general consensus also emerges that her death was probable suicide, but a lack of evidence prevents it from being officially recorded as such.
- 16th August 1962: The Beatles’ drummer Pete Best is fired and replaced by Ringo Starr.
- 23rd August 1962: John Lennon secretly marries Cynthia Powell.
- 12th September 1962: President John F. Kennedy delivers a speech at Rice University, reaffirming that the United States will put a man on the moon by the end of the decade.
- 5th October, 1962: The Beatles release their first single, "Love Me Do".
Obviously, 1962 was a particularly busy year! What must it have been like to be in your early 20s at that moment in history?
My personal project at this moment is a very short piece based on the prompt “Armistice” for @jonknight’s short story contest. In choosing how to approach this contest, I did some research and made the most remarkable discovery. Here in the U.S. midwest, on Armistice Day, 1940, there was a deadly blizzard. Reading about this real historic event sparked me to write a fictional account of what it must have been like to experience that storm. And of course there was a war going on. What great fodder! The story is due in a few days, so I’ll be sure to post the link to it in the comments here.
To your success!
p.s. Each post in this series provides some ideas and inspiration, invites #discussion about a fiction writing topic and provides encouragement to write and share your work. The previous volumes in this series are: