Painting the Past: A Guide for Writing Historical Fiction

From the Executive Editor of The Copperfield Review comes a definitive guide to the joys of historical storytelling.
 
Do you hear the voices of the past calling to you? Writing historical fiction is more than just recording dates and names. It is the art of building a world so vivid and authentic that the centuries between the reader and the page seem to vanish.
 
In Painting the Past, Meredith Allard—author and executive editor of the award-winning literary journal The Copperfield Review—invites you into her workshop. Drawing on over twenty years of experience, she reveals how to bridge the gap between meticulous research and a soaring imagination.
 
In this craft-focused guide, you will learn how to:
 

• Recreate the Past: Conduct targeted research that breathes life into your setting without stalling your narrative.
• Uncover the Human in History: Develop believable characters who are products of their time yet resonate with modern emotional truths.
• Balance Fact and Fiction: Master the delicate alchemy of blending historical data with creative license.
• Release Your Creative Spirit: Overcome the hurdles of world-building and share your passion for history with the world.

 
Whether you are a debut novelist or a seasoned historian, Painting the Past is an essential resource for anyone ready to do the work and turn their historical daydreams into a literary reality.

Meredith Allard writes atmospheric upmarket fiction that explores the intersection of history and memory. When she isn't weaving stories that live in other worlds and other times, she is teaching the next generation of writers how to find their voices. She can be found in the hills of Southern Nevada with her cats and a cup of coffee.