I am a genre-hopping writer, but none of those hops have ever landed in historical fiction. I rather doubt one ever will. I have such admiration for those who are able to tackle writing a story set in another time with such adroitness.
With historical fiction, the information gathered by the writer is used to build a world that draws us, the readers, into it. Sometimes the readers are actual men and women who lived during that time. Records, public and private, may exist for such individuals; however, they rarely dip into their psyches. Through developing in-depth relationships and delving into the possible nature of such a person’s feelings, the writer uses fiction to bring the character alive for the reader and enhance the fictional story. If you’d like to read some historical fiction about real people, check this out: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/historical-fiction-about-real-people/
With historical fiction, the information gathered by the writer is used to build a world that draws us, the readers, into it. Sometimes the readers are actual men and women who lived during that time. Records, public and private, may exist for such individuals; however, they rarely dip into their psyches. Through developing in-depth relationships and delving into the possible nature of such a person’s feelings, the writer uses fiction to bring the character alive for the reader and enhance the fictional story. If you’d like to read some historical fiction about real people, check this out: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/historical-fiction-about-real-people/
Characters can be modeled after the personalities, manners, and life experiences of real people without actually representing those people in the story. There’s an interesting article here about this very thing:
https://awriterofhistory.com/2015/09/15/creating-characters-in-historical-fiction/
Of course, the characters in historical fiction can be entirely the product of the writer’s imagination. Even so, they can become as real to me as those who actually were. After every pause from reading, I can hardly wait to return to their world!
For those of you out there who are very punctilious, don’t fuss at me for what I’m about to say. When I’m reading historical fiction (or any book for that matter), I prefer the details of the period or the surroundings to be seamlessly worked into the story. If I find myself reading huge amounts of details that are like unwelcome way stations in the flow of the story, I have to fight the urge to skim and move forward. In my defense, I do try very hard. Sometimes I have to put the book aside if the detours become too profuse.
I’ve already mentioned my love of Julie Klassen’s books. Do you have an author of historical fiction you’d like to share with us?
Be sure to subscribe to the Sweet & Sassy blog, so you never miss out on any of our posts!
https://awriterofhistory.com/2015/09/15/creating-characters-in-historical-fiction/
Of course, the characters in historical fiction can be entirely the product of the writer’s imagination. Even so, they can become as real to me as those who actually were. After every pause from reading, I can hardly wait to return to their world!
For those of you out there who are very punctilious, don’t fuss at me for what I’m about to say. When I’m reading historical fiction (or any book for that matter), I prefer the details of the period or the surroundings to be seamlessly worked into the story. If I find myself reading huge amounts of details that are like unwelcome way stations in the flow of the story, I have to fight the urge to skim and move forward. In my defense, I do try very hard. Sometimes I have to put the book aside if the detours become too profuse.
I’ve already mentioned my love of Julie Klassen’s books. Do you have an author of historical fiction you’d like to share with us?
Be sure to subscribe to the Sweet & Sassy blog, so you never miss out on any of our posts!
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