Showing posts with label writing historical novels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing historical novels. Show all posts

Sunday, June 5, 2022

Writing Historical Fiction by Rosemary Morris


To learn more about Rosemary and her work click on the image above.

Writing Historical Fiction

 

There is a hypothesis that there are only seven basic plots. This should not deter novelists, who can devise their own special twists in the tale and write from the heart.

What is Historical Fiction? The Historical Novel Society’s definition is: ‘The novel must have been written at least fifty years after the event, described, or written by someone who was not alive at the time, and who therefore only approached them by research.’

I think novelists, who set their books in times past, are under an obligation to readers to transport them into another time based on fact. My characters, other than historical figures, are imaginary. To ground my novels, I weave real events into my plots and themes. To recreate days gone by, I study non-fiction and, before covid, visited places of historical interest, including museums.

There are many excellent novelists who write, historical fiction and genre historical romance, etc. Unfortunately, there are others who cause me, and, presumably, other readers, to suspend belief. I was torn between shock and hysterical laughter when I read a medieval romance in which, the hero, a knight in full armour, galloped to a castle to rescue a proverbial maiden in distress. Without putting aside his shield and weapons, he flung himself off his horse and scaled stone walls with no handholds or footholds. He then climbed through a window - impossible as a castle in that era only had narrow apertures. When he gained access through the mythical window, not affected by her ideal the fair heroine asked: ‘Would you like some eggs and bacon and a nice cup of tea,’ as though she were offering him a modern-day English breakfast. The sense of the ridiculous overcame me. I lost faith in the author and did not read on.

Of course, the above is an extreme example from a novel accepted by a mainstream publisher. However, I am frequently disappointed by 21st characters dressed in costume, who have little in common with those who lived in previous eras. Over the centuries, emotions, anger, hate, jealousy, love etc., have not changed, but attitudes, clothes, the way of life and speech has. A historical novelist should study these and do their best to verify the facts.

Misnamed characters also make me pause when reading. The first pages of a medieval novel held my attention until I reached the part when the heroine’s name was Wendy, which, J. M. Barry invented for his novel Peter Pan. I daresay I’m not the only historical novelist, who agonises over characters’ names. I recommend The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, an invaluable resource.

In conclusion, a skilful historical novelist should hold the readers’ attention from the first page to the last and take them into the realm of fiction on an accurate, enjoyable journey.

 

 

http;//bwlpublishing.ca/morris-rosemary

 

www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 


 

Thursday, May 5, 2022

About Rosemary Morris, Historical Fiction Novelist by Rosemary Morris

 

 


To learn more about Rosemary please click on the image above


About Rosemary Morris, Historical Fiction Novelist.

 

Writing a novel is a solitary occupation. Every day, alone with my laptop, I work for eight hours, posting on face book and elsewhere, reading historical non-fiction to research my new classic historical romance rich in period detail and writing. Before the threat of covid, I visited places of historical interest to convey the lives and times of the protagonists in my tales of past times, who are not 21st characters in costume.

As a historical fiction novelist, I don’t think it is possible to portray every small fact about the past accurately, but I have a responsibility my readers to thoroughly research the eras in which my novels are set.

When my words flow well, I am tempted to work for many hours without a break, which is detrimental. Writing is mentally and physically tiring, so I have a five-minute break every hour, during which I stretch my body and exercise my eyes. If the weather permits, I work in my oranic garden. Prior to covid, I visited the health suite at the leisure centre to swim and enjoy the jacuzzi, steam room and sauna.

I don’t want to be a writer in a garret but sometimes I wish I lived in an ivory tower with nothing to distract me from my imaginary companions. However, the daily chores, cleaning, washing clothes, shopping etc., keep my feet on the ground, so does time with family and friends.

To read Rosemary’s historical, historical romance and literary fiction, set in Edward II’s reign, Queen Anne Stuart’s reign, and the Regency era, please visit her website to read the first three chapters

 

http://bwlpublishing.ca/morris-rosemary

 

http://rosemarymorris.co.uk

 

Rosemary’s novels are available from Amazon and Books We Love Publishers: https://bookswelove.ca/morris-rosemary/

 

 

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