writing an historical novel

Writing an Historical Novel: Tips, Inspiration, and Recommended Reads

Are you passionate about history and storytelling? Writing an historical novel can be a wonderful way to combine these two interests and create a captivating narrative set in a different time period. In this article, we will provide you with valuable tips and inspiration to help you embark on your historical writing journey. Additionally, we will recommend some noteworthy historical novels and authors, as well as useful websites for further research.

1. Choose an Engaging Time Period:
Selecting a captivating time period for your historical novel is crucial. Consider eras such as Ancient Greece, Medieval Europe, the Renaissance, or the World Wars. Look for time periods that are rich in conflict, cultural movements, or significant historical events.

2. Immerse Yourself in Research:
Accurate and detailed research is essential for creating an authentic historical setting. Visit libraries, explore historical archives, and read academic books to gather relevant information. Additionally, online resources like JSTOR, Google Scholar, and History.com can provide valuable insights into your chosen time period.

3. Develop Fully Fleshed-Out Characters:
Compelling characters are vital for any novel, and historical fiction is no exception. Create characters who are authentic to the time period and whose actions and motivations are influenced by the historical context. Ensure that their goals, conflicts, and relationships drive the plot forward.

4. Incorporate Historical Accuracy:
While historical fiction allows for some creative liberties, maintaining historical accuracy is crucial. Carefully balance the factual and fictional elements of your story, and avoid anachronisms that might take readers out of the period. Be aware of social norms, cultural nuances, and historical terminology.

5. Use Vivid Descriptions to Transport Readers:
One of the joys of historical fiction is immersing readers in a different time period. Use vivid descriptions to transport your audience to the sights, sounds, and smells of the era. Paint a picture of the setting, clothing, architecture, and even the food to create a rich and engaging reading experience.

Recommended Historical Novels and Authors:

1. "The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett: Set in twelfth-century England, this epic novel weaves together the lives of ordinary people and nobles during the construction of a cathedral. It offers a compelling mix of history, romance, and suspense.

2. "Wolf Hall" by Hilary Mantel: This Booker Prize-winning novel delves into the life of Thomas Cromwell, a key figure in Henry VIII's court. The intricate portrayal of political manipulation and religious conflict in Tudor England is both educational and captivating.

3. "Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell: This classic American novel set during the Civil War and Reconstruction era provides a compelling depiction of life in the South. Mitchell's vivid storytelling and complex characters have made this book an enduring favorite.

Useful Websites for Research:

1. historyextra.com: Provides a wide range of historical articles, podcasts, and resources on various time periods and events.

2. historians.org: The official website of the American Historical Association, offering access to academic journals, conferences, and resources for historical research.

3. historicalnovels.info: This website offers an extensive directory of historical novels sorted by time period, making it easy to find recommendations based on your interests.

By following these tips, delving into comprehensive research, and immersing yourself in the world of historical fiction, you can create an enthralling novel that transports readers to another era. Remember to balance historical accuracy with compelling storytelling, and let your passion for history shine through in your writing. Happy writing!
A galloping horse rules the world. Fiction
A galloping horse rules the world.

"Gunman's latest work, a new alternative historical military novel titled 'I Fight for the King', is now being eagerly uploaded. We warmly welcome all our new and old readers to visit and support us. Book ID: [insert ID here]. As a new upload, we humbly ask for your clicks, recommendations, and collections. Thank you for your support."

326.96 Million words | 2021-06-03 00:09Update

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Special Operations Red Hawk: Through Time Travel Fiction
Special Operations Red Hawk: Through Time Travel

The New Year's Greeting War "Crossing" Epic of the Special Warfare Red Eagle is Here! Captain Xu Hongying, of the "Red Eagle" Special Warfare Battalion, was framed and sacrificed by his best brother and comrade-in-arms, Zheng Haonan, also known as "Bald Eagle", during an anti-terrorism mission. Unexpectedly, his lingering grievance crossed over to an era of fierce war and resolute resistance! With his modern specialized strategic tactics, he led the reorganized "Red Eagle" Special Warfare Team to engage in a series of life-and-death battles against the people of the island nation, performing an immortal legend of a soldier's spirit in the fiery years of the resistance! ...... [Recommended by Wang Banxian's editing team] Don't forget to recommend "Crossing Special Warfare Red Eagle" to your friends in your QQ group and on Weibo if you think it's good! Latest chapters of Crossing Special Warfare Red Eagle, Crossing Special Warfare Red Eagle, full text reading of Crossing Special Warfare Red Eagle.

228.89 Million words | 2023-05-04 03:37Update

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Take the Hospital Back to Ancient Times. Fiction
Take the Hospital Back to Ancient Times.

A military doctor from the United Nations peacekeeping force, he was transported back to ancient times after being hit by a roadside bomb while on a mission, reincarnating into a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners. As he grew up, he became the most unconventional child in the family, refusing to learn the ancestral traditions of Chinese medicine. While others prescribed various herbal remedies in their clinics, he took a different approach. If you had a fever, he would give you paracetamol; if you had pneumonia, he would prescribe amoxicillin; if you had appendicitis, he would perform surgery; and if a pregnant woman faced a difficult delivery, he had a

73.40 Million words | 2022-02-02 00:17Update

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Sunrise Chang Fiction
Sunrise Chang

In the mid-Qing dynasty, due to the need for commodity circulation and currency turnover, an institution specializing in money exchange and remittance business emerged, known as 'Piaohao', also known as 'Piaozhuang' or 'Huizhuang'. This industry was monopolized by people from Shanxi province, known as 'Shanxi Piaohao'. They had a monopoly on the exchange business throughout the country. The largest Piaohao in the country at that time had a total of X branches, of which the largest was 'Sunrise Chang' established by Li Jingkai, a native of Pingyao. It originally operated as a pigment shop and later transitioned into a Piaohao during the Daoguang reign. This book tells the story of the rise and peak of the pioneering Piaohao 'Sunrise Chang' in China, portraying the loves, hates, and struggles of a generation of Jin merchants. It is the precursor of Chinese banks, controlling a significant part of China's financial industry in that era. The street where it was located is colloquially known as the 'Wall Street of China'. It is an indispensable topic in Pingyao, an unmissable story in Shanxi, and the starting point that China's modern financial industry cannot overlook. Without Pingyao and 'Sunrise Chang', the history of China's modern financial industry would have been rewritten, and perhaps even the starting point would still be unknown.

29.92 Million words | 2021-01-02 00:54Update

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The Great Sui Dynasty. Fiction
The Great Sui Dynasty.

"Uncle Bao, join me, the king, and I promise you won't end up like Zhao Zilong, just a bodyguard. I will give you a world to showcase yourself!" "Yao Jin, join me, the king, how about that? Even if you only know three axes, I will make you famous!" "Pharmacist, I have the Taigong Military Strategy, the Wumu Heritage Book, and the military tactics of some western powers. Don't worry, you will see all of these if you join me!" "Mingyue, rest assured, your big brother Yang Can will come back to marry you!" "Wugou, your brother Yang Can doesn't have much money to buy clothes. Just wear whatever is available!" Different heroes with the same iron-bloodedness and tenderness. Please savor - "The Great Sui Dynasty"!!!

509.63 Million words | 2021-12-10 21:54Update

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Mischievous Chaos of the Three Kingdoms Fiction
Mischievous Chaos of the Three Kingdoms

Surname Zhang, given name Han, courtesy name Bingliang; slapping the Han palace beam with a palm; the Yellow Turbans were originally street performers; I formed an oath brotherhood with Xuan De in a hurry. Meng De here, a friend in need; assisting Jiangdong, making a famous name; establishing a grand hall with three parts of the world; raising nobility and becoming a powerful minister. Seven expeditions in the Central Plains, creating waves; the Three Kingdoms will eventually perish; spending a lifetime lying by the bedside; the hearts of the people hold the world. *************************************************************************** Twisting and pulling + imagination + mischievousness + the truth of history = what you see. Compared to official history, this is an uncensored story! Do you really think that knowing a little history can go back in time and change everything? In fact, the people of that era would tell you that what's written in books is all fake! 【If you love me, please click on me. If you don't love me, please click on me to die. - Nan Nan】

289.93 Million words | 2023-05-30 10:56Update

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Call me Lord Lu Bu. Fiction
Call me Lord Lu Bu.

When the young Lu Bu was playing the Three Kingdoms game, he died from being electrocuted, only to be reborn in the womb with memories from his previous life as Lu Bu. Where did I get all these skills? How come I didn't know I had older sisters, second sisters, third sisters, and fourth sisters? Hey! Changshan unexpectedly picked up a child named Xiaoyunyun. Hey! Guo Jia is following me to work out. I guarantee you'll live a hundred years. Dong Zhuo, that despicable scoundrel, wants to be my godfather. Does he even know the Heaven-Soaring Halberd? When Lu Bu, Zhao Yun, Zhang Liao, Jia Xu, and Guo Jia mess around in Liaodong, chaos is destined to ensue in the Three Kingdoms era

30.92 Million words | 2020-12-20 21:09Update

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The Storm Wolf Commando Against Japan Fiction
The Storm Wolf Commando Against Japan

Gao Dong, the commander of the mysterious Tianlang Special Forces in China, crossed over to the battlefield of the Anti-Japanese War with two subordinates during a secret operation. Smoke filled the land of China as the Japanese invaders went mad like beasts. The nation was in danger, the nation was in peril, and 400 million compatriots were in peril. In this era of iron and blood, tears and fire, Gao Dong reorganized the Tianlang Assault Team. He recruited soldiers, trained a state-of-the-art special forces unit, killed the Japanese devils, annihilated the puppet troops, and beheaded the Japanese generals. However, during the battle, Gao Dong discovered that his time travel to this era was not a coincidence. An equally well-equipped Japanese soldier appeared in this era as well. What kind of conspiracy lies behind this? Let's see how Gao Dong leads his special forces to reverse the war. We have created a new reader group, so let's all come in and chat. With the spirit of China in our souls and the heroism in our death, the blood of us Chinese men, starting from me, Gao Dong, has begun to boil on this battlefield!

132.77 Million words | 2023-07-03 09:56Update

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Babylonian Empire Fiction
Babylonian Empire

Here, once was the pinnacle of the development of Mesopotamian civilization, here, a new era of unity will be embraced! Surviving between two great super empires, evolving under the watchful eyes of envious neighbors, growing stronger amidst the turmoil of the Iran-Iraq War. Reborn as Saddam's son, rewriting the destiny of Iraq! The new Babylonian Empire stands tall atop the world!

281.38 Million words | 2021-04-18 03:37Update

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Han Xiong Fiction
Han Xiong

He established an unprecedented dignity for the nation. He gave a group the confidence to stand tall for millennia. His country's name became the eternal symbol of a people. There is no difference between the restless souls under the horse's blade and the triumphant ones on the saddle. All lives are equal, and no one has the right to unjustly deprive another. No one can arbitrarily bully the people of Da Han, and no one can plunder and slaughter on the land of Da Han. No matter how powerful our enemies may be, the bloodline of the Han people will eventually inspire us to wield our swords and fight for our own dignity and honor. Let these barbarians from the grasslands witness the bravery of the Han warriors, and let their mountains of corpses and rivers of blood forge the glory of the Han ethnicity. With a

173.28 Million words | 2022-05-09 14:45Update

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The King of Assassination during the Anti-Japanese War Fiction
The King of Assassination during the Anti-Japanese War

In commemoration of the anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan: Killing the Japanese devils, traitors, corrupt officials, collaborators, remnants of feudalism, the privileged, hooligans and scoundrels. Anyone who betrays the country, oppresses the righteous, they shall be killed! From Shanghai to Tianjin, from Tianjin to Nanjing, from Nanjing to Hangzhou, from Hangzhou to Fuzhou... Qin Feiyang, wielding knives and guns, never stopping, fighting relentlessly, eradicating traitors with iron and blood!

421.06 Million words | 2023-02-20 12:46Update

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From the Awakening of Being a Special Forces Soldier Fiction
From the Awakening of Being a Special Forces Soldier

Tang Wen travels to a special world and becomes the foolish son of a landlord, Chen Xiwa. He possesses the Fire Shadow Awakening System, acquiring various character skills. From a cowardly bear person who fears for his life, he transforms into an unparalleled king of soldiers who can single-handedly obliterate an army!

292.45 Million words | 2022-03-09 23:58Update

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Conquering the world with a system Fiction
Conquering the world with a system

War has always been serious and brutal, but I brought new elements to it - innocence and naivety. However, from a different perspective, they became whimsical and unimaginable! The various tactics I devised appeared magical in the eyes of my opponents; they simply couldn't grasp my thinking because I am not of this era! Additionally, I possess an almost supernatural territory system that allows me to turn war into a game that can be replayed. Therefore, I am invincible!

388.20 Million words | 2022-03-10 12:56Update

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Night Journey in Early Tang Dynasty Fiction
Night Journey in Early Tang Dynasty

The reincarnated warrior was born with exceptional martial skills. He rose through the ranks, fought at Xuanwu Gate, relocated to the solitude of Pei Ji, and engaged in conflict with prominent families. After thinking that the prosperous era of

255.71 Million words | 2022-08-05 16:08Update

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Capture Berlin. Fiction
Capture Berlin.

War is a play and a pathway to wealth. There's nothing unimaginable in this world, only things we cannot achieve. The crazy soldier will reveal all the facts to you. Modern man Guo Bin travels through time to the chaotic world of World War II. In the battlefield, Guo Bin learns to be despicable and cunning, doing whatever it takes to ensure his own survival. It's not easy for Guo to come to this world, so he must find a way to return and enjoy life, right? With his special abilities, Guo Bin seamlessly blends into major battles and writes about the humorous moments of the soldiers in World War II... If you, my dear readers think "Conquering Berlin" is not bad, please don't forget to recommend it to your friends on your QQ groups and Weibo!

342.00 Million words | 2020-10-27 20:12Update

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The Old Man and the Sea Fiction
The Old Man and the Sea

道路,成为了一名无敌的海盗。

305.31 Million words | 2022-07-14 11:39Update

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Confusing Your Heart: My Lord, don't be reckless. Fiction
Confusing Your Heart: My Lord, don't be reckless.

The Miss of the Prime Minister's Mansion, the future Crown Princess, was framed for adultery with a guard. She was falsely accused of treason and selling the country. The Prime Minister's Mansion was ruthlessly destroyed, and the Miss was subjected to a slow and torturous death. The national treasure, the sinking incense plaque, disappeared without a trace. Returning covered in blood, she adopted the alias of Gu Yu and became a mysterious witch. She killed the Duke, vanquished demons, helped the Crown Prince eliminate rebellious factions, and stabilized the kingdom. At the chaotic burial ground, she peeled off a piece of the Prince's skin, which incurred the Prince's wrath and a debt collection visit. Realizing she couldn't afford the consequences, she decided to run away. But the Crown Prince said, "You are destined to be my Crown Princess, and the sinking incense plaque is proof." The Prince said, "Debt must be repaid, flesh must be returned. Don't even think about running away." Gu Yu said, "Well, how about both of you come into my trap?"

264.30 Million words | 2022-01-13 20:06Update

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The King of the Unknown Sword in the Flourishing Tang Dynasty. Fiction
The King of the Unknown Sword in the Flourishing Tang Dynasty.

(The new book has been uploaded. Please come and take a look, my new and old book friends.) In the midst of the prosperous Tang Dynasty, the free fighter Li Ye is transcended into Li Siye, a man who has yet to become a famous general. From the bustling Chang'an to the four towns of Anxi, from the narrow streets to the frontier cities of the desert, he will annihilate the Tubo, subdue the Turkic, and conquer the Great Western Xia. As a true man, as a successor, both men and horses will be shattered!

229.04 Million words | 2023-03-05 22:44Update

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Adorable Master is here: Rebel, don't mess around. Fiction
Adorable Master is here: Rebel, don't mess around.

Entering the cultivation novel, I definitely had to compete with the protagonist for opportunities! I couldn't be the male version of Long Aotian, so why not be the female version? Unfortunately, my wishful thinking was shattered when I was ultimately defeated by the male lead and became the boss! Luckily, I was reborn and went back to when the male lead was a child! Looking at the skinny little figure before me, with a hint of kingly aura shining through his brows, I had two options. Kill him and see how arrogant he'll be in the future! Nurture him and demand repayment openly and honestly in the future! Thinking about the treasures that only the male lead could unlock, my greed got the best of me and I ultimately chose to nurture him. Little did I know, with one wrong move, I turned the righteous and adorable little boy into a cunning and scheming wolf! When he grew up, he even used treasures to entice me! "Master, want it? If you do, then let's cultivate together?" Tears filled my master's face. If she had known that trading her looks for treasures would work, what would she have done as a boss in her previous life? Master and disciple, nurturing, V, a sweet and pampering story. Welcome to adopt! W

277.63 Million words | 2021-12-21 21:56Update

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Northern Song Dynasty Capital Fiction
Northern Song Dynasty Capital

In the time of grandeur, Bianliang was bustling with visitors from all directions, connecting nations far and wide. But in the blink of an eye, it became the period of Jingkang, where iron hooves trampled across, leaving behind only memories. Looking back abruptly, is that Bianliang still the same? Let us follow the young lad named Liu Yong outside the Vermilion Bird Gate and explore the stories of the Eastern Capital during the Northern Song Dynasty. With a new face and a fresh story, we reject clichés.

89.37 Million words | 2021-01-10 18:43Update

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