Fundamental STEPS to Writing Historical Fiction 2018

Give your historical fiction a strong start by learning the fundamentals of this popular genre.

Are you writing a novel where a historical event or historical figure plays a main role? This workshop is designed to help you finish or revise your historical novel with five thoughtful steps. Using the acronym STEPS, award-winning historical fiction author Joyce Moyer Hostetter will introduce the basics of writing historical fiction.

Together, you’ll explore:

Story: Finding stories embedded in history and embedding history into our stories.

Time: Allowing the historical era to shape characters, dialogue, actions, and more.

Experts: Seeking insight from archivists, specialists, eyewitnesses, and survivors.

Place: Infusing the story with a sense of locality and culture.

Sources: Researching history and documenting resources.

You will learn about market trends and expectations from an editor and will hear from guest authors about their research experiences and publishing journeys. Joyce will also meet one-on-one with you to explore your ambitions for writing history and give feedback on your work. There will be an opportunity to explore the submission process as well.

Faculty blog posts:
Joyce Hostetter–Beginning STEPS to Writing Historical Fiction

Preliminary schedule:
Sunday
Evening
Appetizers & Dinner
After dinner: Introduction and Welcome

Monday
Morning
Breakfast
Finding stories embedded in history & embedding history into our stories
Allowing the historical era to shape characters, dialogue, actions & more

Lunch
Free Writing Time
One-to-ones with Joyce (20 minute sessions with each student)
Finding Experts–Skype session with Carol Baldwin

Evening
Appetizers & Dinner
After dinner: S’mores on the patio and book signing

Tuesday
Morning
Breakfast
Special guest lecture, Julie Chibarro
Infusing the story with a sense of locality and culture

Lunch
Writing exercise
Free Writing Time
Revision check-ins
Editor Q/A with Carolyn Yoder

Evening
Appetizers & Dinner
After dinner: Book signing with Julie

Wednesday
Morning
Breakfast
Researching history and documenting resources
Writing exercise and sharing pages
Final words, questions, reflections, goals

Afternoon
Optional tour of Highlights magazine and Boyds Mills Press