REVIEW: Writing and Selling Historical Fiction

Historical fiction is its own frontier. It lacks the excitement of horror, the lust of romance, and the surprise twists of mysteries; yet historical fiction continues to compete with other genres on a regular basis. Persia Wooley has written a primer for any novelist looking to create a fictional tale based in part on history. How to Write and Sell Historical Fiction allocates all you need to know about the genre that is always on the lookout for the next author gifted with the insight and purpose to write a tale based on history.

Wooley opens the book with a basic definition of what historical fiction is: literature set in a different time than the reader's. Wooley continues stating the ultimate goal of any writer is to get published. And while she says you might not get published, many people like yourself are writing historical fiction on a regular basis and are getting paid for it.

Any historical fiction piece will have to incorporate history. The best way to do it, without the aches and pains, is to do the research. Wooley warns of getting so lost among your research that you forgo working on your story. Story should always come first.

Plot, to Wooley, is key to any epic. You will need drama, conflict, and lifelike characters in your story. It's not as hard as it might seem to craft characters from the past. People have, for the most part, always acted the same. They strive for riches and love, among other things.

When rewriting "always keep the arc of the story and its pace in mind." Serious writers have to rewrite their work-it makes the difference between a good and bad writer. If you want to be a professional writer you will have to edit your work continuously. Wooley encourages authors to find someone, whether it is a group or one person, to look over their work before the writing is sent off to an agent. It doesn't always work out but you may get lucky, and Wooley herself has rewritten entire sections because of other's opinions.