Generally, there are four basic biographies: Academic Biography, historical fiction, prophetic biography, and fictional biography.

This article discusses a historical novel with its history, five common elements, and Essential tips for writing historical fiction.

What is Biography?

Historical Fiction 

Historical fiction, where the story takes place in the past, is a literary genre. Historical novels capture the details of the period as precisely as possible for authenticity, manners, customs, and traditions, including social norms. Many nobles in this genre tell fictional stories involving actual historical figures or events.

History

Historical fiction in contemporary Western literature dates back to the early 19th century as we know it. Sir Walter Scott, James Fenimore Cooper, Honoré de Balzac, and Leo Tolstoy were among the first novelists to explore the historical setting as its concept for a book.

By the early 20th century, the genre was thriving in the United States, focusing on war stories, like Kenneth Roberts’ Arundel about the American Revolution or William Faulkner’s Absalom about the American Civil War.

Five common elements

Setting

The setting is an essential part of a historical fiction novel. It should occur during an authentic historical period and in an accurate historical site—for example, New York City during the Great Depression or Paris, France, during World War II.

Plot

The plot in a historical fiction novel is a combination of actual events and fictional events. You can invent characters, cities, and events, but they still must make sense to the period.

For example, a novel set in London, England, in 1666 would benefit from incorporating the Great Fire of London, a significant turning point in the city’s history.

Characters

The characters can be honest, fictional, or both, but they should all look, speak, and act in ways that accurately reflect the era.

For example, suppose you are writing a book about Mary Tudor. In that case, it shouldn’t disregard or reinvent her family history as the daughter of Henry VIII and sister to Elizabeth I, who both played an important role in Mary’s reign.

Dialogue

The dialogue must be authentic to the period and reflect the status of the speaking characters. For example, British soldiers in the Revolutionary War wouldn’t use the Western slang of today.

Conflict

Problems encountered by the People in that era and the problems the characters face should be conflicting.

So, for example, your book might describe the hesitation and fear a German soldier feels as he is on the Eastern Front, where he knows he is likely to die.

Essential tips for writing historical fiction

If you are writing your historical fiction novel, remember the following essential tips:

Before writing, brainstorm the ideas 

When you are ready to start writing historical fiction but don’t know where to start, write in your notebook about a period or historical event you’re interested in writing about.

First, you must note any assumptions about the period, cultural depictions of it in other books and films, and what precisely interests you about this moment in history.

Find an exciting way of the period

Consider using a historical period as a backdrop and placing fictional characters and events within that world. Or, create fictional characters and choose a historical event who experienced it and whose lives were affected.

Do your research

In addition to getting the historical facts correct, the more minor details are important, too. You can write an inventory of the components in your work that you haven’t researched but should check.

Possibly, these will be small things, such as the color of refrigerators—whose accuracy will keep a reader interested and make your story more credible.

Build a world

World-building makes historical fiction books more authentic and gives readers a reason to return. Don’t forget to include details about the world.

Your story offers readers historical context and relatable ones to keep the story grounded. However, don’t add information about every part of your world-building advanced story.

Flexible in dialogue

Different historical eras have different vocabulary and grammatical structures. Include occasional words and phrases to reinforce the historical setting, but don’t include so many that the novel becomes challenging and less enjoyable.

Add fictional characters

You can take some creative liberties even when writing about actual events. For example, introducing fictional characters to complement those based on actual historical figures can help you move the story along, inject personality, and keep it entertaining.

References

Historical fiction

1. Wikipedia Historical fiction