By Sharyn Konyak
Writing historical fiction in a way that audiences will understand requires careful attention to the facts. For authors writing historical fiction in the digital age, it is more important than ever that they get it right. With increased Internet accessibility, readers have a heightened expectation for accuracy. The onus falls directly on writers to meet higher standards. Gone are the days when authors could make up the details of a real place and get away with it. Historian and historical fiction author Nicole Salomone at a recent SJWG meeting warned that today’s readers are savvy and often willing to fact check. There’s nowhere to hide, and lack of attention when getting details right, particularly in the case of historical fiction, are not tolerated.
Salomone does extensive research for her own writing, in both the fiction and non-fiction genres. In fact, it was her deep dives into history, while addressing issues such as fashion, mores, politics and medical practices for her novel, Forgotten, that led her to pursue a Master’s degree in History. But she didn’t limit her research to the literature. In an effort to gain an insider’s perspective, she traveled to as many places as she could that still had the look and feel of the 18th Century. Traveling to Philadelphia, PA, Tarrytown, NY, Williamsburg, VA and Morristown, NJ, she gained insight on architecture, how cobblestone felt to walk on, the sound of rain on those cobblestones, and how animals behaved and reacted to the environs in that time.
Tips for Making Your Historical Fiction Story Accurate
World-building / Setting – Go to places similar to those you are writing about to get a sense of the place.
- How does it sound?
- What does it feel like?
- What are people wearing?
- How do they behave?
- What are typical professions?
Theme
- Must fit within social constraints of the time period
- What issues regarding gender, race and religion will determine the viability of the theme.
Plot
- What significant historical events occurred in the time period?
- What societal norms are accepted?
- What were the gender roles of the era? Even if the character is not adhering to them.
Characters and Dialogue
- What language do they speak?
- Should you include foreign languages or words relevant to the locale? If so, it is helpful to define those words to prevent readers from having to leave the world you’ve built in order to gain context.
- How do they interact?
Conflict
- What issues are characters facing specific to the time period?
Currency converter generators can be helpful in determining the present-day buying power of items. Having a frame of reference for the cost of items and the impact of those costs on your characters’ lives will help you add a relevant layer of authenticity to your narrative. Several exist for the 18th and 19th centuries. One such converter can be found at https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/currency-converter/.
But what if readers take issue with the author’s treatment of a particular topic? Not to worry, says Salomone, “There is both power and freedom behind the fiction part of historical fiction. You can easily explain any issues taken with your work as ‘author’s perogative‘.” It is fiction, after all. Having a bibliography can provide helpful literary protection as well, even if the sources are not directly quoted.
Historical fiction can transport readers to a previous place and time. When doing so, historical authors should build their fictional world while keeping their feet firmly planted in the historical one.
Digital Archive: Stories Behind the Stones: https://storiesbehindthestones.omeka.net/
Digital Archive: The Corner of Oak Tree Place & Arthur Ave: https://historicaldancer.wixsite.com/oaktreeplacenarthur
Book: Forgotten, by Nicole Salomone:
https://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Nicole-Salomone/dp/1600477054
Thank you, member Richard Bareford for this meeting follow-up comment:
Regarding historical French maps, Michelin is selling 4 on WWII campaigns,
https://travel.michelin.co.uk/series/michelin-historical-maps/.
The University of Texas has a marvelous collection in downloadable PDF format (1035-1945),
https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/maps/france.html
Do you know of online resources that you think would be particularly useful to writers of historical (or alternative history) fiction writers? Please help everybody out by offering useful links in the comments below.
Join the South Jersey Writers’ Group:
https://www.meetup.com/South-Jersey-Writers/
