Recent discussions among historical novelists about dialogue contractions prompted me to do a little digging. I pulled a variety of novels from my bookshelf that were written in earlier eras to discover how those authors handled dialogue contractions. The results surprised me. Read about them here.
I have read Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel, Little Women, a dozen times over the years. Find out why this novel always touches my heart in my post on Almost an Author.
Writing historical novels requires greater attention to everyday details than when writing contemporary novels. Click here for a few examples of the types of topics a novelist may have to research.
Movies can have noise issues. Historical fiction writers who ignore all important news of the time period create noise issues.
Novelists may sometimes find that their story stalls in the middle. Writers of historical fiction can reap unexpected benefits from their research.
I guest posted on Almost An Author. In my post, I write about creating novel timelines, a helpful tool to keep novelists organized. Please check it out!
Mark Twain’s life was at a pivotal moment. What does one do after losing a million dollars?
He was out of the States and in Nevada Territory where fortunes were made and lost while mining for silver in the 1860s. He ought to know; his part-ownership in a silver mine had made him a millionaire. Through the worst of misfortunes, Twain lost his interest in the mine after ten days. His loss ended up being the world’s gain.
Old photos give historical authors a wealth of information because they give unintentional glimpses into everyday life. Don’t overlook the value of these snapshots. Authors are invited to read my post on Almost An Author where I am a column writer for “History in the Making.”
November 19, 1863: Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address
President Abraham Lincoln traveled to Gettysburg for the dedication of a military cemetery. Edward Everett, the main speaker at the event, spoke for two hours. Then the President stepped to the front to deliver the “few appropriate remarks” requested of him.
The President spoke for about two minutes. Applause interrupted his speech at times. Some expressed disappointment over the length of his talk, which was probably highlighted all the more by Everett’s speech. Yet, history records every word spoken by Lincoln to commemorate this important event.
You are invited to read my post about Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address on Almost an Author.
-Sandra Merville Hart
Don’t say “cool” in historical novels unless referring to the temperature! Click here to read my writing article on Almost an Author. I welcome your comments!
Sandra Merville Hart 