Eight Foolproof Tips to Write Successful Historical Fiction

A writer from any genre can say that writing on a particular subject is difficult. While their statement may be debated, no one will likely fight a historical writer on the same claim. After all, history is a daunting genre to write in.

Many approaches can help you convey information to your readers with historical accuracy. Enthusiasm is not enough to write a historical book. You must back it up with research, dedication, and hard work.

Here are some effective tips to help every history enthusiast write a history book.

1. Keep a Solid Record

Research is one of the most integral parts of writing a historical work. After all, there are so many facts and figures that you cannot afford to get wrong. There can be many references you may go through, but you might not consider adding them to your book. However, it does not mean that they are useless.

Imagine yourself in a position where you may want to fact-check something but cannot find the right reference. It can be the worst nightmare of a historical writer. You may not want to be in the same position at any cost.

Therefore, keeping a written record of every small resource you explore is important. This way, information may always be just one click away. In addition, you can streamline your writing process without more efficiency.

2. Prepare Your Bibliography

Writing your bibliography is one of the most challenging things about becoming a historical writer. Unfortunately, many historical writers delay this process till the very end. However, it is not advisable to delay this part of writing a historical book till after completing your manuscript.

Compiling your bibliography after you have written the manuscript can be very challenging. Instead, it is better to keep your resources arranged side by side. This way, you can save yourself from a lot of struggle near the publishing time for your book.

3. Set a Daily Target

It can be hard to have the same passion and daily zeal for writing a book. After all, every day is filled with different challenges and surprises. Maintaining a consistent writing routine through all the time needed to complete your book can be hard.

Of course, historical authors can agree with the struggle even more since they may be dealing with facts more than creativity. Yes, it can be challenging, but it is important to remember that maintaining a consistent writing routine is the key to getting work done.

In addition, every historic writer must also understand their daily word count goals must not be overwhelming. This way, you can attain a working draft in less time. In addition, you can also have peace of mind by meeting your deadlines. 

4. Hire a Historical Editor

If you think that writing a historical manuscript is a challenging process, you are mistaken. Many historical authors agree that editing your book is the most challenging part of writing a historical book. After all, there is a limit to how many times you can read and revise your work.

It is best to remind yourself that just because you are a brilliant writer does not mean that you must also excel at editing skills. It is a job that requires full dedication and attention to detail. It is best not to undertake such a hefty job right after completing your manuscript.

Instead, it is a great idea to hire a historical editor. These professionals have years of experience in the field and ensure that all facts, data, and grammatical needs are met in your work. Hence, their services can add to the credibility of your work.

5. Know Your Audience

History is a very specific genre to write about. Like every other genre, this genre has also grown through the years with the help of a fan base. There is not a lot of room to find success if you do not do your work around your fan base.

After all, the audience of any writer is their biggest support. Therefore, it is important for every writer to research the book market before writing their book. You can also stay engaged with your audience by staying active on your author’s website.

6. Integrate into Simple Words

Many writers can agree that it is a time taking process to research and understand history. It can take days and months for historical writers to research a certain topic to start writing their book. In such times, it would be unfair to expect your audience to understand everything in one go.

Therefore, it is important for historical writers, especially the ones indulging in historical fiction, to integrate hard facts into simple words. Yes, it can be a really challenging thing to undertake, but it is also the best way to stay in touch with your readers.

The key is to illustrate history for the reader rather than trying to describe it in large chunks of text. It may need a lot of work and dedication to excel, but once you have enough practice, you can easily make things fit around your plot.

7. Remember to Double-Check

It is not easy to write about history. You may feel enthusiastic about it, but it does not take long for one to see the complexities of being a historical writer. After all, you can always feel vulnerable to making a little mistake and losing your credibility as a writer.

Of course, your historical editor can also be a great helping hand along the way. You can fact-check your work by giving it a few reads. Rest can be assured by your editors. From problems in the world-building process to ensuring historical accuracy, your editors may be the most reliable resource along the way.

8. Take Valid Breaks

It can be very exhausting to stay indulged in historical books all day. After all, it is easy to get exhausted from facts and face writer’s block. Therefore, it’s important to give yourself well-deserved breaks during writing.

Valid breaks can ensure that your brain and body are well-rested every day and can also impact the quality of your work.