There is magic in historical fiction.
Magic that takes you to another time and place. In a time machine, you might say, with a beautiful cover and pages in between.
That’s what readers expect when reading historical fiction. A time machine. They want to immerse themselves in a world that once was and now can only be visited in their imaginations. But who is this storyteller, this weaver of time, and how, exactly, does this time machine transport readers into the past?
Let’s look under the hood of that writer’s time machine and get to know the rules of historical fiction!
1. Immerse Readers in the Past
Historical fiction requires authenticity. Placing the reader in a world that once existed means they have a sense of that world based on their own experiences and knowledge. This doesn’t mean you can’t shape their beliefs, but to do so you must adhere to the way that world existed.
Before you tap one key on your computer, do your research. Immerse yourself in your characters world. Be a reporter from that time and ask yourself the who, what, why, and how questions that will help you set the tone and create the authenticity to make your story ring true.
Make sure your sources are relevant and reliable. Readers of historical fiction tend to be well-versed in the time periods they are interested in reading about, so it’s up to the writer to make sure the details they put into their story are as accurate as possible.
2. Characters That Live in the Past and Thrive in the Present
They say the more things change, the more they stay the same. This thought can be applied to the characters your readers will meet in your story. Styles change, trends evolve, and what was once acceptable in society no longer is, but some things never change.
To make relatable characters in historical fiction you must blend the societal norms of their era with issues that can still resonate with readers today. You see this in the anguish over someone’s death, or the joy of seeing your destination after a long, difficult journey. Humanity has always shared similar desires and calamities, use them to bridge the gap between readers and the characters in your imaginary world.
Blending the past and present is also needed for other details within your story. Maybe it’s clothing or language, or a specific smell or sound that places the reader in the past. Slip inside your character’s skin, but keep in mind the thru lines that humans have always shared.
3. Restrain Your Research
If you enjoy writing historical fiction, there’s a good chance you love learning about the past, and that’s where our good intentions can derail our writing process. Each turn of the page generates a new idea for your story, and time slips away before you realize your research has sucked up all the time you’d set aside for actually working on the manuscript.
To protect yourself from this fast road to nowhere we suggest blocking out dedicated time for the research portion of your designated work time. Set an alarm for a specific time and commit to ending that day’s research no matter where you are in the process so you don’t miss out on writing. That is what timers are for!
Be clear in your goals for your research to ensure you get what you want from the time spent researching. Organize the appropriate resources and tools you’ll need before sitting down so they’ll be within reach, and write a list of the things you want to accomplish before getting started. If you find yourself straying from your goals, refer to the list to find your next subject to research.
Buckle Up for a Long Ride
There’s no way around it—good research takes time and effort. But the payoff can be amazing for your readers. The more you can place them in the time period of your story, the more the story will infiltrate into their imaginations. The devil is in the details, but the details need to make sense. So don’t rush the process. Set boundaries, work toward goals, and find good, reliable sources and you’ll surely find the valuable information that will take your readers back in time on a magical historical fiction ride all the way to the very last page!
For more tips on streamlining your research check out these Chanticleer articles:
- The Research Puzzle: How to conduct great research without becoming overwhelmed
- The Ropes Around Research for the Accurate Writer — Chanticleer Toolbox Article by David Beaumier
- Series Spotlight: Themes and Research for Success!
- Tapping the Experts – Researching for Your Works in Progress by Carol M. Cram
The Last Man
Thomas Goodman
CIBA Grand Prize Winner in the Laramie Division
In The Last Man: A Novel of the 1927 Santa Claus Bank Robbery by Thomas Goodman, four men in a small, depression-era Texas town lay in wait to carry out their unique plan for a holiday heist.
It’s December 23 and a man in a Santa Claus suit walks into a bank. But rather than his bag full of Christmas surprises, he’s brought a gun. With the element of surprise on their side, the robber and his two partners would collect the cash, while another partner waited in the getaway car. It all seemed so simple.
At the time, Texas bankers—in order to deter crimes such as this—promised a $5,000 reward for any dead bandits, “and not one cent” for the capture of a live one. Should anything go wrong, the possibilities for disaster were clear as a Greek tragedy, but what could go wrong?
Guns blaze within minutes of entering the bank.
The Brisling Code
By J.L. Oakley
CIBA First Place Winner in the Hemingway Division
In The Brisling Code, a fast-paced first installment of her historical thriller series, Oakley weaves a brilliant portrayal of the perils met by the Norwegian Resistance during WWII.
Layered perspectives—from resistance workers, traitors, and even an SS Officer—create a rich world through which readers can understand the sacrifices that were made to free our world from the tyranny of Nazi Germany.
Immersed in volatile Nazi-occupied Bergen, Norway, fearless young intelligence agent Tore Haugland and his team of organizers work tirelessly to protect the essential work of the Norwegian resistance.
The Spoon
By Lisa Voelker
CIBA First Place Winner in the Goethe Division
Lisa Voelker’s historical fiction novel, The Spoon, takes us back to the 1950s in Hungary during the daring student uprising, and attempted revolution, in Buda and Pest. The author weaves historical facts with fiction in the form of family lore that has been handed down for generations.
We follow scores of people whose lives intersected during this uprising of 1956. The revolution was, at its inception, a time of joyous upheaval, but in less than two weeks became one of devastating dissolution. People fled Hungary by the thousands, but not before giving the Soviet Union a taste of their discontent.
The Merchant from Sepharad
By James Hutson-Wiley
CIBA Grand Prize Winner in the Chaucer Division
Joshua Ibn Elazar, the eager son of a Jewish merchant, travels to al-Andalus (the Iberian Peninsula under Muslim rule) to prove himself in his father’s business. But he finds an unwelcoming, degrading society waiting for him, and begins a journey of misfortune and anger in James Hutson-Wiley’s historical fiction novel, The Merchant from Sepharad.
Shortly after arriving in the city of Lishbunah, al-Andalus, Joshua is tricked out of the gold for his living expenses. Worse yet, he learns that Jews in Lishbunah suffer under oppressive laws, holding far less status than Muslim citizens. He can only find help in Lishbuna’s Jewish community, meeting Rabbi Hiyya al-Daudi and his son Yaish, who house and feed him.
A Siren Called Truth
By Patricia Roberts Wright
Patricia Roberts Wright’s A Siren Called Truth plunges into the fierce rivalry of the Bone Wars, a real-life scientific feud between paleontologists Edward Cope and O.C. Marsh. Blending history, ambition, and human drama, this gripping historical novel explores the cost of discovery and the lengths people will go to secure their legacy.
A Siren Called Truth is a character-driven exploration of rivalry. Edward Cope, a self-taught genius, is determined to unearth America’s prehistoric past, but O.C. Marsh stands in his way, a well-funded and politically savvy adversary. Their battle for dominance in paleontology is not just about fossils—it’s about reputation, power, and the relentless pursuit of truth.
A Siren Called Truth’s prose transports readers to the rugged landscapes where fossils lie buried beneath layers of time.
Recognition for Historical Fiction Excellence
Don’t miss out on your chance to submit to these fabulous Historical Fiction Awards!
Whether you’re writing pure historical fiction or adding bits of history into other genres, professional recognition celebrates the craft behind effective tales from the past. The Chanticleer International Book Awards recognize outstanding fiction across multiple divisions that dive into the past:
Chaucer Awards ~ Perfect for Early Historical Fiction (Pre-1750s Historical Fiction Novels
Goethe Awards ~ Ideal for Late Historical (Post-1750s Fiction Novels
Hemingway Book Awards ~ Fitting for 20th & 21st century Wartime Historical Fiction Novels
The 2025 deadline is August 31st! These awards recognize the skillful writing in genres that creates memorable, impactful historical fiction.
Historical fiction is about creating emotional experiences that resonate in the modern world long after the final page. Whatever your primary genre, adding in great period details, creating relatable characters, and sticking to a good process all the way to the finish can transform good stories into unforgettable ones.
Submit before August 31 and let professional judges recognize your skill in crafting compelling, historical fiction.
