It’s been around two months since the inaugural History Through Fiction Conference in Beverly, MA. I previously published a Part One blog post about the talks and workshops I attended, and, in the weeks since, I’ve been listening to the recordings of the “Prologue Day” and parallel sessions I didn’t experience live. Now, I’m back with a Part Two post with some more of my favorite quotes.
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| The Salem Ghost Tour |
“Our historical fiction starts to creep into the historical record,” Alina Adams
In her session with Kyra Davis Lurie, Alina Adams talked about “telling the untold tale” through historical fiction. But she also reminded us of the responsibility we bear towards the real people who inspire our characters.
“Reading a good historical fiction helps us develop a sensitivity,” Elizabeth McLean
Meanwhile, Elizabeth McLean dug into the thorny issues surrounding cultural appropriation. She argued that reading good fiction is a way to become more sensitive to the cultures and histories we’re fascinated by, while also presenting some of the arguments for and against sensitivity readers.
“Start with plot—what happens. Then add layers of interiority and complexity,” N.J. Mastro
N.J. Mastro presented us with the heroine’s journey—an alternative to the much-discussed hero’s journey. Her talk focused on the importance of characters’ interior arcs, but stressed that we can’t lose sight of the importance of plot and action in keeping our readers engaged.
“Deep faith and skilled craft don’t have to be mutually exclusive,” Edwina Kiernan
Edwina Kiernan gave us a different take on characters’ interior development by discussing her approach to writing Christian historical fiction. She talked about how for her faith-filled fiction can encapsulate Christian doctrine without coming across as preaching.
“Readers are hungry to know what goes on inside other people’s minds,” Lara Lehman
Sticking with the theme of interiority, Lara Lehman spoke about how to render consciousness in fiction, giving us a glimpse into characters’ souls.
“One tiny mistake can pull a reader out of the story and remind them that what they’re reading isn’t real,” Grace E. Turton
And Grace. E. Turton stressed the importance of getting the details right, as we seek to render historical characters’ worlds in a way that’s truly transportive.
Thank you to Colin, Robin, and the full team behind the History Through Fiction Conference. It was a pleasure to attend, give the keynote speech, and listen to more of my fellow writers over the last few weeks.
Want to experience the conference recordings for yourself? They are available for purchase here. Want to stay up to date with this blog and my writing? Sign up for my monthly email here. And don’t forget to say hi on Instagram and Facebook, or by tweeting @SVictorianist!
