the path of historical fiction
If you’re like me, a sign that says Proceed at Your Own Risk also says “You’ve got to see what lies behind me!”
(You might also have a habit of accidentally ending up on the wrong side of No Trespassing signs. But that’s a different topic.)
Historical fiction holds risks, so proceed with caution.
It’s an exciting journey!
THE RISKS:
- Endless research
- Obsession with history books
- Choosing between fact and fiction
- Fear of others finding inaccuracies
- Name choices
- How to write about real historical people
Whew. Before we lose our inspiration entirely, let’s go through these … and realise that they aren’t as terrible as they sound.
ENDLESS RESEARCH
Research only becomes endless when you make it so. Whatever time period you choose to write about, you don’t need to know all the governmental details or hierarchy of rulers (unless you’re writing a political novel). My unspoken rule is:
Research what you need and a bit of extra.
In my WWI novel Judah’s Battle, I wrote the story of a Canadian soldier, his experience in the battlefields of Europe, and how it changed his life. Since it was entirely from the view of a private—the lowest rank—I didn’t need to know every single decision the generals and prime ministers were dealing with at the time. I just needed to know what Judah should know and where his battalion should be.
Because really, if you try to learn everything about one time period, your book probably won’t get finished—nor will any of the others that are waiting for you to write them.
OBSESSION WITH HISTORY BOOKS
Yes, it happens. That’s okay. Just … when you scour the shelves at book shops or thrift stores, pouncing on anything remotely related to your topic of research, don’t let yourself buy every one. Give them a good look to see if you really need them.
CHOOSING BETWEEN FACT AND FICTION
This can be a difficult section to travel, especially when it comes to Christianity. Because though God’s Word hasn’t changed, there were times and places in history where some of the things we think of as normal were almost unheard of.
If your story takes place in Europe during the Middle Ages, you need to take into account that there were not Bibles available for everyone. Your character can’t pick up his Bible and read it, or show a friend a passage he’s recently found encouraging.
In Tudor England, infant baptism was practiced by the majority of the people, so if you’re a proponent of believer’s baptism, you can make your main character part of the minority. Or you can make him a part of the majority and have him question the practice rather than directly oppose it.
That said, it is fiction, and your choices will depend on how historically accurate you’re trying to be.
FEAR OF OTHERS FINDING INACCURACIES
I feel like I’m the last person who should write about this, because I struggle with it so much. I’m terrified of giving my book to anyone who has any knowledge of history. I know there are going to be things I missed or misrepresented.
If you struggle with this, bear this in mind:
As long as you’ve portrayed Him and His Word accurately, your book doesn’t need complete historical accuracy for God to use it.
I worked on Voice of the Ashes for years, and I came to realise that no matter how much I did, there would always come a time when I’d look back and see what I could have done differently or find facts I hadn’t know before. But after much prayer, when God opened the doors for publication, I had to give Him my fears and rest in the fact that He accepted what I had written.
NAME CHOICES
I love naming characters, but sometimes working with the time period is … stunting. Thankfully, I happened to choose a historic English name for my main character when I started Voice of the Ashes years ago. Laurence. (His name actually came from a library book of which I only read the first chapter)
But several characters had to go through a name-change process, and it wasn’t always easy.
Don’t lose heart. In a few months, those new names that throw you for a loop every time you read them will be perfectly normal.
HOW TO WRITE ABOUT REAL HISTORICAL PEOPLE
Honestly, I avoid it most of the time. How would I ever know enough about someone from the 16th century to accurately portray the way they look, talk, and act?
That said, I did include two in Voice of the Ashes. Edmund Bonner was the bishop of London and an enemy of the Protestants. I described him a little, and I did have him talk, but his words are completely my own, and I made sure that was clear in the historical note at the end of the book.
I snuck in Alexander Andrew, a jailer, without a description. He says only one line—which is based on a quote attributed to him—and otherwise he’s only spoken of by other characters.
Once again, it boils down to artistic licence and how you decide to use it. Historical fiction has wide boundaries, and can be as historical or as fictitious as you choose.
A risky path?
Yes, in some ways. Be careful not to follow too many dead ends or lose your step trying to reach just one more history book.
Don’t stop in fear and get stuck there in the dark, unsure of how to go forward or back.
Pray. Pray about the decisions you must make and which direction you should go. If you give your writing to God, He will show you the way.
Carry on, fellow adventurer!
T.R.Q.T.
