Historical Fiction: Transforming Research into Story

Finding inspiration to write a historical novel is only the first step on your journey. Historical research can serve as an inspirational catalyst for individual components of your book including plot, dialogue, imagery, characterisation and setting. You can then convert facts that fascinate you into a narrative that will captivate your readers.

In this workshop with author Elisabeth Storrs, you’ll learn how to locate, categorise, and analyse resources to enable you to identify potential inspiration points and bring immediacy to your writing to avoid ‘history showing through.’ Writing exercises will enable participants to apply the techniques learned and identify where improvements can be made to transmute facts into compelling fiction. Participants will leave with a hand-out of presentation slides together with writing tools such as timelines and character dossiers.

Expected learning outcomes

In this workshop, participants will:

1. Identify resources for historical research to create a personalised research database.

2. Analyse research to inspire plot, imagery, setting, dialogue and characterisation.

3. Transform research into ‘telling details’ to avoid slowing pace and/or narrative flow.

Participant requirements

Pen and paper, and/or a fully charged device.

Is this workshop right for you? Please read our FAQ> for important information before enrolling.

If you have questions about this course, please contact us.