From Saturnalia to Santa Claus: Christmases past to present

From Saturnalia to Santa Claus: Christmases past to present

Last updated Sep 5, 2024 | Blog

Christmas in your story is a great way of marking time, bringing people together, and giving readers something to enjoy. But although Christmas seems unchanging, beware of assuming your characters will do the same as we do now. Christmas is a rich confection, added to...
Writing from multiple points of view

Writing from multiple points of view

Last updated Sep 5, 2024 | Blog

One of the joys of historical fiction is to provide insight into the motives and emotions of characters living through historical events. Story writers plunge into characters’ minds, exploring their thoughts, in a way that is impossible for historians. Many novels are...
Picturing the past: how art can inspire and inform your writing

Picturing the past: how art can inspire and inform your writing

Last updated Sep 5, 2024 | Blog

Art is a rich resource for historical fiction writers. It tells us what things looked like – and what people thought. Want to know what fashions were worn in your period? Easy, look at portrait paintings. Every story about the Tudors conjures Holbein’s iconic portrait...
How specificity can elevate your writing

How specificity can elevate your writing

Last updated Sep 5, 2024 | Blog

Specificity in writing is about using precise, sharply defined words that convey your unique story. It is particularly useful in historical fiction because being specific, rather than general, conjures vivid settings and character, with economy of words. Here is an...