Historical Fiction Project

We left off on Chapter 6 of the Good Thief. Today, we will read more of the book. See the homework to prepare for tomorrow's class.

Pick a period in history that (a) fascinates or intrigues you or (b) appeals to your audience/friends or (c) fits into the kind of fictional story or genre you want to tell.

Remember that a work of fiction is about a ____ who has to do ____ in order to ____ against ______ within a given period of time.

1. The first thing you need to do is brainstorm and pinpoint a time in history. Try to narrow the time period down to a manageable size.
2. Next, you may either spend time working on character or researching the culture, time period, or setting. You can go back and forth between these things, but you will want to come up with an idea of: (a) where to set your story (location) and (b) who your main character or protagonist is going to be.
3. Take notes in your journal. Give each of your characters or settings a page in which you can list and write quotes, interesting trivia, and other facts or details to spark your imagination.

Remember that Fiction has a beginning, middle and end in which a life crisis is dealt with...which is unlike the way things work out in real life. Most events are more dramatic in fiction than in real life. Often authors will limit their characters choices in the beginning to force them on a path of action. For example our beginning of The Good Thief starts in an orphanage in the latter half of the 19th century. Ren has a clear motivation (get adopted), which is out of his hand(s) so to speak. When Benjamin Nab arrives, he really has no other choice but to follow him. This solves his primary desire to be adopted, but also opens up a world of problems.

Historical fiction is a story set in the past involving characters that react in varying degrees to historical settings and events (following text by Katherine Teel).

"Historical Setting

1. Historical fiction should have a reasonably authentic setting, with plausible details concerning political, social and religious history; clothing; language; and technology.

Historically Accurate Characters

2. Historical fiction should feature characters who look and sound like people of a particular historical era.

Plausibility

3. Historical fiction should depict the values, virtues and prejudices of a historical era accurately, especially where these affect the plot.
Accuracy

4. Historical fiction should avoid distorting history for the sake of political correctness or cultural sensitivity of the current time.
Artistic License

5. Historical fiction should adhere to established history but can also make reasonable changes for the sake of characters and plot.

Read more: Historical Fiction Genre Characteristics | eHow.com"

HOMEWORK: Please read up to Part Two (pp. 99)