Writing a Novel: The Western Fiction Genre

There are dozens of fiction genres on the market, from science fiction to fantasy. Western fiction is really part of the historic fiction genre, but it is distinctive enough to warrant its own category. The popularity of western fiction dates back to the dime novels of the late 1800s. They were considered romantic to those living on the east coast and featured gunslingers, heroes, and the exoticism of the Wild West.

What is Western Fiction?

It might be simple to state that a book, which claims to be western fiction, must take place west of the Mississippi River before the dawn of the 20th century. This might be an accurate description, but if you want to write western fiction, you’ll have to become aware of what fans of this intriguing genre are looking for in a good book.

Avid readers of western fiction will know whether you’re even attempting to be historically accurate. They’ll notice those errors that could have been avoided by a few minutes of research and won’t be very forgiving. Before you put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), do yourself a favor and sit down for a little research session.

You’ll want to get the right feel for your book. Westerns will naturally be rougher and less refined than an historic novel set in Victorian England, for example. The characters will be tougher, nature less forgiving, and the tows much simpler.

Finally, you need to make sure that you’re focusing on your hero (or heroine, as the case may be). Westerns are typically about the journey of the hero and less about-facing some great evil. While there’s nothing wrong with having a “big-bad” in your story, readers of western fiction are looking for more than a showdown. They’re intelligent people who are searching for realistic characters, plot, and an exciting conclusion. Don’t let them down.

Can I Use Historic Figures in My Novel?

The idea behind using historic figures in western fiction is a valid one. You’ll engage readers who know something about your real-life character and get the chance to enlighten those people who maybe didn’t even know Annie Oakley or Bill the Kid were real people. And it can be fun and exciting to recreate characters from centuries past.

However, choosing to include historic characters in your book can also present difficulties you may not be prepared for. Generally, fans of western fiction will know a great deal about historic characters. If you get something wrong, people are going to notice, and these people are going to be annoyed.

If you want to include historic characters without incurring the wrath of your readers, do so sparingly and with care. Unless you’re willing to do countless hours of research and spend many hours refining your ideas, don’t write about well-documented events. Look through the known history of Billy the Kid (or whoever the character is) and look for lapses. If there’s a period of time when little or nothing was recorded, that’s where you can get creative, at least within reason. Don’t change important dates or locations, but if you can sneak in some of your own details here and there, you’ll have a more interesting book.

Western fiction is exciting, rough, and fun. Pick your era, do your research, and start writing. Before you know it, you’ll have become an author within the western fiction genre.