Historical fiction is one of the most popular literary genres.
And, if the rate of recent novel adaptations to film and television is anything to go by, its popularity is increasing.
Why we love historical fiction
Readers love historical fiction because it brings the past to life through characters, settings, events and plotlines. In fact, the historical setting of a novel can be as appealing as (or even more so than) other aspects of the novel. One of myriad examples is Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series, which features sumptuous settings and costumes (and a range of daring characters).
Another important feature of historical fiction is the ability to explore both unique and universal themes through the prism of time – from recent history to ancient times, even prehistorical times. We humans have loved, hated, given birth, competed, fought, conformed, questioned and celebrated through story since the dawning of our species, and we continue to be fascinated by ourselves and our fellow creatures.
Readers’ expectations
Readers of historical fiction vary widely, but what they do have in common is a desire to be informed, entertained, delighted and surprised.
Of course, the degree to which each of those desires is met depends on many different factors. Chief among these is the author’s ability to impart key information about the setting and the mood of the era depicted without ‘info dumping’. Avoiding a judgemental or preachy tone is important, also.
Readers expect to be transported to another place and time (real or imagined). And in doing so, it’s critical that the historical details of the novel – geography, culture, economics, government, belief systems, technology etc. – should be accurate. Slip up on one of these details and you could lose the reader’s trust in an instant, particularly longstanding fans of the genre.
Writing historical fiction
It should go without saying that if you are planning to write historical fiction you should be well versed in the genre and the various taxonomies of historical epochs. Read widely, across fiction and non-fiction subgenres, so that you have a good grasp of the historical era you’re depicting, especially the ‘mood’ of that time.
Conduct critical research
Primary and secondary sources are, of course, important. Be a critical reader: assess the quality of your sources and the veracity of the information. Keep good records and ensure you are well versed on copyright laws and conventions for citation or other acknowledgement of sources.
What systems of governance were in place, who was in power at the time, what laws governed the subject you’re interested in? If your novel features a romance or includes a romantic subplot, knowing the marriage laws is as important as class-based social norms on courtship. If it features a crime, or series of crimes, what criminal and civil legislation were applicable, and what was the legal nomenclature of the time? How do these features of your historical setting affect your characters, major and minor?
Apply your research judiciously
Many writers are keen to display their research through lots of detail – including showy descriptions of characters’ clothing, belongings, modes of transport, places of worship and so on – but forget the finer intimacies that might bring their scenes to life. Did the characters wear undergarments, and how might that have affected their use of the toilet, for example? What sights, sounds and smells convey the ambience of the historical period?
Engaging an editor
If you are thinking of engaging an editor for a professional assessment or developmental edit of your novel, I hope you will consider me. But remember that this is a very broad and diverse genre, and that editors vary in the types of manuscripts they work on. One editor might specialise in historical romance while another may focus on time travel or fantasy with an historical backdrop.
For tips on how to brief an editor, see the website of our professional association, the Institute of Professional Editors.
Want to see me in action?
In 2021 I chaired a discussion between authors of historical fiction at the conference of the Historical Novel Society of Australasia. In August 2022 I will be giving a workshop at the Romance Writers of Australia conference (Perth, WA).
Editing historical fiction
There are some common tasks in fiction editing that apply also to editing historical fiction, as they might do in other types or streams of editing. However, it would be a colossal mistake to assume that any fiction editor can also edit historical fiction.
Understand the market
Editing historical fiction requires a working knowledge of the market – who buys, sells, writes, publishes, reads and reviews historical fiction? And a particular enthusiasm for the great variety in this wonderful literary genre is a given. The editor should have a deep understanding of the literary features that make historical fiction so appealing to readers and writers alike.
Know your genre
A competent editor of historical fiction will be well versed in the different subgenres, subjects, themes and tropes of the genre.
The subgenres of romance, adventure, war and time travel will be familiar; likewise the subjects of historical events (e.g. the Thousand Days War in Colombia, the sinking of the Titanic) and historical persons (e.g. Helen of Troy, Chief Dingaan).
Keep up with trends
As both an avid reader and an editor of historical fiction, it is pleasing to see an increasing trend in female protagonists as well as protagonists having LGBTIQ+ identities and from a diversity of cultural backgrounds. Remember to assess the manuscript for common errors, such as temporal slips, lapses in continuity and other anachronisms that can jolt the reader out of the historical world in which they have been immersed..
Some common themes and tropes
Common themes and tropes in historical fiction include:
- Adventure, survival, courage, heroism
- Coming of age, the protagonist ahead of her time
- Finding one’s place in society
- Power, corruption, evil
- Prejudice on the basis of class, wealth or education
- The individual against society, personal autonomy
- The importance of family, community, human rights
- Dual narratives (e.g. contrasting contemporary and historical storylines).
Remember that multi-layered historical novels can provide wonderful complexity and challenge when they feature a range of themes, subjects and tropes. A vivid example is Birdsong, by Sebastian Faulks (1993), which is a war novel and a family saga that also explores the influence of trauma on the psyche, as well as metahistorical questions, through dual narratives. It’s also part of a trilogy that links historical events, settings and fictional characters.
Professional development for editors
If you’re starting out as an editor, or you’re an experienced editor looking to add an historical fiction feather to your editorial bow, you may be interested in the courses I run from time to time, or the Fiction Editing Masterclass I offer with my colleague Pamela Hewitt. An important feature of these courses is that we use a real-life, full-length manuscript (supplied by the author) to simulate the experience of being engaged to undertake an assessment or developmental edit. Email me for testimonials from past course participants, or check out my posts on Instagram.
