Managing the Icky and the Tricky in Historical Fiction

Managing the Icky and the Tricky in Historical FictionReaders love travelling back in time for compelling stories of yore. But creating those stories can come with tricky, and sometimes icky, challenges. How can writers avoid pitfalls such as anachronisms, overly modern attitudes and dialogue, or viewpoints that might offend today's audience? This session will address specific challenges and offer ideas for navigating them so the historical fiction writer can craft stories that balance truths of the past

Readers love travelling back in time for compelling stories of yore. But creating those stories can come with tricky, and sometimes icky, challenges. How can writers avoid pitfalls such as anachronisms, overly modern attitudes and dialogue, or viewpoints that might offend today's audience? This session will address specific challenges and offer ideas for navigating them so the historical fiction writer can craft stories that balance truths of the past with the need to appeal to modern readers.

This is an OnDemand Webinar

Instructor:

Sharon Short is the author of fifteen published books. Her newest, Trouble Island, is historical suspense and will be published by Minotaur Books in 2024. As Jess Montgomery, she writes the historical Kinship Mysteries set in the 1920s and inspired by Ohio’s true first female sheriff. Sharon is a contributing editor to Writer’s Digest, for which she writes the column, “Level Up Your Writing (Life)” and teaches for Writer’s Digest University. She is also a three-time recipient of the Individual Excellence Award in Literary Arts from Ohio Arts Council and has been a John E. Nance Writer in Residence at Thurber House (Columbus, Ohio). When not writing, Sharon enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, swimming, and occasionally hiking. Learn more about her work at www.sharonshort.com or www.jessmontgomeryauthor.com