Course Description

Writing historical fiction is quite simply writing a story that is set in the past. You will do research to create a correct and realistic setting, based upon facts. Historical fiction can even include real people.

You are writing fiction, but it is so very important to do your homework so that you can pin down the mannerisms, costumes, conditions, vernacular and so on in order to make your novel realistic. In fact, historical fiction novels can take years to write due to the amount of ‘homework' (research) required.

When you choose to write historical fiction, you are putting on two hats--you are both historian and storyteller. You are going to tell your readers both what happened at the time and what it felt like. Your characters will no longer be one-dimensional people we have read about in history; they will now be people whose thoughts and feelings we will be partial to.

In this course, we are going to explore the genre and all its offshoots. We'll discuss the various sub-genres, the types of characters and settings you may want to explore, character motivations, conflict, plot, plot mapping, editing, and pacing. We'll even cover agents, queries, and so much more. You will walk away from this course (at the end!) feeling as if you know exactly what you want to write and exactly how to write it.

  • Completely Online
  • Self-Paced
  • 6 Months to Complete
  • 24/7 Availability
  • Start Anytime
  • PC & Mac Compatible
  • Android & iOS Friendly
  • Accredited CEUs
Universal Class is an IACET Accredited Provider
 

Learning Outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  • Define what historical fiction is.
  • Define the elements of historical fiction.
  • Describe mystery as a sub-genre of historical fiction.
  • Describe romance as a sub-genre of historical fiction.
  • Summarize classical historical fiction and more.
  • Identify characters, the who.
  • Identify setting, the where.
  • Determine if what you're writing should be real or make-believe.
  • Describe methods on how to do research.
  • Recognize who the experts are and how to get information from them in your writing process.
  • Determine historical fiction and fact.
  • Summarize plagiarism, lies, and Wikipedia issues.
  • Describe plotting techniques.
  • Describe what conflict is and how to build on it.
  • Describe subplots and motivation.
  • Identify the correct pacing for your story.
  • Describe showing, rather than telling techniques.
  • Describe the editing and re-editing processes.
  • Summarize what to do to find an agent or if you need one.
  • Develop a query letter.
  • Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
 
 

Assessment Guide

Assessment Points
Introduction 1 points
Lesson 1 Assignment: Historical Fiction Ideas 10 points
Lesson 1 Exam 5 points
Lesson 2 Assignment: Historically Realistic Characters 20 points
Lesson 2 Exam 5 points
Lesson 3 Assignment: Your Sub-Genre Details 20 points
Lesson 3 Exam 5 points
Lesson 4 Assignment: Historical Romance Writing 15 points
Lesson 4 Exam 5 points
Lesson 5 Assignment: Historical Fiction Writing Exercise 15 points
Lesson 5 Exam 5 points
Lesson 6 Assignment: Historical Character Writing Exercise 20 points
Lesson 6 Exam 4 points
Lesson 7 Assignment: Google! 15 points
Lesson 7 Exam 4 points
Lesson 8 Assignment: Real or Make Believe? 15 points
Lesson 8 Exam 4 points
Lesson 9 Assignment: Pre Writing Questions 10 points
Lesson 9 Exam 5 points
Lesson 10 Assignment: Your List 10 points
Lesson 10 Exam 4 points
Lesson 11 Assignment: The Process of Research 5 points
Lesson 11 Exam 5 points
Lesson 12 Assignment: Begin Your Research 10 points
Lesson 12 Exam 4 points
Lesson 13 Assignment: Adding Fictional Characters 30 points
Lesson 13 Exam 2 points
Lesson 14 Assignment: References 10 points
Lesson 14 Exam 5 points
Lesson 15 Assignment: Plotting 20 points
Lesson 15 Exam 5 points
Lesson 16 Assignment: Conflict 15 points
Lesson 16 Exam 5 points
Lesson 17 Assignment: Sub-Plots and Additional Characters 15 points
Lesson 17 Exam 5 points
Lesson 18 Assignment: Pacing 15 points
Lesson 18 Exam 5 points
Lesson 19 Assignment: Showing, Rather than Telling 15 points
Lesson 19 Exam 5 points
Lesson 20 Assignment: Editing 15 points
Lesson 20 Exam 5 points
Lesson 21 Assignment: Agent Research 15 points
Lesson 21 Exam 5 points
Lesson 22 Assignment: Writing Your Query 15 points
Lesson 22 Exam 5 points
The Final Assignment 30 points
The Final Exam 20 points
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