My Go-to Writing Books for Historical Fiction by Deborah Swift

Deborah Swift’s website features the following tagline: the past is full of ordinary people with extraordinary stories. She is the author of 11 historical novels to date. Her historical novels have been called ‘complex and engaging’ and ‘rich and haunting’. I’m delighted to host her today as she celebrates the launch of her latest novel is Entertaining Mr Pepys.

My Go-to Writing Books for Historical Fiction by Deborah Swift

When I’m talking to beginner writers about writing, I’m always amazed at how many think they ‘just have a talent for it’ and do no research into the craft of writing itself. As writers producing books, I’m amazed at how few pick up a book to help them with their craft.

I think I’m the opposite, in that I love to read books on writing, and have learned a lot of useful tips from other writers through their books and blogs. I have a large collection of writing books on my shelf, which I also share with the people I teach, but some are better than others for my particular genre, which is historical fiction. So here is a short list for those embarking on writing a historical novel.

How to Start:

If you are just starting out, then I highly recommend Get Started in Writing Historical Fiction by Emma Darwin. [This book by Emma Darwin was featured on the blog.] Get Started is very thorough guide and takes into account all the different types of historical novel, from those which are biographical and include real people, to those verging on fantasy with no real people and a loose setting in the past. This is a nuts and bolts book, aimed at beginners with exercises to try out and tips from other writers in the genre.

How to Make it Commercial

In Making it in Historical Fiction, Libbie Hawker focusses on the commercial mind-set, beginning with spotting key opportunities in the market, choosing subjects with commercial appeal and how to create a following for your books that will gain fans and build excitement for your subject. It also talks about branding your books, as well as lots of useful tips on plot, structure and character. As marketing strategies move on so quickly, this is a book that will still be relevant even if social media moves on.

How to Make it feel Authentic

Everyone who writes historical fiction must get used to the fact that readers will find errors in their work (even if there are none) and so another book worth reading for its humour alone is

Medieval Underpants and Other Blunders: A Writer’s (& Editor’s) Guide to Keeping Historical Fiction Free of Common Anachronisms, Errors, & Myths by Susanne Alleyn. The (rather long) title suggests it might be aimed at the writer of Medieval Fiction, but this is a general guide. For more detail onVoicing the past: ‘authenticity’ of voice in historical fiction try downloading this PDF by Kelly Gardiner. The difficulty of modern versus historical values is addressed in this interview where Heather Webb and Lorie Langdon discuss how to bring modern feminism into the chauvinistic past. It can be found on the Entertainment Website here. And on her blog Elizabeth Chadwick gives a great insight into her writing process to create authenticity here. 

How to Research

A huge subject, and one dear to all historical fiction lovers’ hearts. Each novel has different needs, and googling your period will bring a raft of useful leads. If you need to know where to go to look things up, then The Writers and Artist’s Yearbook gives a page about historical fiction with useful research and archive links here.

And don’t forget your local library!

How to Craft a Plot

Writing any novel where you are integrating real historical events into a narrative is going to be a complex act of weaving. Save The Cat Writes A Novel by Jessica Brody is not strictly speaking a book aimed at Historical Fiction writers, but is a book originally created for screen writers about structuring your novel with easy to follow templates. I’m actually a pantser, but I still think this book contains useful advice for those who have ‘lost the plot’. And if, like me, you are a pantser, try Writing into the Dark: How to Write a Novel without an Outline by Dean Wesley Smith. As each historical period is unique and has its own plot constraints, it is difficult to recommend one specifically for historical fiction. Have you any tips?

How to Improve your Writing

For the writer seriously interested in improving their writing in more subtle ways – then I recommend Between The Lines –  Master The Subtle Elements of Fiction Writing by Jessica Page Morrell. In this book, the author often refers to historical fiction, and her advice is a step beyond what you get in most writing guides. I also thoroughly recommend ‘179 Ways to Save a Novel – matters of vital concern to fiction writers’ by Peter Selgin. There are some wonderful interviews online with Historical Fiction authors. Try this one with Hilary Mantel at the Huntingdon – ‘I met a man who wasn’t there.’ In this BBC Archive interview, Mark Lawson talks to AS Byatt, author of Possession, in which she claims she learnt her plotting by watching the crime drama ‘The Bill’ and ‘Dallas’ on TV. There are many other interviews on this site which are worth watching, although they are all somewhat dated there are still insights to be had here.

What are your favourite books you have found useful in writing historical fiction?

Photos – All photos from Wikipedia except the picture of a woman writing which is from https://aleteia.org/2017/10/15/5-underrated-women-writers-you-should-be-reading/.

Entertaining Mr Pepys by Deborah Swift ~~ London 1666 – Elizabeth ‘Bird’ Carpenter has a wonderful singing voice, and music is her chief passion. When her father persuades her to marry horse-dealer Christopher Knepp, she suspects she is marrying beneath her station, but nothing prepares her for the reality of life with Knepp. Her father has betrayed her trust, for Knepp cares only for his horses; he is a tyrant and a bully, and will allow Bird no life of her own.

When Knepp goes away, she grasps her chance and, encouraged by her maidservant Livvy, makes a secret visit to the theatre. Entranced by the music, the glitter and glamour of the surroundings, and the free and outspoken manner of the women on the stage, she falls in love with the theatre and is determined to forge a path of her own as an actress.

But life in the theatre was never going to be straightforward – for a jealous rival wants to spoil her plans, and worse, Knepp forbids it, and Bird must use all her wit and intelligence to change his mind.

Based on events depicted in the famous Diary of Samuel Pepys, this is a historical novel bringing London in the 17th Century to life. It includes the vibrant characters of the day including the diarist himself and actress Nell Gwynne, and features a dazzling and gripping finale during the Great Fire Of London.

Many thanks, Deborah. What a treasure trove!! I’m sure my readers will enjoy diving into some of these sources. Best wishes for Entertaining Mr Pepys.

FOR MORE ON READING & WRITING HISTORICAL FICTION FOLLOW A WRITER OF HISTORY (using the widget on the left sidebar)

M.K. Tod writes historical fiction. Her latest novel, TIME AND REGRET was published by Lake Union. Mary’s other novels, LIES TOLD IN SILENCE and UNRAVELLED are available from Amazon, Nook, Kobo, Google Play and iTunes. She can be contacted on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads or on her website www.mktod.com.