In medias res – what it is and why you should use it

In medias res – what it is and why you should use it

Last updated Sep 5, 2024 | Blog

If Homer and Virgil sat down to watch The Sound of Music, they might take umbrage with a certain singing nun. Apologies Maria, but the beginning is not always a very good place to start. In medias res is the literary technique of jumping straight to the heart of the...
What does historical fiction mean?

What does historical fiction mean?

Last updated Dec 14, 2023 | Blog

We all know what historical fiction is. It’s stories that are set in the past. Easy. Next question? Except it’s never going to be that simple. History isn’t simple, and neither is fiction, so we can hardly expect a combination of the two to be straightforward....
What’s cooking? A culinary journey through history

What’s cooking? A culinary journey through history

Last updated Sep 5, 2024 | Blog

In this post, we’re going to explore historical cuisine and how to incorporate it into your writing. No matter when or where your story is set, your characters are going to need to eat. The presence (or importantly, the absence) of food is a great way to set the...
Prologue or no prologue? An answer for historical fiction writers

Prologue or no prologue? An answer for historical fiction writers

Last updated Sep 5, 2024 | Blog

It is a truth universally acknowledged, it seems, that editors and agents and readers don’t like prologues. Don’t like them, don’t need them, don’t read them. But if this is true, why do writers keep writing them? What purpose do they serve?...
Overcoming writer’s block for historical fiction authors

Overcoming writer’s block for historical fiction authors

Last updated Sep 5, 2024 | Blog

When you love writing, it’s terrifying to find yourself staring at a blank screen or an empty notebook, completely unable to summon a single word. Most authors have experienced mind-numbing episodes of being unable to write but, don’t worry, you can break free! What...
SHWING! 10 horrible cliches to avoid in sword fights.

SHWING! 10 horrible cliches to avoid in sword fights.

Last updated Sep 5, 2024 | Blog

It is a universal truth of historical fiction that sooner or later, there is going to be a sword fight. Don’t try to deny it. If your book is set any time before the Victorian era, someone is bound to have a swordfight sooner rather than later. Physical violence is...