Because of our page on
Genre, we already know that historical fiction is a genre or category of
fiction, but did you know that historical fiction is one of the most
popular of all genres?
Well, what really is the definition of the historical fiction genre?
The American Heritage Dictionary describes these two words (historical
and fiction) in this way.
Historical,
relating to or the characters of history and based
on or concerned with the events of history. That is simple and
makes sense.
Fiction
is defined as, a literary work whose content is created by the
imagination and not necessarily fact.
Well, that is a very broad understanding of historical fiction and
historical fiction can take many forms. Here are a few ways to define
how to write historical fiction:
1. Depiction of real historical characters in
context with the challenges they must face.
2. Depictions of real historical figures in made up situations.
3. Depictions of imagined historical characters in documented historical settings.
4. Depictions of imagined historical characters in fictional situation, but in the context of a real historical period. This is the "type" of historical fiction I most often like to write.
Besides these definitions, we also have a mixed variety of historical stories such as:
Time travel or time shift stories... I also write time travel stories too!
And there is also the "What If?" historical story such as "What if" America did not win during WWII. What if the British had won during the Revolution. "What if" aliens really time traveled from the past. These are fun stories to read and write and makes our imagination grow with all the possibilities.
Historical fantasy is also a different genre of historical fiction where historic characters are depicted in historical periods or situations, but also has a touch of magic or flying dragons as an element. Another fun type of historical fiction writing.
There you have it, my definition(s) for historical fiction writing. Oh wait, I forgot to talk about "documentary" historical fiction. This is the genre of writing I like to do the best. This type of historical fiction means that all aspects of the historical characters, their setting, their character definitions, and lifestyles all come out of documentary (recorded) research along with historical events and locations. To do this type of research I have to use many primary and secondary sources to learn as much as I can about the authentic period of time and characters that I write about.