How NOT to Write a Historical Fiction Story by Donna L Martin #ChaBooCha

Image by Виктория Бородинова from Pixabay

How NOT To Write A Historical Fiction Story by Donna L Martin

I was so happy when Becky Fyfe invited me to write another guest post for this year’s ChaBooCha! To write one completed first draft of an early reader, chapter book, middle grade book or YA novel in the month of March is my kind of challenge. My current series, HISTORY’S MYSTERIES, is based on little known historical events, mysteries, and legends. Since I’m in the middle of book three, “Hunting Gris-Gris”, I wanted to share some of the things I try to keep in mind when sitting down to write my chapter books. While I’m focusing on historical fiction, these tips could easily apply to any type of story you might create. I must have been channeling Goldilocks and the Three Bears when I was wrote this!

TOO MUCH

While there is quite a bit of “fiction” in my story, it’s the “history” part of my books people are interested in when they buy them. I typically research for at least four to six months before I even think about writing. In “Hunting Gris-Gris”, Emma is having to deal with World War II at home, a father serving oversea, a British refugee staying in her home, AND the Cajun legend of a swamp monster called a gris-gris. That’s a lot of info to weave into my 11,000-word manuscript and all of it had to be historically accurate. Using Google, movies, my local library and bookstores, I ended up with more than 300 index cards full of information I could use. Like Goldilocks’ plight, it was a case of TOO MUCH and I had to filter through all the research to make sure only the info crucial to my story was used and I didn’t end up with just a lot of info dumping.

TOO SOON

Once I had all the research completed and outlined the general story idea, I had to plot out Emma’s trials and adventures. Life was challenging during World War II in the bayous of southern Louisiana, so I couldn’t allow her to resolve her problems in the first couple of chapters. My readers needed to see her disappoint, frustration, and even anger with events she has little control over. It’s my job as a storyteller to take my readers on that roller coaster ride with me until the very end. What kind of story would it have been if Goldilocks walked into the bears’ home, had a cup of lovely tea and scones, took a quick nap in a comfortable bed, and sashayed home refreshed from her walk? I’m pretty sure THAT story would never have  been published.

TOO COMMON

While I watch how much research I dump into my story and make sure I’m not making life too easy for Emma, I also had to consider how many other KidLit books focusing on life in America during World War II have been written. For example, book one of HISTORY’S MYSTERIES was about the Titanic. My research found HUNDREDS of books published about that particular topic. If I would have followed what every other author did, “Ship of Dreams” might have gotten lost in a sea of other Titanic books. Luckily, I found an angle which had NEVER been done before, and the little-known historical event tied to that ship has allowed my book to stand out. Now I’m doing the same thing for Emma’s story by challenging myself to find something most of my readers would not know about this time in history.

JUST RIGHT

By paying attention to every aspect of writing in the historical fiction genre, a writer can elevate an average story into something a reader doesn’t want to put down. Just look at adventurous Goldilocks. She didn’t settle for mediocre, but kept searching, kept tweaking until she found something JUST RIGHT for her. Good luck with this month’s writing challenge and remember Goldilocks. If she can do it, so can you!

*****

KidLit author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of flash fiction, children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna is a BOOK NOOK REVIEWS host providing the latest book reviews on all genres of

books, and the host of WRITERLY WISDOM, a resource series for writers. Donna is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. She is a lover of dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection.

Contact info:

Email: www.donasdays@gmail.com

Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/donnalmartin

Facebook: www.facebook.com/donasdays

Twitter: www.twitter.com/donasdays

LinkedIn: Donna L Martin/Story Catcher Publishing

Book blurb:

Amelia Earmouse travels back through time to uncover little known events. You may THINK you know your history but wait until you see what Amelia uncovers in book three of HISTORYS MYSTERIES.

Eleven-year-old Emma misses her father who's serving in Europe during World War II. He left behind a treasure box with six secret compartments to be opened during her birthday week. He also told her to watch out for the gris-gris while he was gone. Looking out for swamp creatures and dealing with wartime rationing was hard enough, but now there's a British refugee coming to stay at the house! How will Emma enjoy her birthday and keep her decision to hunt for the gris-gris a secret with a stranger hanging around?

*****

Give-away

I (Becky) make metal charm bookmarks. The above picture is just one example of one of my bookmarks. Today's give-away is one of these charm bookmarks. It will not necessarily be the same as the one above as I make them from different charms and different bases on a frequent basis. (I also do themed-ones for specific books.)If you are already a signed-up member of the challenge, all you have to do to be entered into the drawing for today's prize is comment on this blog post.