When you ask people what they least favorite subjects were in school, chances are that history is going rank high on that list. Perhaps this is the reason that one of my most often asked questions is, “Why do you write historical fiction?” Follow up comments usually include comments about all the dates and names and how in the world could anyone make all that “stuff” interesting.
It is upon that last point that drives my passion for writing historical fiction. Those of us who do write in this particular genre tend to believe that a better understanding of history is very important to our future. There are clear patterns that repeat themselves across time. Perhaps one of the greatest factors in this circle of unending events is the fact that we as a people are not learning from our mistakes (or our successes).
This is where many historical fiction authors attempt to step in and wave a red flag in an attempt to either warn people not to go back there again or to highlight how a similar circumstance was aptly solved in the past. There are other writers who simply enjoy the periods of time within which they write, but even so, the characters in those stories are living out lives and resolving conflicts.
It is within the context of history that such characters come to life and must navigate particular circumstances to some resolution. Isn’t that what contemporary life is still about? Readers of any given genre are not interested in characters that simply exist. They want vibrant and real emotions, reactions, and experiences.
The fun part of a historical setting, for me, is that through the research and writing, I realize that much of what human kind experiences today is really not that much different from the actions of our ancestors. A high school or college history class may not be able to relay such a reality because within that context, the focus is on the places, dates and names. The conflicts themselves are most often glossed over which makes contemplating their actions much more difficult.
Readers are interested in the human story, the life-blood of any good piece of writing. It may seem illogical to think that a story from the past can be as relevant to modern society as a piece of contemporary fiction, but we historical writers beg to differ. The human story, as played out across the centuries, has really not changed all that much. Our characters may not communicate with cell phones or across electrical networks, but in the end, communication is established and problems (hopefully) are resolved.
If you have not ever read a historical fiction novel, I would encourage you to at least give one a try. You may be surprised to find that regardless of the places, dates and times, the characters are alive with hope and promise for a better tomorrow, your tomorrow. I know that as I write, if I can entice my reader to a better understanding of our past, the chances for a better future will increase.
