What Time Period Should I Use For My Historical Fiction Novel?
What era do you like? Really, you can use any time period at all. And you can set your novel anywhere in the world. There are no limits. You can write about cavemen, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, or even the Industrial Age. You can write a tale set in India, or perhaps Victorian England. You could devise a story that revolves around the Inca or the Mayan, giving your readers a glimpse into some truly exotic cultures. Perhaps you’ll decide to tackle western fiction. You can let your imagination take flight.
Sometimes there are so many choices that you, as a writer, may not be able to choose. In this case you might want to come up with your basic story first. You can then determine which time period and place best suits your plot.
The Rules of Historical Fiction
It can seem that with so much variety and so many available time periods that rules would not apply. However, quite the opposite is true. Historical fiction can be tricky, especially because very often you’ll have an audience that already has some knowledge of the era you’ve chosen.
The only way to keep your readers happy is to follow the rules of the era. And this means research. Once you have determined your era and location, you have to learn everything you can. Discover the intricacies of the location, perhaps even visiting your chosen locale, if it’s feasible. If you want your audience to stick with you until the very end, you’ll have to make sure your locations are real and believable.
Learn everything you can about the way people behaved in the era you’ve chosen. Try to determine correct language patterns, behavior, and dress. Make detailed notes and perhaps even try your hand at sketching your locations and people. Search for authentic details to bring your story to life.
Be careful of using real characters from history. While it’s great fun to try to capture the spirit of historical figures, it’s also far too easy to turn them into something that is far from historically accurate. If you do decide to include historical figures, keep their roles in your stories to a minimum. Your readers will appreciate it.
Historical fiction should be fun and exciting. Choose an engaging plot, intertwine it with historical facts and figures, and get creative. Before you know it, you’ll have mastered the basics of writing fiction and have at least started writing your first book.
