Writing Historical Fiction

Celia Brayfield is a multi-award winning novelist and a creative writing tutor. Her nine novels include Wild Weekend (2004) and Sunset (1999).Duncan Sprott is the acclaimed author of The Ptolemies (2004), Daughter of the Crocodile (2006), and Our Lady of the Potatoes (1995). He was awarded a Literature Bursary by the Arts Council of Great Britain in 1995. The Guardian described him as 'The natural successor to Robert Graves and Mary Renault'. He has nearly 20 years' experience of teaching Creative Writing.

• ForewordPrefaceThe Writers' and Artists' Book of Historical FictionPart One: Historical FictionPart Two: Tips & TalesPart Three: Write OnIntroductionPart 1: Historical FictionReflections 1 by Duncan Sprott1. On being stuck fast2. On myth and historical fiction3. On being not quite proper4. On writing about antiquity5. On the heartReflections 2 by Celia Brayfield1. The Past Polemical2. Love and sex, fact and fiction3. Welcome to my Storyworld: History in digital games4. The Land of Stories: Historical fiction for children5. Heroine addiction: Women as protagonists in historical fictionA Short History of Historical FictionFrom Gilgamesh to Rome by Duncan SprottFrom Beowulf to King Arthur by Duncan SprottEarly Modern by Celia BrayfieldLe Morte d'Arthur to The Castle of OtrantoModern by Celia BrayfieldWaverley to MiddlemarchTess of the d'Urbervilles to Wolf HallNew WomenSeeing with fresh eyesPart 2: Tips and Tales - guest contributionsMargaret AtwoodIan BeckMadison Smartt BellRonan BennettVorona BennettTracey ChevalierLindsay ClarkeElizabeth CookAnne DoughtySarah DunantMichel FaberMargaret GeorgePhilippa GregoryKatharine McMahonValerio Massimo ManfrediIan MortimerKate MosseCharles PalliserOrhan PamukEdward RutherfurdManda ScottAdam ThorpeStella TillyardRose TremainAlison WeirLouisa YoungPart 3: Write OnPlanning by Duncan SprottFinding your subjectChoosing a periodEvaluatiuonHistorical research by Duncan SprottHow much research? Finding your directionEstablishing foundationsAdvice from expertsBasic sourcesModern times 1500+Early timesWhere to start?Ancient Greece and RomeAncient EgyptRoman BritainDark Age BritainMedieval BritainWalesScotlandIrelandOnline sourcesSearch enginesOnline genealogyGoing offlineLibrariesPublic librariesMajor librariesUniversity librariesSubscription librariesSpecial interest librariesArchivesNational ArchivesWales - National archivesScotland - National archivesNorthern IrelandBasic sourcesArchivesUniversity librariesOther librariesBirths, marriages and deaths - UKWillsLocal archivesCounty Record OfficesWhat can you expect to find?Other useful organizations Historic buildings and monuments HeraldryMuseums and galleries - EnglandLondon - MuseumsLondon - GalleriesMuseums outside LondonMuseums and galleries - ScotlandHistorical societies and relevant organizationsWelsh journalsHouse historyTopographyPicture librariesIreland (Eire)Basic sourcesArchivesLocal archivesUniversity librariesMuseums and galleriesUSA ResearchBasic sourcesNational archivesLocal archivesLibrariesPublic libraries University librariesOther librariesMuseums and galleriesHistorical societiesCanada ResearchBasic sourcesNational and local archivesLibrariesMajor librariesMuseums and galleriesAustralia ResearchBasic sourcesPublic librariesMuseums and galleriesNew ZealandBasic sourcesResearch planCosting, time management, travellingWhat will it cost?How long will it take?Last minute questionsBeginningHow to focusHow to get goingDrafting a plotDraftsPractical stuffTroubleshootingWhat to do with a gap in your evidence?Writer's blockExercises by Celia BrayfieldWriting coursesHow can they help?Writing courses - UKOrganizations - UKWriting courses - USAWriting courses - CanadaWriting courses - Australia and New ZealandEnding by Duncan SprottHistorical Fiction from A-ZLastly...Is it really really finished?Getting publishedLiterary agentsFinding an agentSubmitting the manuscriptWhat to send?Contacting an agentThe LetterWriting a synopsisHandling rejection(s)Agency agreementsPublishersSelf-publishing by Celia BrayfieldOnline publishing by Celia BrayfieldAcknowledgementsPermissionsBibliographyIndex

A treasure trove of elegant and inspiring thoughts about historical fiction, cut with hard-nosed practical advice. A must for all writers and lovers of the field.