Writing Historical Novels

Contents:

Foreword • Preface

Chapter 1: The joys of historicals
What is a novel? • What is an historical novel? • Pleasure for readers • Knowledge for readers • Storytellers have always told about history • Writers need to read • Types and authors • Pleasures for writers • The challenge of combining imagination with real events • Questions to answer and things to do • Tips by example • Key points

Chapter 2: Be a professional • you?re a writer
Believe and act like a professional • Decide how you?ll work • Make a place of your own • Survey your resources • How much historical knowledge do you need? • Prepare to research • Be aware of special problems • Know the industry • Do you need help or encouragement? • Questions to answer and things to do • Tips by example • Key points

Chapter 3: Getting started
Characters or plot? • Theme, story and plot • Where do you get ideas? • Using ideas • Ask questions • Choosing the right title • The narrative hook • The functions of the first few pages are many • Questions to answer and things to do • Tips by example • Key points

Chapter 4: Characters 1 - people are same the world over
Choose your cast carefully • A sample character profile • Show your characters • Names are critical • Keep protagonists on-stage • Provide conflict • Let your characters take over • Make your characters grow • Questions to answer and things to do • Tips by example • Key points

Chapter 5: Characters 2 • circumstances change
Circumstances can be different in different times and places • Have characters which fit their times • Be aware of attitudes • Be conscious of beliefs • Know what's possible • Speech and narration • Mannerisms and manners • Dress your characters properly • Questions to answer and things to do • Tips by example • Key points

Chapter 6: Plot • the all-important middle
Five stages of a plot • Good middles make novels great • Plots and sub-plots • Have you enough plot for a compulsive, page-turning middle? • The all-important conflict • Move on from the beginning • Is your plot feasible for the time it's set? • Plotting against the times • Resolutions • Posing and overcoming problems • Controlling the action • Page-turning qualities • Cliffhanging techniques • Do your characters always behave realistically for their time? • Can you find a satisfying ending? • Questions to answer and things to do • Tips by example • Key points

Chapter 7: Convincing settings
Paying attention to detail • See people through the eyes of characters • See places through the eyes of characters • Make description integral • Show, don?t tell • Include details unobtrusively • Use all the senses • Find appropriate imagery • Questions to answer and things to do • Tips by example • Key points

Chapter 8: Dialogue
Novels need plenty of dialogue • Dialogue has many functions • Dialogue is not ordinary speech • Using vocabulary, slang and dialect • Make dialogue convincing • Questions to answer and things to do • Tips by example • Key points

Chapter 9: Some other techniques
Overcoming writer's block • The right facts • Controlling the pace • Viewpoint • Keep the reader's interest • Flashbacks • Flashes forward • Using appropriate language • What is style? • Emotion • Questions to answer and things to do • Tips by example • Key points

Chapter 10: Research is essential
The right amount • Primary sources • Secondary sources • Use the internet • Balancing research and imagination • Sex - sweet or sizzling? sensuous or sexy? • Useful reference books • Questions to answer and things to do • Tips by example • Key points

Chapter 11: Revision
Editing your work • Now for the really hard work • Question everything • You may need help • Questions to ask and things to do • Tips by example • Key points

Chapter 12: Presentation and publication
First impressions • Synopsis • Approaching an agent or publisher • Contracts • Copyright • The process of publication • Money matters • Questions to answer and things to do • Tips by example • Key points

Appendix • Glossary • Further reading and reference • Index

 

About the Author:
Marina Oliver is a highly experienced author and creative writing teacher. She has published almost 50 novels, several books on writing, and has worked as an expert "book doctor" with the Romantic Novelists Association and the Story tracks appraisal agency. She reviews for the Historical Novel Society and lives in Shropshire with her husband. Her personal site is www.marina-oliver.net.