Writing Historical Fiction

by Rhona Martin

There are many different kinds of historical novel - the family saga, the romance, the nostalgia novel, the adventure story, the 'straight' historical. However you may decide to handle your chosen theme it is essential that the novel is well-constructed and believable, with a strong sense of period and a storyline which keeps the reader turning the pages. In this revised edition Rhona Martin takes you through the painstaking, but enjoyable, research needed to establish both convincing background and characters, looks at ways of handling dialogue and language effectively and offers excellent advice on all aspects of structuring and crafting your work. The book concludes with a collection of hints and observations from a number of leading historical novelists, including Rosemary Sutcliff, Elizabeth Harris, Winston Graham and Jean Plaidy.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1988

Reviews

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

For being a nonfiction book on the topic of "How to Write Fiction" I strangely enjoyed reading this book. It is a small volume (Only 91 pages if you don't count the index) full of tons of information from every level of writing; the time it takes, how long it should be, where to start, how much research to do, how to break up chapters, et cetera, et cetera, all to getting published and starting your second novel.

At some point I will have to add this book to my collection.

[Joy E. Rancatore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rhona Martin delivers a succinct yet thorough treatise on how to approach writing in general and historical fiction in particular in Writing Historical Fiction. This book brought me many nuggets of gold to tuck away in my treasure box of writing advice; and I plan to purchase a copy for my own shelf soon. The advice to follow the passion and heart for my story became the biggest takeaway for me.

I would highly recommend this book to any writer, regardless of their genre. Martin guides students of the written craft through doing appropriate research; understanding the time period and relaying that properly through characters' motives, language and challenges; developing a proper structure for a story that will grab readers at page one and rush them along swiftly on a ride worth recommendation to all their friends; committing to the importance (and fun!) of the revision stage; and understanding and moving on from submission, rejection and/or publication.

This candid look at the creative process leaves nothing out and no questions unanswered in less than 100 pages!

[Charlotte Liebel · Rating 5 out of 5]

WRITING HISTORICAL FICTION
by Rhona Martin



Highlights include: [Cover]

...choosing and researching a subject
...setting the scene and recreating the period
...writing dialogue without anachronism
...balancing accuracy with entertainment

Winner of the Georgette Heyer Historical Novel Prize

I must say this is another of my reference books. The type of book
to open and turn to any chapter for an hour of pleasure and study.

~Charlotte Liebel

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent and not just for historical fiction

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers helpful tips and insights into writing historical fiction. Many of the author’s suggestions can also be applied to other genres. The only reason I didn’t rate it higher is because the author also gives tips on how to write scenes that I, as a conscientious Christian, would never write (intimate sex scenes, gore, etc). Fortunately that was no more than a few paragraphs and easy to skim over. The rest of the book had sound advice, and I look forward to putting it to use.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short useful read if you want to get into the mindset of writing historical fiction. It helped affirm that my basic idea and approach are sound; and it has tips for various types of historical fiction and mistakes to avoid in each one, as well as a collection of tips from various historical fiction writers to round out the book.

[Anson Cassel Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this less-than-a-hundred-page book is more than thirty years old and was obviously intended for a British audience, it contains helpful suggestions for writers of all sorts, even historians like me who usually wince at historical fiction.

[P.L. Jonas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though over 20yrs old and some information outdated, this little book is packed full of useful tips for writers of historical fiction.

[Fred Kohn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun little book. Though short, it worked better for me to spread it out over several days; reading just a chapter at a time. The book is horribly dated and thoroughly British; I had to smile as I have no dustbin in my American house or petrol in my automobile. But of course such things are easily overlooked. The advice on writing is excellent, and that, of course, is the important thing.

[Aída Alonso Peral · Rating 4 out of 5]

Está bastante logrado para introducirte en la novela histórica. He cogido consejos interesantes con la confianza de que quien escribió este manual sabe de lo que habla porque demuestra que escribe bien, sin florituras. Me ha gustado. Lo recomendaría.