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.
Wooley discusses how to deal with
agents in detail. While an agent for a short story isn't necessary,
a novel will need an agent. Wooley writes that a cut in pay for
an agent is a must for any novelist. Publishers are out to make
money and little else. Most agents today are part of either the
WGA (Writer's Guild of America) or the AAR (Association of Authors'
Representatives). The AAR is against charging reading fees but you
may still come across them.
After you've found suitable agents
for your historical novel send them each a query letter. Be sure
to tell them your sending multiple queries. Also include a SASE
along with a postcard so the agent can respond, which usually takes
up to six weeks.
Once you've succeeded in acquiring
an agent you will have to deal with publishers and editors. Be prepared
for editors to ask for sizable changes. Have a clear outline of
what you think is most important to keep, as you won't be able to
keep everything in your book.
No matter how your book is presented
to the public you always have a shot if it's a good story. Some
books publishers hope to make back their advance, others publishers
expect to be bestsellers and bring in a little income.
Historical fiction isn't a favorite
of modern literature these days, but still consistently you will
see its readership make a statement and propel a book to the top
of the bestseller list. Take David McCullough's 1776 or Bernard
Cornwell's The Pale Horseman: both hit the bestseller lists and
are steeped in history. Persia Wooley doesn't promise success, but
she does offer the aspiring writer hope. In the end How to Write
and Sell Historical Fiction is THE book to read if your interested
in writing historical fiction.- Jacob Malewitz
