Historical fiction is rife with opportunities for writers: fascinating stories, characters, customs, art, language, food, and more. But those same advantages can quickly become disadvantages. Research can bog down story, archaic language can stall character development, actual historical events can derail plot. In short, fact can get in the way of your fiction.
Led by Stephanie Storey—author of the Los Angeles Times-bestselling novel Oil and Marble: a novel of Leonardo and Michelangelo—this workshop will give students the skills to navigate the tricky waters of historical fiction. Participants will learn helpful research techniques—how to choose reliable sources, organize research, and track down obscure information—as well as methods for incorporating historical facts without devolving into a boring lecture and the specific quirks of publishing a historical novel.
The class will also discuss the central concerns of historical fiction, including how to make necessary cuts in the research to keep the story moving, how to deal with dialects and anachronisms, how to integrate fictional characters with real-life historical figures, and how much artistic license writers may take with history to tell a compelling story.
ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED
All MWPA workshops require advanced registration. We accept registration by phone, mail, and online via PayPal. We cannot guarantee registration in the final 24-hours before a workshop, and can rarely accommodate day-of registration.
PAYMENT & CANCELLATION POLICIES
If you need to withdraw from a class after registering for any reason, please email or call the MWPA immediately. You may be eligible for a partial refund or credit, depending on how far in advance you cancel.
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QUESTIONS
For any questions regarding this workshop, please contact Hannah Perry at perry@mainewriters.org.
REGISTER BY PHONE
Call 207-228-8263 and register with your VISA or MasterCard.
REGISTER BY MAIL
If you prefer to pay by mail, please print this registration form (downloadable PDF) and mail it to the MWPA with a check or credit card information.
REGISTER ONLINE WITH PAYPAL