5 Things to avoid when writing historical fiction

Today we're talking about historical fiction, and more specifically, 5 things to avoid when writing in this genre. The opinions expressed in the video are entirely my own, and should only be regarded as that - opinions.
I hope you enjoy it, feel free to leave a comment if you have any thoughts!
******
Thanks for watching!
MY YA FANTASY NOVEL "LEAVES OF HOLLY":
on Book Depository: bit.ly/3chn1xv
on Amazon US: amzn.to/3pw2h8t
on Amazon UK: amzn.to/3T7wUhV
MY INSTAGRAM:
/ arnellahobler

[@Sahilsharma-ce4ow]

I am currently writing a historical fiction based on Indian mythology, this really helped.

[@ArnellaHobler]

I'm glad you found it helpful 😊 Thanks for watching!

[@Sahilsharma-ce4ow]

@@ArnellaHobler :-)

[@ashwinmiyer6159]

Have you finished writing?

[@kawadashogo8258]

On the subject of genre, I'm currently working on (**cough cough** procrastinating on) a horror story set in ancient Rome. It's an interesting idea to me because I've never really seen anyone mix the horror genre with antiquity (even though, with ancient people being as superstitious as they were, you'd think there's plenty of potential for this). When you see stories set in ancient Rome, they tend to revolve around the famous people and events of that era and the things they did. Which can be great, but there are other ways to look at it too. My story is told from the point of view of a slave, rather than one of the rich and powerful. I think it has a lot of potential. The only question is whether I'm capable of writing it well enough to do it justice.

[@frankbruno9499]

Got my interest.Just do it.Spartacus was really a wolfman! Seriously, keep writing. You will do it! Buy me a drink when you sell it.

[@NicoleCreates]

I could probably listen to you talk all day, you have such a lovely speaking voice! I really enjoyed your point about including the gritty details. Including those honest, maybe-kinda-gross details that would have been a normal part of daily life for the time period in the book helps so much in cementing the story in reality.

[@ArnellaHobler]

Oh thank you so much! :) Absolutely, I've read so many historical fiction novels that really ignored those parts and I found this to be a real shame, as it kept me from being fully immersed in the setting in a way. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@lakeshagadson357]

I'm into that kind of stuff

[@cameron7603]

Thank you for this video, what I find a good reminder from your points is that to recreate a historical setting is that you have to create authenticity through complexity and not ignoring what made it real at the time.

[@ArnellaHobler]

Exactly! It's perhaps according to taste, some people might read historical fiction as a way to escape to a sugarcoated version of the past, whereas others find greater satisfaction in reading authentic historical fiction. I'm so glad you found it helpful! :)

[@salicylicacid9945]

I 100% agree with your last point. I read a historical fiction book series that was set between the years 1912-1921. Although I really enjoyed the books it was really disappointing that the author did not mention issues like racism and segregation which would have been very prominent and would have affected the characters everyday life. There were so many missed opportunities to discuss it. One of the main characters time travels into the future from the 1920s, he shows great interest in the development of technology but the author fails to talk the differences between both eras race wise. It would have been extremely different and “weird” for this character as the life of 1920 South Carolina was all he knew. It was quite awkward for me to read as I was waiting for the author to mention it but she never did. It’s important to mention things like this especially when they played such a large role in the lives of real people who lived in the past. Nonetheless great video !

[@ArnellaHobler]

That is a great example of this problem. Whenever I come across that it tends to bother me a lot, it's like a great pink elephant in the background of every scene that no one is paying attention to. :/

[@SlowSnower02]

Thanks for making this video! I'm getting ready to write a YA novel set in the Roman Empire and this really helped :)

[@ArnellaHobler]

So glad you found it helpful! The Roman Empire is a really fascinating setting, good luck with your novel :)

[@batwick]

Where are you posting it and can I please read it

[@zuutlmna]

Good.. Used to be, there wasn't much out there dealing with that historical timeframe for stories. I read "The Far Arena." Loved it! But that was back in the 1980's. It was a big seller though. And look at the interest in the "Gladiator" movie. So definitely a ripe timeframe for good stories!!

[@BudsCartoon]

1:47 - I learned about water closets before toilets.

[@StevenJBosch]

There was a play entitled “Abe Lincoln in Illinois by Robert Sherwood. It took Lincoln from his 20s up until he left Illinois to assume his duties as president. Sherwood included a change who crossed into legend Ann Rutledge. In the play Rutledge is Lincoln’s first love. The info is slight but Sherwood made it serve. In his telling Ann had been spurned by a faithless lover. Lincoln offers her a possible spin to mollify the gossips. She could say he suggests that she had thrown over her absconded suitor in favor of Lincoln. Lincoln adores her and sbe encourages him to improve on his meager formal education and learn how to write persuasively eventually to becoming a lawyer. Ann dies of fever and through his grief Linchpin decides to justify her faith in him.

[@valentinasepulveda3878]

I'm getting ready to start writing a historical fiction story that occurs in the Korean Kingdom of Silla and I am doing a lot of research about it which is being fun since I am learning a lot about other cultures

[@ArnellaHobler]

That sounds so interesting! Thanks for watching and good luck with your project 😊

[@valentinasepulveda3878]

@@ArnellaHobler thanks

[@dada13771]

Thank you for your tips. I am working on a novel set in achaemenid dynasty in persia, about a commander who finds himself fighting for his sanity. But although it's a personal drama I'm trying to make it both epic and mythological. Your video assured me that I'm on the right track.

[@ArnellaHobler]

So glad you found it helpful! Your project sounds really interesting, I'm sure it will turn out great!

[@APink176]

Great points, thank you so much!

[@themobbedbrain]

I am writing an historical fiction on Hiroshima and Nagasaki incident....is there smth...I should be worried about.....Tbh, I'm very concerned of using countries name like Japan and America

[@Char444]

I am writing a story based around a City. The story shows how the inhabitants of the City defended it and "The broken South wall" against the Norman Invaders. But the Traitors hand over the City to the invaders. This really helped me thank you

[@ArnellaHobler]

I'm glad you found it useful! Best of luck with your story 😊

[@BudsCartoon]

I started online, then before I knew it, I was corresponding with city records offices and buying documents.

[@billwehrmacher3842]

I just found your channel because I'm trying to help someone in my writing club work through his 'historical fiction' novel. You had some great points. We're having a debate about the necessity/advisability of footnoting things. For example, he wants to highlight/footnote "Fugitive Slave Law:1850" when used as part of a conversation. I've never seen this. Any comment on that?

[@ArnellaHobler]

It's not that common to use footnotes in fiction overall. For many readers, they tend to disrupt the flow of the text. That said, I don't think there are any "rules" that say you can't use them. I think it would be wise to check with as many readers as possible before deciding on whether or not to have them.

[@billwehrmacher3842]

@@ArnellaHobler Thank you for your reply. I hope your channel grows the way it deserves. It's the best!

[@ArnellaHobler]

@@billwehrmacher3842 Thank you!

[@featherquill9476]

I saw an example of subtle footnotes that didn’t break the flow of the story, but rather added significantly to the overall theme, character, so many things, it’s fine if it doesn’t help, you do you, but just in case the example is the notes Death writes in the Book Thief, perhaps a narrator can leave them, perhaps even create a deeper connection between the reader and book by addressing them directly, what ever may help, hope all goes well!

[@anastasiashistoryproductio6791]

Interesting. Historical fiction is always fun. I am currently writing a book on what if America supported the French Revolution and had it's civil war many years before with the death of Washington and Jefferson and the south splitting. Not very realistic but still interesting idea.

[@ArnellaHobler]

Oh, that is a very interesting idea! I like historical fiction that really think outside the box and make up potential scenarios. It makes you think! Good luck with your writing project. :)

[@anastasiashistoryproductio6791]

@@ArnellaHobler thanks!

[@Ponakalaranjit456]

I m doing a book series based on the Indian Independence Movement It will be set in 1930 Godavari Jilla That's When Salt March happened It's called Uppu Which means Salt in Telugu.

[@BudsCartoon]

MY BIGGEST QUESTION - I'm writing about NOT my own characters, but they are otherwise unknown. I'm writing real events, but also unknown, hence why I am writing it. I'm working off 30 newspaper clips from 150 years ago and doing a LOT of twisting, filling and fictionalizing. My research is exhausted and there's just not a lot of material there. Still historical fiction???

[@megahertz5504]

A manga/comic series called Vagabond is a good example of using a famous or prolific person in historical fiction the person in question being the swordsman miyamoto musashi

[@idlydog1232]

I want to write a historical horror-ish story that takes place during WW2 and honestly I'm just worried i won't be able to express the issues properly since the characters are actually war dogs instead of humans. Either way, I will definitely do lots of research!

[@ArnellaHobler]

I think it will feel easier once you've done that research. You will have a much better grasp of things and know what is most important :) good luck with your project!

[@Harudodo]

I was wondering if it would be a good idea to have your main characters fictional with minor main characters and supporting characters as historical figures- trying to write on the American Revolution lol

[@ArnellaHobler]

Sure you could. I actually think it's a much better idea to have your main character fictional and other characters based on historical figures, because you have more freedom creating your fictional characters how you want while historical figures already have a set personality.

[@shwe7]

Can I change relationship in historical fiction such as changing the wifes place and their ancestors ......... Or create a wife who never existed from another dynasty ???

[@hanaalampak4545]

Miss? Do you have a video about tips to write a historical romance fiction?

[@ArnellaHobler]

I don't, unfortunately! But I'm sure there are plenty of videos out there from much more experienced writers on that particular subject :) shouldn't be difficult to find!

[@hanaalampak4545]

@@ArnellaHobler thank you so much miss. I really appreciate your reply. Thanks a lot!

[@achintyakumarjha8274]

Mam Can I denote a particular time period or year in my historical fiction ? For example 1581 AD , 1171 AD etc????

[@ArnellaHobler]

Sure, it's really up to you. Many historical fiction writers use a particular event in history to make a story from. If you don't have an event like that it's also nice to give the reader more context by setting a specific date or timespan for the story to take place in :)

[@achintyakumarjha8274]

@@ArnellaHobler Thank you so much mam ♥️♥️😄.

[@imamarkiplite7090]

I'm doing a Victorian era story

[@jayentanaorem6598]

R u miss or madam😆😆😆😍

[@ArnellaHobler]

Madame! :)

[@jayentanaorem6598]

@@ArnellaHobler 😔😒😫😭😭😭😆

[@RomanPhilosopher]

why are you looking left the whole video?

[@familycorvette]

Noped out at "racism, misogeny, antisemitism, animal cruelty...." You are obviously so firmly wedged in the mindset in your own time, you have little of value to share on the topic of historical fiction.