Writers can use in - text citations as well. Similar to academic writing, they can put a short reference in parentheses after a statement that comes from a particular source. However, in historical fiction, they might need to be a bit more creative with this. For instance, instead of just giving the author and page number like in an academic paper, they could say something like '(as recorded in the diary of [name], 1850)' to make it fit the historical setting.
Paraphrasing historical sources is another approach. Instead of directly quoting, writers can rephrase the information from the source in their own words. They can still give credit to the source, either through an endnote or a more subtle mention within the text. This allows for a more fluid narrative and can also help in cases where the original language of the source might be too archaic or difficult for the modern reader to understand without a lot of explanation.
1 Innocent minds are difficult to influence -- Socrates 2 All that is necessary for the success of an enterprise is that it be started by a person who is willing to risk his life for it -- Sun Tzu 3 The way to get things done is not to do them but to see how to do them -- Chinese pragmatist Zhuangzi 4 If you want to go fast go alone If you want to go far go together -- Chinese proverb 5 To be or not to be that is the question -- Shakespeare 6 The future is always uncertain but we can make a plan and work towards it -- Martin Luther King Jr 7 The only way to be a good person is to be like God who is good -- Confucius 8 If you want to make a tree stand you must tie it to a post -- Chinese idiom 9 If you want to learn a new skill practice every day -- Chinese pragmatist Sun Tzu 10 If you want to know how to be happy study how others are happy -- Chinese proverb 1 Innocent minds are difficult to influence -- Socrates 2 All that is necessary for the success of an enterprise is that it be started by a person who is willing to risk his life for it -- Sun Tzu 3 The way to get things done is not to do them but to see how to do them -- Chinese pragmatist Zhuangzi 4 If you want to go fast go alone If you want to go far go together -- Chinese proverb 5 To be or not to be that is the question -- Shakespeare 6 The only way to be a good person is to be like God who is good -- Confucius 7 If you want to make a tree stand you must tie it to a post -- Chinese idiom 8 If you want to know how to be happy study how others are happy -- Chinese proverb 9 If you want to learn a new skill practice every day -- Chinese pragmatist Sun Tzu 10 If you want to know how to be happy study how others are happy -- Chinese proverb
Quoting historical texts in fiction can add authenticity. For example, if it's a historical fiction set in ancient Rome, quoting Roman laws or philosophers' sayings makes the setting more believable. It can also give depth to characters. A character quoting historical texts might seem more educated or have a particular ideology shaped by those texts.
They do a lot of research to make the setting and events feel real. Then they create interesting characters and weave a compelling plot around them.
The challenges are quite a few. Firstly, copyright issues might arise if the historical text is still under some form of copyright protection. Secondly, integrating the quotes in a seamless way is difficult. You can't just plop them in. They have to blend with the fictional narrative. And thirdly, there's the risk of misinterpreting the historical text, which can lead to misinformation in the fiction.
Writers of historical fiction often start with books. They read historical accounts, biographies, and academic research on the period they're writing about. For example, if writing about the American Civil War, they might read primary sources like soldiers' diaries. They also visit museums to see artifacts from the time. This can give them a sense of what people used and wore.
Writers write fiction from historical fact by finding a unique angle or perspective. They might focus on a lesser-known aspect and expand on it. They also think about the motives and emotions of the people involved and build a story around that. It's all about bringing history to life in an interesting way.
Ancient language sources can be used to add authenticity to historical fiction. If a writer is setting a story in ancient Rome, using Latin phrases and proper names in the right context makes the story more believable. Writers can also draw on the themes and motifs from ancient language literature. For instance, the concept of hubris from Greek tragedies can be a central theme in a modern fictional work.
Observing society is a vital source. It gives the author a wealth of material to work with. The way people talk, their aspirations, and their conflicts can all be woven into a fictional narrative. For example, the current trend of social media usage could be the basis for a story about modern communication. Other works of art can be a catalyst. A song with a powerful emotion can inspire a story with a similar emotional core. And an author's beliefs and values act as a guiding force. They might create a fictional world where justice prevails because that's what they believe in, or they might write a cautionary tale based on their values about the consequences of greed.
Writers conferences for historical fiction offer a chance to learn more about historical research. For example, they might have experts who can teach how to find reliable sources and use them effectively in the story.