The Perils of Writing Historical Fiction

By B.J. Scott (Guest Blogger)

Thank you for having me on your blog today.

I was asked to talk about the pitfalls of writing a historical novel and there are many. First of all the genre is important. Historicals can fall into two categories, historical romance or historical fiction. While most would think them one and the same, they are not.

In a historical romance the history sets the stage and the ambiance for the book, but the main focus is on the romance between the two main characters. Most readers of historical romance are well versed in their favorite time periods and expect the book to be as accurate as possible when it comes to setting, speech and customs, so research is very important. An author can weave in details about important historic dates or battles into their plot, and might use historic figures as secondary characters to enhance the book, but it is the relationship between the hero and heroine that must be center stage. Most publishers of historical romance have very strict guidelines and the POV of the book may only be that of the hero or heroine or a combination of both. The secondary characters, while they help to flesh out the story, basically stay in the background. The history must never overshadow the romance. There must always be a HEA ending as well.

In historical fiction, the historic events, battles or figures drive the story. While there might be a romance in the wings, like in the movie Braveheart, it takes the backseat to the historical events. Secondary characters can have their POV expressed and play a more significant role. The ending does not have to be a happy one.

This might all sound simple, but it is not. When you write a historical romance, it is more complicated than one set in modern times. You have a hero and heroine from the past, a time when the dynamic between men and women were very different than they are today. Often in a historical romance, there is a war, battle or social tradition or custom that keeps the lovers from being together. Women were treated differently in the past. Until into the twentieth century they were viewed as property and used to barter for land and alliances. A woman was seen and not heard and usually had no say in who they wedded or bedded. While your dashing hero might be an honorable man in love with his lady, he may be faced with challenges and make decisions that in modern day would be considered deplorable, forcing him to choose duty over desire.

Taking the heroine out of the subservient role and making her a spirited, independent woman is also a challenge. As with the hero, you must find a middle ground that lets the reader relate to the characters and root them on, yet keeps them believable and not too modern in their way of thinking or behaving. Some readers have a problem with the relationship from the past and find they get annoyed with either the hero’s aloofness or the heroin’s reluctance to stand up for herself. It can also go to the opposite extreme where the hero is too good to be true and the heroine a shrew. So finding that happy medium is very important.

In historical romance we also must contend with different eras. Each one has its own unique set of customs and social mores to contend with. What a Viking might get away with in 1100, an English Lord in a Regency romance might not. This means an author must be diverse and familiar with the time period she chooses. Again you can never do too much research. Authors must do their best to fit the characters and plot into the mold set for that time period, yet still remain unique.

The further back in time we go, the more difficult it is to get the setting and characters right. Most romance authors pick a favorite time period and pretty well stick to that for their books. Some will branch out, but usually an author of Scottish historical romance writes books on that topic. A Regency writer sticks to that time period and so on.

What happens to the books that fall in between romance and general historical fiction? This can be a precarious place for an author! As a history buff and very much into research and historical accuracy, I find it hard to stick to the strict guidelines set for the genre of historical romance. I have a lot of history woven into my storylines and my secondary characters are noticeable and memorable. Most likely this is the reason my first book, Highland Legacy was seen by a few editors as historical fiction and by others as historical romance. I had to work hard to keep the history to a minimum and to tone down my secondary characters, to make sure the book remained in the POV of the hero and heroine.

Because a historical romance takes place in a time when the hero and heroine are likely to be apart for extended periods of time, keeping the romance fresh and not turning the book into a history lesson is a difficult. I ran into the same problem when writing Highland Legacy and again with Highland Quest. Since the books take place around major battles during Scotland’s bid for independence, the heroine and hero must be apart at times in the book. Hopefully, I have managed to get the romance sizzling enough to withstand the necessary times apart and the scenes when they are together more than make up for it. In my third book, Highland Homecoming, I am trying to have less time apart and focus more on the romance between Alasdair, the oldest brother and the one least likely to fall for a woman, and the mysterious lass he finds unconscious on the beach.

The last point to be made about historical romance is that like any genre, there are ebbs and tides in popularity. When I first was ready to submit Highland Legacy the market was saturated with Scottish historicals and the publishers were shying away from them in favor of other time periods. Fortunately, that created a shortage and they regained their popularity. Some eras like Regency seem to always hold an audience. If you talk to writers of other time periods like Civil War or Westerns they say it is harder to sell those than Highlander books or Regency Romances. If you plan to write historicals, don’t only do research for you book, but be sure there is a market waiting for it as well.

Blurb for Highland Quest

No longer content in the shadows of his older brothers and on a quest to find his destiny, Bryce Fraser chooses a path fraught with danger, passion, and decisions. Can his unspoken love for spirited, beguiling Fallon be triumphant in a time of war and uncertainty, or will they both fall prey to the devious plans of a traitorous laird from a rival clan?

Excerpt

Bryce closed the gap between them. She heard his footsteps, felt his warm breath on the back of her neck as he spoke, but didn’t turn around.

“Please dinna be angry with me, Fallon. I could not bear to think you held me any ill will. This is for the best.” He gently touched her shoulder.

“Dinna leave.” She dropped the sack and whipped around to face him, the words escaping before she could stop them. “Why must you go? Why must you risk your life?”

“You know why.” He yanked her against his chest and captured her mouth.

But this time she did not fight his advances. She wrapped her arms around his neck, responding with equal enthusiasm to his kiss. Her lips parted, welcoming the sweep of his tongue. As he deepened the exploration, her knees buckled, and she clung to his tunic as if her life depended on it.

Unshed tears stung her eyes, but she managed to blink them away. This might be the last time they would see each other and she suddenly found herself wanting a memory that would last forever. What she was about to ask was wrong, and could only lead to heartache. While she knew she should fight temptation with her last breath, she was only human.

“Join with me, Bryce,” she whispered against his lips.

Highland Quest Buy Links:  

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AQKYPU0    

Soul Mate Publishing http://www.soulmatepublishing.com/highland-quest/   

Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/highland-quest-bj-scott/1114002946?ean=2940016110769&isbn=2940016110769 

Kobo http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Highland-Quest/book-3h45k9pPxkaA9JX__x0mRw/page1.html?s=W28tjCmTwESL-eKO_pW68A&r=1

Bio

With a passion for historical romance, history in general, and anything Celtic, B.J. always has an exciting work in progress. Each story offers a blend of romance, adventure, suspense, and, where appropriate, a dab of comic relief. Carefully researched historical facts are woven into each manuscript, providing a backdrop from which steamy romance, gripping plots, and vivid characters—dashing alpha heroes and resourceful, beguiling heroines you can’t help but admire—spring to life. A member of RWA, World Romance Writers, Celtic Hearts Romance Writers, and Savvy Authors, B.J. also writes contemporary, paranormal, time travel, and romantic suspense.

C.S. Lewis first captivated B. J.’s imagination in the fourth grade, and her desire to write sprang from there. Following a career in nursing and child and youth work, B.J. married her knight-in-shining-armor, and he whisked her away to his castle by the sea. In reality, they share their century-old home in a small Canadian town on the shore of Lake Erie with three dogs and a cat. When she is not working at her childcare job, on her small business, or writing, you will find her reading, camping, or antique hunting.

https://www.facebook.com/authorbjscott

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http://authorbjscott.wordpress.com/

BJ is giving away various  swag (including a canvas tote bag, a mouse pad, a pen, book thong, bookmark, can cooler, magnet, and key chain -- US/Canada only) to randomly drawn commenters from this tour and her Virtual Book Tour, and a grand prize of one $50 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter from this tour and her Super Book Blast. For information on the other stops on the tour, visit: 

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/12/virtual-book-tour-highland-quest-by-b-j.html

The more guest blogs you check out, the greater your chances to win!