GET STARTED IN HISTORICAL FICTION
Our online course for aspiring historical fiction writers
Introducing our online course…
Get started in historical fiction is a self-study course that shows you how to take the spark of an idea and transform it into compelling historical fiction. Guided by acclaimed historical novelist and writing coach Katherine Clements, you’ll study entirely online through step-by-step video lessons, downloadable resources, and practical exercises designed to unlock your creativity and move your story forward. Along the way, you’ll gain the confidence, tools, and inspiration to bring the past to life on the page.
Course trailer
Who is it for?
This course is designed for beginners and aspiring writers who want to learn how to write historical fiction. You don’t need any prior writing experience.
It’s also a great fit if you’ve already started writing historical fiction but feel stuck or unsure how to move forward. It’ll help you find fresh inspiration, refine your ideas, avoid common pitfalls, and strengthen your writing.
What’s included?
30+ video lessons
Nearly 6 hours of expert teaching
Downloadable PDFs
A written summary of every lesson
Writing exercises
Put your new skills into practice
Lifetime access
Learn entirely at your own pace
What you’ll learn
Across eight comprehensive modules, you’ll learn how to turn history into story: from generating and developing story ideas, to researching the past without overwhelm, to creating vivid characters and immersive worlds that bring bygone eras to life. You’ll master key elements of storytelling craft – voice, point of view, dialogue, structure, and more – all with a focus on the unique challenges of writing historical fiction.
By the end, you’ll not only have the foundations of a compelling novel, but also a sustainable writing practice and a clear understanding of your next steps, whether that’s finishing a draft, editing, or exploring publication.
Meet your tutor
Katherine Clements is an author, editor and coach for writers. She writes (mostly) dark historical fiction; her most recent book is The Coffin Path, which was nominated for the HWA Gold Crown Award and is now in development for the screen. She writes The Inkwell on Substack, where she hosts a growing community and helps writers create productive and rewarding writing lives. Her next book, Turbine 34, is a novella, commissioned as part of the Northern Weird Project.
Course outline
Introduction (10 mins)
- Welcome to Get started in historical fiction
- A note on AI and fiction writing
Module 1: Getting started (40 mins)
- Lesson 1: What is historical fiction?
- Lesson 2: What makes a good story?
- Lesson 3: How to find story ideas
- Lesson 4: Planning & outlining your historical novel
Module 2: Researching the past (40 mins)
- Lesson 5: The four types of research
- Lesson 6: Common research pitfalls and how to avoid them
- Lesson 7: Planning & organising your research
- Lesson 8: Is it ever OK to change historical fact?
Module 3: Creating compelling characters (40 mins)
- Lesson 9: Whose story is it?
- Lesson 10: Writing real historical figures
- Lesson 11: Developing your characters
Module 4: Building historical worlds (30 mins)
- Lesson 12: How to create a convincing setting
- Lesson 13: Creating historical atmosphere
Module 5: Elements of writing craft (60 mins)
- Lesson 14: Narrative choices – and why they matter
- Lesson 15: Understanding narrators in fiction
- Lesson 16: Point of view
- Lesson 17: Past vs present tense
- Lesson 18: Showing and telling
Module 6: Creating historical voices (40 mins)
- Lesson 19: What do we mean by voice?
- Lesson 20: Recreating historical voices
- Lesson 21: How to write great dialogue
- Lesson 22: Common pitfalls in historical dialogue and how to avoid them
Module 7: Storytelling techniques (40 mins)
- Lesson 23: Story and plot – what’s the difference?
- Lesson 24: Story structure
- Lesson 25: Beginnings and endings
- Lesson 26: Creating pace and tension
Module 8: Next steps on your writing journey (50 mins)
- Lesson 27: Developing a writing practice
- Lesson 28: How to finish your first draft
- Lesson 29: The editing process
- Lesson 30: Your publication options
Free lesson
Preview the course by watching lesson 8 – Is it ever OK to change historical fact? – for free. Sign up below for the link.
Pricing
$152.40 USD
Frequently asked questions
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Who is the course for?
This course is designed for beginners who want to learn how to write historical fiction. You don’t need any prior writing experience. It’s also a great fit if you’ve already started writing historical fiction but feel stuck or unsure how to move forward – it’ll help you find fresh inspiration, refine your ideas, avoid common pitfalls, and strengthen your writing.
What does the course consist of?
The course consists of a short introductory module, followed by eight further modules that make up the main substance of the course. The modules are sub-divided into 32 lessons. Each lesson comes with a video, a transcript, and a downloadable PDF handout.
How do I access the course?
Once you’ve purchased the course, you can access it here. You can also access it via your user portal or by visiting The History Quill Community on your desktop browser, or via the Circle app for iOS/Android.
What is the time commitment?
There is no set time commitment – you will receive access to all the course materials right away, and you can study entirely at your own pace. Each lesson is short and focused, so you can dip in for 15–20 minutes at a time or set aside a longer session.
What is the duration of the video content?
The course includes a total of nearly six hours of video content, divided into 32 bite-sized videos.
Will I have to be available at certain times of the day?
No. There are no live sessions, so you never have to worry about fitting your schedule around the course. You can start whenever you’re ready and go entirely at your own pace.
How long will I have access to the course materials?
You will receive lifetime access to the course materials, allowing you to study at your own pace and revisit the content at any time.
Will I get feedback on my writing?
No. There are optional writing exercises to help you put the lessons into practice, but you won’t receive any feedback on these. If you would like personalised feedback while you work on your novel, take a look at our group coaching programme.
What happens if I change my mind?
You’ll have a 14-day window to change your mind after purchasing the course, during which you can cancel and receive a full refund. However, if you have accessed more than 20% of the course content, no refund will be due.
How do I pay?
Payment is via credit or debit card. UK clients will pay in GBP, US clients will pay in USD, and EU clients will pay in EUR. All other clients will pay in USD.
Which countries do you accept students from?
You can enrol if you are resident in the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, or any EU country. If you are not resident in one of these countries, unfortunately we won’t be able to serve you at this time.
What are the full terms and conditions?
You can view our full terms and conditions here.
More questions?
If you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch by emailing us at enquiries@thehistoryquill.com.