The historical novel is a rather complex genre in literature. To create a good work, it is not enough to be a writer; you need to have a broad knowledge of history. But if you are passionate about a particular era, even the process of writing the book can bring you a lot of unique pleasure, and the work will become one of the favorites of regular readers.
Working with sources
The main indicator of a good historical novel is its authenticity. It is not worth using dubious and unverified facts in the plot. Serious work with sources is necessary here.
In parallel with data from books, journalistic works, and information from the Internet, study and use archival documents, visit libraries and museums with a narrow specialization. You will have to work hard to gain access, but the result will exceed all expectations. You will obtain a wealth of interesting historical data that you can incorporate into the plot of your novel: copies of princely decrees, ancient records of commercial transactions, facts from parish documents—all of this will add interest to your novel and diversify its plot.
You can feel the spirit of that time by taking a trip to the historical places described in the novel. Maximum immersion in the novel, merging with the plot on an emotional level, a large number of verified but little-known events of that time—all this will help to recreate the historical events described in more detail.
Creating a historical plot
Reading a historical work should completely captivate the reader, so special attention should be paid to the quality of the text being created. A clearly structured plot and a narrative style appropriate to the era are the main parameters for the success of a work.
Don’t be afraid of first-person narration—it will allow the reader to fully immerse themselves in the era being described and the events taking place.
Unlike a history textbook, a historical novel prioritizes people over dates and years. The safest option is to depict the course of history through the characteristics of an interesting person. You can include fictional and real characters of that time in the plot.
The main character may not have a prototype
Historical romance novels are a lighter version of historical novels, a convenient option for incorporating several fictional parallels into a historical plot.
Just like any literary work, a historical novel is important for its conflict. The most complex and interesting version of the problem is one with three levels, where the plot intertwines global, external, and internal conflicts based on the created plot, historical figures, and existing facts.
Don’t forget about the details, they need special attention! When gathering materials and studying the main historical facts, don’t overlook the small, unknown details that will be needed to create a realistic picture of that time.