It’s #FourGodsFriday!
It’s #fourgodsfriday! Send me your questions about my upcoming historical fantasy novel, The Four Gods: Prince of the North, and I’ll answer them!
Tag: historical fiction
-
-
It’s #FourGodsFriday!
I’m baaaaack! And guess what? It’s #fourgodsfriday! Send me your questions about my upcoming historical fantasy novel, The Four Gods: Prince of the North, and I’ll answer them!
-
For this week’s #FourGodsFriday, I was debating on posting my writing playlist for the first book (though if you guys would like to see it, just let me know!) but instead, I want to post a video depicting what the music of the time would have sounded like. It’s hard for us to imagine music from 3,000 years ago, and songs like this one were ones Gen and the wealthy class of China would have heard on a regular basis, though folk songs were plentiful for every walk of life. Music was a crucial part of life and like in most cultures, was seen as not only a way to entertain, but to convey emotions or situations that may not be so easily said in words alone. Many Chinese idioms reference musical instruments or singing, as do poems and legends. A fun fact to do with the Four Gods in particular is that the Fenghuang is said to represent the pentatonic musical scale and is said to be a master of vocal performances. The Fenghuang is also said to favor musicians and will sometimes sing with them if they find the melody pleasing. As far as the human realm goes, princes of Gen’s standing would also be expected to have an understanding of and some respectable level of skill in musical arts and poetry.
This song, simply called “Your Collar,” or “Lapel” references someone haunted by the memory of their lover, particularly the green color they had a penchant for wearing. I know it’s nothing specific to the gods or characters, but I always find glimpses into the past like these fascinating and I hope you do, too.
That’s all for this week! Just to let you all know, there won’t be any segment next week due to the holiday weekend. Hope you all stay well for the upcoming holidays! See you in a few weeks!
-
Hey all! I’ve just gotten back from Gen Con and there were TONS of writing seminars there, one being how to write alternative history. Historical fiction, sci-fi, and fantasy have become so intertwined lately and a lot of writers are delving into the genre to start meshing more popular genres with historical backdrops. Seeing as how The Four Gods is a historical fantasy and alternative history and how relevant those panels were, I thought a review on some basics of historical fiction writing would be in order.
1. Pick Your Poison
First and foremost, choose your time period and area of historical fiction you will be writing in. Don’t you know, historical fiction has multiple sub-categories like all genres! Are you writing traditional historical fiction that only encompasses an event that could have happened in a given time period? Are you writing speculative fiction that involves fantasy, sci-fi, and a lot of what-ifs with famous events? Whatever you choose, pick your time period, get an idea of your characters, and get your time machine ready.
2. Research
Research is key to demonstrating sufficient knowledge of the period you have chosen to write about. Look into books, articles, and if you can, interviews– or as I like to call it, “hands-on history.” You also have to know how to research. Wikipedia is a good springboard, but should never be used by itself. Look into the source list of the article you’re reading, or if you pick up books or physical articles from academic sources, look at their sources. Of course, it is up to each author to how much research is necessary, which depends on how deep your manuscript goes into the time period you have chosen.
If you are still in college and have access to online libraries, use them! JSTOR and EBSCOHost were invaluable research tools that I had at my disposal since I began writing The Moon-Eyed Ones when I was still in my Master’s program.
As for my “hands-on history” approach, museums and primary sources are wonderful tools. For instance, The Moon-Eyed Ones takes place in 1835-38 Tennessee, which was based on the area my family lives in. I used the Museum of the Cherokee Indian in North Carolina and Conner Prairie Interactive History Park here in Indianapolis as two of my big resources, as the Cherokee Museum has artifacts and tidbits I had missed, and Conner Prairie as an interactive setting let me use all of my senses and completely immerse myself into what it may have been like to live in the mid 1830s (and have a little fun on top of that :P).
Note: Also be prepared, depending on your subject matter, to run across sources in multiple languages.
3. Character Construction and World Building
Characters are the lifeblood of a story, and when writing historical fiction, you may have more restrictions than if you were writing in another genre. Your characters must conform to the time period you have chosen. For example, Silas in The Moon-Eyed Ones is affected by laws at the time that forbid him from voting or having a voice in public hearings. Because of his race (or perceived race), he is forbidden from certain activities that he would have no problems doing if he lived today. Be careful to not include references or abilities to modern privileges or luxuries. If you are writing speculative fiction, then you have a little more free space to run around and mess up the space-time continuum or include inaccuracies.
Same goes for your setting. What do houses or buildings look like? Did your character have access to electricity, running water, or transportation other than their own two feet? How accessible were stores, towns, or other gathering places? What occupations were available? How does your character eat, dress, or bathe, and how often? Keep an eye on modern amenities trying to sneak their way into your manuscript, as you may be shocked to find out that your dashing male lead may have only bathed once every week or two.
4. Say what?!
Language is important when your characters are speaking, especially if your story takes place many centuries in the past. I myself find this one of the most challenging aspects of writing historical fiction because while I would like everything to be accurate as possible, I would also like my story to be readable. For example, back in the 18th and early 19th centuries, Melungeons have been noted by some sources to have spoken a hodgepodge of Elizabethan English and the American English we know today. The language patterns are still apparent in many dialects of the Southern American accent, but how far is too far? Tread lightly here, and pepper in what you can, but use beta reviews and other reader opinions to gauge if your characters sound too modern or if they can’t be understood at all.
Another note on this is that depending on your time period, the people in your story may have a few things to say about certain things that would seem racist, offensive, and downright horrifying to our modern sensibilities. The “How far is too far?” question arises here more than ever, and while I personally don’t like sacrificing historical accuracy to make everyone sing Kumbaya, it all depends on your manuscript. But in this regard especially, should you run into this problem, be prepared to make your readers uncomfortable.
5. Read!
Yes, read! I personally like reading books with similar subject matter and in similar settings when I am writing, but reading, in general, is a given (especially because you’ll be researching). When I was writing the first draft of The Moon-Eyed Ones, I went for any fiction that involved Melungeons, Cherokees, or the American South in the 19th and early 20th C. To be honest, I didn’t enjoy every single book I picked up, but reading gave me insight on what I enjoyed, how the writing was executed in regards to the points above, or even what not to do. Reading makes you a better writer and can give you a better idea of what you want your manuscript to accomplish.
—-
And there you have it, the top 5 aspects of getting that historical fiction novel written! Of course, these are true with any piece of fiction and keeping your writing on track.
-
Hi, all! So I promised extras from TMEO, and for this one is a blurb from an opening scene of an inkling I had of a sequel. This is in the perspective of Silas and Amadahy’s eldest daughter, Aurelia. The idea for the sequel was scrapped, but I hope you enjoy this scene. 🙂
I
frequently dreamt of the mountains, but my visions were always clouded by fire.
Pa always was the first to console me in the wake of my nightmares. His
soothing voice and his ageless sky-filled eyes were always so compassionate.
Mama was too, but she joked that he was a far better child-raiser than she
would ever be. To her, we were Cherokees. No doubt about it. My father was a
different story. He spoke Cherokee with such a nasal twang that it almost
became its own dialect, his people were my mother’s people, but also not.
Mixed-bloods. Melungeons. Whatever that meant. Nevertheless, we were raised in
the towering, smoky blue mountains as the people of this land. The smoke grew
thicker, the air hazier…Fists meeting wood shot me from my thoughts,
and my pulse quickened, bringing me back to my senses. I had never in my entire
life seen my father lose his temper with my brother or me. Everyone had left
their peace behind with the start of the war, and I had to admit that I was the
first to tire of such trifles.“No,
no! I won’t stand for this!” He didn’t even bother to scold my brother in
Cherokee. He was truly angry. And rightfully so.The
newest edition of The Phoenix was
splayed across the table, the page in question crumpled into a ball. “The
Nation decreed it so, Pa. We’re obligated to serve the Confederate Army as
Cherokees. Chief Watie said so. Chief Thomas has said so.”“This
Watie is not our chief, neither is this Thomas. We are not part of this Nation,
East or West. Maybe one day we will be, but I will not serve the army that
threaten to enslave my children in a rich man’s war! East Tennessee is part of
the Union. If you are called to fight, you will not smear our people’s
reputation by fighting for the Confederate Army! Do I make myself clear?” His
eyes almost glowed when he lost his temper. It was a piercing, venomous gaze
that usually prevented him from shouting or beating us in the past. All we
needed to get in line was that single sideways glance.Mama
kept quiet. Her temper was worse than Pa’s was, and I could tell from her
pursed lips and deepening stress lines that her teeth were clamping down onto
her tongue.“You
have no right to tell me who I can and cannot fight for!” Now my brother was
shouting, “The Cherokee Nations have called for us to serve the Confederacy! I
can’t believe out of everyone in this settlement, you would be the first to
denounce your standing as a warrior of the Cherokee people!”“I
left my warrior days behind me after Removal ended. And you forget, Asher, that
you do not just have a duty to your mother’s people, but to my people as well.
Would you so endanger them as to fight for a cause that wishes to march them
away in shackles? You would not be valued among their ranks, but only as cannon
fodder for their more valuable white men. To them, you are only a lowly
Melungeon. What part of that don’t you understand?”Mama
finally spoke. “He’s right, you know. You forget since we have lived so
peacefully here that you are not a white man’s equal in their eyes. You are still
considered lesser because you are colored, Indian. We all are.”That
was the day our house became divided. My little brother shortly left to fight
for the Confederate Cherokee cause. Mama was distraught. Her heart was pulled
in two different directions, and much of the settlement was the same. Though
most agreed on one thing: only become involved when it became necessary. Unfortunately
for my family, necessary came sooner than we would have liked when my father,
and all the other men in our town, were conscripted as manpower for the Union
cause.“Silas
Vanover, Mixed-blood Cherokee. Age forty-two. Assignment: United States Colored
Troops, First Alabama Infantry.” -
Greetings! In this post, I’m going to cover some basics on writing historical fiction novels. Granted, this is my personal approach, but many of these things are key to writing a successful historical novel.
1. Pick Your Poison
First and foremost, choose your time period and area of historical fiction you will be writing in. Don’t you know, historical fiction has multiple sub-categories like all genres! Are you writing traditional historical fiction that only encompasses an event that could have happened in a given time period? Are you writing speculative fiction that involves fantasy, sci-fi, and a lot of what-ifs with famous events? Whatever you choose, pick your time period, get an idea of your characters, and get your time machine ready.
2. Research
Research is key to demonstrating sufficient knowledge of the period you have chosen to write about. Look into books, articles, and if you can, interviews– or as I like to call it, “hands-on history.” You also have to know how to research. Wikipedia is a good springboard, but should never be used by itself. Look into the source list of the article you’re reading, or if you pick up books or physical articles from academic sources, look at their sources. Of course, it is up to each author to how much research is necessary, which depends on how deep your manuscript goes into the time period you have chosen.
If you are still in college and have access to online libraries, use them! JSTOR and EBSCOHost were invaluable research tools that I had at my disposal since I began writing The Moon-Eyed Ones when I was still in my Master’s program.
As for my “hands-on history” approach, museums and primary sources are wonderful tools. For instance, The Moon-Eyed Ones takes place in 1835-38 Tennessee, which was based on the area my family lives in. I used the Museum of the Cherokee Indian in North Carolina and Conner Prairie Interactive History Park here in Indianapolis as two of my big resources, as the Cherokee Museum has artifacts and tidbits I had missed, and Conner Prairie as an interactive setting let me use all of my senses and completely immerse myself into what it may have been like to live in the mid 1830s (and have a little fun on top of that :P).
Note: Also be prepared, depending on your subject matter, to run across sources in multiple languages.
3. Character Construction and World Building
Characters are the lifeblood of a story, and when writing historical fiction, you may have more restrictions than if you were writing in another genre. Your characters must conform to the time period you have chosen. For example, Silas in The Moon-Eyed Ones is affected by laws at the time that forbid him from voting or having a voice in public hearings. Because of his race (or perceived race), he is forbidden from certain activities that he would have no problems doing if he lived today. Be careful to not include references or abilities to modern privileges or luxuries. If you are writing speculative fiction, then you have a little more free space to run around and mess up the space-time continuum or include inaccuracies.
Same goes for your setting. What do houses or buildings look like? Did your character have access to electricity, running water, or transportation other than their own two feet? How accessible were stores, towns, or other gathering places? What occupations were available? How does your character eat, dress, or bathe, and how often? Keep an eye on modern amenities trying to sneak their way into your manuscript, as you may be shocked to find out that your dashing male lead may have only bathed once every week or two.
4. Say what?!
Language is important when your characters are speaking, especially if your story takes place many centuries in the past. I myself find this one of the most challenging aspects of writing historical fiction because while I would like everything to be accurate as possible, I would also like my story to be readable. For example, back in the 18th and early 19th centuries, Melungeons have been noted by some sources to have spoken a hodgepodge of Elizabethan English and the American English we know today. The language patterns are still apparent in many dialects of the Southern American accent, but how far is too far? Tread lightly here, and pepper in what you can, but use beta reviews and other reader opinions to gauge if your characters sound too modern or if they can’t be understood at all.
Another note on this is that depending on your time period, the people in your story may have a few things to say about certain things that would seem racist, offensive, and downright horrifying to our modern sensibilities. The “How far is too far?” question arises here more than ever, and while I personally don’t like sacrificing historical accuracy to make everyone sing Kumbaya, it all depends on your manuscript. But in this regard especially, should you run into this problem, be prepared to make your readers uncomfortable.
5. Read!
Yes, read! I personally like reading books with similar subject matter and in similar settings when I am writing, but reading, in general, is a given (especially because you’ll be researching). When I was writing the first draft of The Moon-Eyed Ones, I went for any fiction that involved Melungeons, Cherokees, or the American South in the 19th and early 20th C. To be honest, I didn’t enjoy every single book I picked up, but reading gave me insight on what I enjoyed, how the writing was executed in regards to the points above, or even what not to do. Reading makes you a better writer and can give you a better idea of what you want your manuscript to accomplish.
—-
And there you have it, the top 5 aspects of getting that historical fiction novel written! Of course, these are true with any piece of fiction and keeping your writing on track.
Feel free to ask any questions, comment, or just say hello. I am going to try to post once or twice a week and maybe I’ll even post some excerpts. 🙂
AUTHOR | HISTORIAN | ARTIST 