What’s cooking? A culinary journey through history

What’s cooking? A culinary journey through history

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

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

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.

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...