Historical Fiction Writing Teaching Points
In order to constantly improve as writers we need to think about all of
the key elements of fictional narrative and nonfiction writing and
identify areas of strengths and areas of improvement in our own writing.
Remember writers, in order to develop exciting stories, we rehearse
many possible ideas for a story before choosing one. We read historical
fiction texts and think, “What might have occurred during this time
period that would make a great story?” Notice: daily life (transportation,
gender roles, fashion, school), inventions, social issues
To develop a believable story, writers test ideas for a story by thinking
about if it makes sense for the time period. They try out different ways
the story can unfold and think about little details like a characters’ name
that might make the story historically accurate.
Even though we are writing historical fiction, we want to remember we
are first and foremost story writers and be sure we are writing about
people and issues that feel true to us, because that is what makes the
reader connect to the story. We think about the struggles in our own
lives or our friends’ lives and give those struggles to our character.
In order to bring our stories to life, we need to make our characters
more real by drafting a scene about the character’s everyday life that
includes information about their internal or external struggle.
Good writers develop a story over 2-3 small moments, so it is just the
right size. We need to make several story booklets and sketch (draw,
label, write) a sequence of events over four pages. Do this for 3-5
different stories.
Writers of historical fiction create an effective story by deciding on
whether or not the main struggle is personal or historical. Writers can do
this work by updating their parallel timeline and deciding which struggle
is more important to the story and which is the backdrop for the main
story.
Drafting: Set the Scene Writers of historical fiction set the scene,
letting the reader know, through the details they include, when and
where the story takes place, so they can orient the reader to their
story.
Drafting: Storytelling vs. Summarizing To keep their reader wanting
more, good writers create an interesting intro. by including many details.
Revising: Revise for Historical Accuracy
Good writers revise for historical accuracy by changing details, so their
reader can stay immersed in the story.
Revising: Revise for Believability
Good writers make their story believable by studying a scene where the
character faces a crisis & determines if the scene is believable, so the
reader stays engaged in the story.
Revising: Raise Quality by Working in Clubs Good writers work in the
company of their book club by switching texts and discussing them as
readers, so the writer can get a window into the readers’ point of view.
Revision: Strong, & Realistic Ending Good writers are wary of
Superman-type endings; instead they maintain credibility by leaving the
ending satisfying while still historically accurate. Good writers decide if
their story celebrates overcoming adversity or bravely bears witness to
suffering in order to call humanity to learn from the past & take action
in the future.
Publishing: Creating a Hybrid Text
Good writers support their readers by creating a hybrid text through
adding historical facts and images.
Author’s Note
Some writers add clarity to their writing or enhance the reader’s
understanding of the time period by providing an author’s note filled with
important facts about the time period.