tips for writing historical fiction

Writing historical fiction can be a fascinating and rewarding experience. Whether you are a seasoned writer or a beginner, here are some tips to help you create captivating historical fiction stories:

1. Thorough Research: No matter the time period or setting, thorough research is crucial for writing successful historical fiction. Dive into resources such as books, documentaries, primary sources, and even visit museums or historical sites. This will ensure your story is true to the time period and adds authenticity to your narrative.

2. Choose an Engaging Time Period: Select a time period that captivates the imagination of readers. Historical fiction covers a vast range of eras, from ancient civilizations to recent history. Find a period that resonates with you and has rich storytelling potential.

3. Develop Compelling Characters: Characters are the heart of any story. Create well-rounded and relatable characters that readers can connect with. Reflect the beliefs, values, and struggles of the time period while keeping them multidimensional.

4. Blend Fact with Fiction: Historical fiction allows you to combine real events and people with fictional elements. Avoid distorting historical truths, but feel free to fill in the gaps with imaginative storytelling. Find a balance that entertains while staying true to the essence of the time period.

5. Setting as a Character: Make the historical setting come alive. Describe the sights, sounds, smells, and social norms of the time to immerse readers in the era. Paint a vivid picture without overwhelming the story with unnecessary details.

6. Dialogue and Language: Use language appropriate to the time period while ensuring it remains accessible to modern readers. Avoid anachronisms, but don't sacrifice readability for authenticity. Research and incorporate colloquial expressions or dialects if necessary.

7. Provide Historical Context: Help readers understand the historical context by incorporating relevant background information. Educate them about significant events, cultural practices, and social issues. But remember, historical information should enhance the story, not overshadow it.

8. Focus on Conflict and Tension: Like any good story, historical fiction needs conflict and tension to keep readers engaged. Use historical events or societal issues as the backdrop for personal conflicts and internal struggles faced by your characters.

9. Immerse Readers in the Era: Transport readers to the time period by incorporating vivid sensory details, including clothing, food, rituals, and traditions. Create an immersive experience that allows readers to live the story alongside your characters.

10. Edit and Revise: Finally, like any writing project, editing and revising are essential. Polish your manuscript to ensure historical accuracy, smooth pacing, and engaging storytelling. Consider seeking feedback from beta readers or joining writing groups for constructive criticism.

Remember, historical fiction offers a wonderful opportunity to educate, inspire, and entertain readers. By weaving accurate historical details into compelling storytelling, you can create a captivating experience that keeps readers coming back for more.
Time travel to 1853. Fiction
Time travel to 1853.

In the 19th century, it was a time when Western powers divided the world and also the beginning of the downfall of the Chinese nation. If a time traveler were to come to 19th century China, could he change China's fate? In the spring of that year, the Taiping Army attacked Nanjing. Secret agent Wang Feng, in the moment of life and death, resolutely opened the city gates and surrendered, gaining the appreciation of Yang Xiuqing, the Eastern King, and becoming one of his attendants. However, their differing ideologies and the corruption of the top brass of the Taiping Army gradually distanced him from them, and he embarked on his own entrepreneurial path. Throughout his life, he made countless enemies, including Hong Xiuquan, Yang Xiuqing, Wei Changhui, Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang, Li Hongzhang, Sengge Rinchen, Xianfeng, Lincoln, Victoria, Nicholas Yevgenyevich, Louis Bonaparte, Toshimichi Okubo, and Nogi Maresuke. But he also had friends all over the world, including Shi Dakai, Chen Yucheng, Sheng Xuanhuai, Hu Xueyan, the Commander-in-Chief of the Confederate Army, the Ottoman Sultan, the Tokugawa Shogunate, Nobel, and Bismarck. Lincoln: I strongly condemn Wang Feng's barbaric acts of dividing nations by force! Commander-in-Chief of the Confederate Army: Oh! Wang Feng is the most sincere friend of the people of the American South!

257.78 Million words | 2021-09-22 20:06Update

historical fiction time travel books dual timeline historical fiction historical fiction timeline

Happy Cow Emperor of the Tang Dynasty Fiction
Happy Cow Emperor of the Tang Dynasty

Emperor Li Shimin: "Niu Dabao, how is the preparation of my mechanized army going?" Niu Dabao: "Your Majesty, please take a look at the Shifeng three-wheeler prepared by me. It has a 360-degree panoramic skylight in the driver's cab, which allows soldiers to spot enemies around them in the shortest time! It has a mid-mounted engine, rear-wheel drive, reinforced rear axle, and can carry a load of 2.

169.00 Million words | 2021-09-04 16:59Update

historical fiction history historical fiction time periods historical fiction time travel

Sparrow Turns into Phoenix: Your Highness is not at ease. Fiction
Sparrow Turns into Phoenix: Your Highness is not at ease.

Prince Shen Yuli, who was down and out, found a young eunuch in the deserted garden. The eunuch had fair skin, a beautiful appearance, and a clever and adorable demeanor, but he was a bit noisy. Like a sparrow. Sparrows have wild nature and need to be properly restrained, or they will fly away. One day, the thread that tied them together snapped with a crack. I recommend and collect the new novel "Nine Lives Phoenix Destiny" and "I Invite You to Carry the Plaque", please support. Love you all! (づ ̄ ̄)づ╭?~

146.77 Million words | 2023-06-01 05:33Update

history and historical fiction historical fiction by time period historical fiction time travel

Golden Chef Lady Fiction
Golden Chef Lady

One time-traveling, a cool little shota boy stood in front of her and shouted, "Mom." From then on, the gold medal chef completely became a son lover. The son was adorable, outstanding, and she knew he loved delicious food. The gold medal chef not only satisfied her son's preferences but also used her superior cooking skills from her previous life to become rich and have a house, land, and money. What?! When she received the plaque for the world's first imperial cuisine, her son's father jumped out. Even if he had the same face as her son, she wasn't interested in the grown-up version of her son. This prince, what have you done for your son? Why do you have the right to come out and compete for her son? Go find a place to

227.36 Million words | 2021-11-04 16:35Update

historical fiction time travel books historical fiction by time period historical fiction timeline

Return to the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Fiction
Return to the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty.

Feng Yao, who unexpectedly crossed over to the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, had to accept the fact that he was still an orphan. Just as the protagonist was indulging in his fantasies, he realized that reality was often different from what he had read in books! A mysterious background! Twisty experiences! Fierce struggles on the battlefield! Stirring love and enmity in chaotic times! Here, there are almost no rules! Here, only the strong can have the final say! Here, is the most real and darkest chaotic era!! Bloodshed! Slaughter! War! Power struggles! Conspiracies! Fame and fortune! Women! Reversal!... Let's see how the protagonist, starting off as a worthless orphan, eventually becomes the ruler of the world!

326.70 Million words | 2022-12-25 09:06Update

historical fiction time travel books history and historical fiction historical fiction time periods

The Grand Plan of the Late Jin Dynasty Fiction
The Grand Plan of the Late Jin Dynasty

In the late years of the Western Jin Dynasty, turmoil reigned supreme. The divine land sank into chaos, as various northern tribes bared their fangs, brandished their claws, and scrambled to devour the Central Plains. They captured and killed countless innocent people. The sound of wailing flutes and barbaric horns lingered, while the hooves of warhorses filled the air with smoke. It was during this time that a young man from another time and space emerged, his passion and determination transformed into a mighty sword. He stood against the northern invaders, ceaselessly fighting. In the midst of the Five Barbarians, amidst the sorrow of a chaotic era, through a hundred battles in the yellow sand, he sought to restore peace to the land...

124.40 Million words | 2021-03-31 10:25Update

war historical fiction best historical military fiction books best military historical fiction

The Heroes' Skills of the Three Kingdoms Fiction
The Heroes' Skills of the Three Kingdoms

As a man with a system that possesses the secrets of the heroes, I crossed over to the magnificent world of the Three Kingdoms and embarked on a wild and extraordinary life. Huang Zhong, how's your marksmanship? I have the Sun and Moon Twin Bow! Lu Bu, how's your martial arts? I have the Dance of Gods and Ghosts! Zhou Yu, how's your military command? I have the Formation of Heaven and Earth, boosting offense, defense, and speed! And there's that boy named Ah Man, who's more beautiful than his wife when compared to me? If you, my dear readers, find "The Heroes of the Three Kingdoms" impressive, please don't forget to recommend it to your friends in your QQ groups and on Weibo!

28.70 Million words | 2020-07-05 19:09Update

historical fiction time travel books historical fiction history historical fiction time periods

Dilemma Fiction
Dilemma

Rolling wheels of history, heroes and brave men are hard to come by again. No matter how extraordinary of a hero you are, you can never escape the temptations of money, power, and desire. Let me tell you a ridiculous story, about an absurd person, who did something completely absurd. There must always be someone who has done something different, someone who... perhaps, after all.

468.64 Million words | 2021-04-22 04:10Update

history and historical fiction dual timeline historical fiction historical fiction history

Power and Dominion over the Ming Dynasty Fiction
Power and Dominion over the Ming Dynasty

In the forty-fifth year of the Wanli reign, Li Hongyu unexpectedly became the young master of a influential local clan's third branch. He instinctively enjoyed wealth and glory, but unexpectedly, the industries under his name were successively seized by the clan head who relied on his power. At the same time, the Ming Dynasty was also plagued by internal and external troubles, with war in the frontier and political struggles in the capital, causing the decline of the empire. For the sake of the people and for himself and those around him, the protagonist decided to embark on an official career. However, first, he must rise up and reclaim the industries usurped by the clan head. Author's QQ group: [omitted]. This novel is updated daily and may have intermittent bursts, welcome to read. Author's customized tags: Aristocratic family, Wit, Struggle for power.

339.00 Million words | 2020-12-10 18:20Update

historical fiction by time period historical fiction timeline historical fiction time travel

Usurpation of Qin Fiction
Usurpation of Qin

Yun Yue fell into a bottomless abyss and found herself in another world. Faced with the Warring States period from two thousand years ago, what will Yun Yue do? She feels lost... King Huiwen is a wise ruler, while General Lian Po is cunning. Crown Prince Dan is extremely weak, and Qin Shihuang is a completely deceitful man... The survival environment in the Warring States period is harsh, but Yun Yue manages to thrive. Han Xiong wrote too much darkness, while the Coup against Qin writes about much sunshine. Where there is light, there will also be shadows, and where there are shadows, there will inevitably be light.

205.82 Million words | 2020-11-09 03:05Update

time travel historical fiction historical fiction by time period historical fiction timeline

King of Special Forces Fiction
King of Special Forces

Brother, stained with blood on the battlefield to protect his comrades, Zhao Guoqing resolutely followed in his brother's footsteps into the military camp. After enduring hellish training, he encountered a mysterious expert in the camp who integrated modern training with his family's martial arts. Step by step, Zhao Guoqing became the strongest special forces soldier, defeating the kings of various countries with his fists and stepping on mercenary groups worldwide, creating countless legends and becoming the king of a generation of special forces soldiers!

401.53 Million words | 2021-08-31 04:21Update

historical fiction by time period dual timeline historical fiction historical fiction timeline

The Days of Being Soldiers Together. Fiction
The Days of Being Soldiers Together.

There is a place called barracks! There is a person called soldier! There is a way to wake up called emergency assembly! There is a kind of patience called five kilometers! There is a torment called 400-meter obstacle! There is a walk called marching! There is a title called martyr! There is a blanket called tofu block! There is a dream called waking up naturally! There is a dance called capture boxing! There is a heaven called guesthouse! There is a carefree act called collectively peeing on the highway!... Regret for two, five, or twelve years after serving in the military, but regretting for a lifetime for not serving. The barracks is a great furnace. Going in as iron and coming out as steel. The old squad leader used to advise us to become as tough as steel and not become a scrap of iron. The old squad leader also said that there are two places that truly temper men, one is the barracks and the other is the prison. Only those who have no way out would choose prison, so let us ambitious youth

456.94 Million words | 2022-11-07 00:58Update

best time travel historical fiction historical fiction time periods historical fiction timeline

My backyard is the Tang Dynasty. Fiction
My backyard is the Tang Dynasty.

After opening the ancient well in his backyard, Li Yin's life changed forever... The Sixth Prince Li Yin? The 21st-century otaku Li Yin? With the ability to freely travel between two worlds, what kind of life should he choose!?

119.73 Million words | 2021-10-07 15:06Update

history and historical fiction historical ya fiction ya historical fiction

Love in Two Lives Fiction
Love in Two Lives

Investigating strange cases and unraveling the mysteries of life and death, Ayuan relies on her extraordinary talent and only seeks a comfortable life. She is just a humble constable, not the infamous Miss Yuan from the Yuan family. And not to mention, Miss Yuan is not the most promiscuous one. The subordinates of Lady Yuan's mother are present in every country, from the emperor to the lowest servant, all of them being privileged by Lady Yuan. The esteemed historian, who appeared out of thin air, smiled coolly, 'Do you believe it? Miss Yuan has already surpassed her predecessor and is never satisfied.' Investigating her mother's lover and then her own, Ayuan discovers countless secrets. Who is she really?

49.50 Million words | 2022-05-26 10:42Update

romantic novel story romantic love novel historical fiction with romance

The Three Kingdoms Fiction
The Three Kingdoms

Who determines rise and fall, Success and failure have their proofs, In one night, storms disperse, Smoke vanishes, time and space converge. Separation and reunion are all fate, Embrace responsibilities in the present, Why worry about future evaluation. Feeling bored after being exiled to the heavenly realm, The ancient top ten divine artifacts chose a modern person through a "throwing embroidered ball" method, To experience the so-called "golden armor and iron steed" in ancient times. Li Sheng, a third-rate internet writer, was incredibly fortunate to be selected. However, due to the lack of consideration by the top ten divine artifacts, A slight deviation occurred in the transfer of time and space, And Li Sheng's body reverted to his thirteen-year-old appearance. No astonishing martial arts, no possibility of rebirth, Even the place he landed was just in the outskirts of an "unnamed" small city. The harsh winter of the third year of the Chunping era was killing, More importantly, the next year, he would face the impending massacre of Xuzhou. In such circumstances, how would he

314.08 Million words | 2023-05-09 21:27Update

historical fiction by time period best time travel historical fiction historical fiction time travel

Reborn in 1902. Fiction
Reborn in 1902.

Shanghai Bund - Battle Among Dragons and Snakes! In this turbulent era, society is akin to the rivers and lakes, where the weak are prey to the strong. Whether referred to as society by scholars, or the rivers and lakes by warriors, what is the difference? Survival of the fittest, only continual growth can lead to success. In 1902, a new soul is reborn. Is it an envoy of the goddess of hate, a judge appointed by the heavens, or a flash of lightning that shatters the darkness? Eliminating evil and promoting good, killing fiercely at every turn. For Ah Fa, rebirth is both fortune and redemption. Even if this road to redemption is paved with blood, even if the ultimate goal is the fate of the nation and the people, he must press forward courageously. Only by trampling on evil and carving out a bloody path can he achieve this one and only form of redemption, as well as fulfill the promise of a bright future in his dreams. Redemption through Blood.

24.49 Million words | 2022-07-22 23:38Update

history and historical fiction dual timeline historical fiction historical fiction time periods

Shu Gate Fiction
Shu Gate

Having been in the political arena for ten years, ambition has also been worn down into an old horse. One careless move in the power struggle led to a downfall. Crossing over? It's not a rare occurrence, but luckily, I crossed over into the body of a nobleman's son. Unfortunately, he is only a common-born son of an elderly marquis, who holds a prominent position. With fifteen sons, he ranks twelfth in the family hierarchy, making it impossible for him to inherit the title. Among his elder brothers, some hold official positions, while others serve in the military. Unfortunately, our immediate family possesses no talent and shows no signs of improvement, relying on a meager monthly allowance of twenty taels of silver to scrape by. My mother was a concubine who passed away early, and the marquis's mansion holds no regard for us. Even the snobbish servants dare to flaunt their power in front of us. Only my widowed sister, who shares the same mother as me, treats me kindly and occasionally provides assistance. However, as a widow with a son, I must be mindful of my boundaries. While others who have crossed over try to develop businesses, our elderly marquis strictly forbids his descendants from engaging in commerce. Shall we wait until the marquis passes away, only to be driven out by our brothers, each given a small plot of land? As a modern person, if I'm going to experience this, it must be done in a grand manner. Engaging in literature and calligraphy is not my forte, and the games of kings and marquis are not interesting to me. How about manipulating the changing of emperors and establishing my own power? "Why shouldn't a man carry his Wu Blade, conquering fifty provinces? I invite you to temporarily ascend the Lingyan Pavilion. Which scholar wouldn't desire to become a marquis of ten thousand households?"

548.82 Million words | 2021-09-11 02:44Update

best time travel historical fiction historical fiction time periods historical fiction timeline

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

historical fiction time travel books historical fiction by time period historical fiction time periods

General Thumb Fiction
General Thumb

The clashing

137.64 Million words | 2023-06-14 15:26Update

historical fiction time travel books historical fiction time periods historical fiction timeline

The Live Stream: Me as Cao Zhi Fiction
The Live Stream: Me as Cao Zhi

I came softly, I waved my wings quietly, and then embarked on the path of marrying a wealthy beauty, becoming a CEO, and heading for the peak of life without return.

216.66 Million words | 2021-11-22 06:42Update

time travel historical fiction historical fiction timeline historical fiction time travel