Online Class: Historical Fiction Writing
no certificate
with CEU Certificate*
-
23Lessons
-
47Exams &
Assignments -
944Students
have taken this course -
23Hours
average time -
2.3CEUs
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.
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.
Course Motivation
- Completely Online
- Self-Paced
- 6 Months to Complete
- 24/7 Availability
- Start Anytime
- PC & Mac Compatible
- Android & iOS Friendly
- Accredited CEUs
Course Lessons
Lesson 1: What is Historical Fiction?
- Lesson discussions: Reasons for Taking this Course
- Complete Assignment: Introduction
- Complete: Lesson 1 Assignment: Historical Fiction Ideas
- Assessment: Lesson 1 Exam
Lesson 2: Elements of Historical Fiction
- Complete: Lesson 2 Assignment: Historically Realistic Characters
- Assessment: Lesson 2 Exam
Lesson 3: Mystery as a Subgenre of Historical Fiction
- Complete: Lesson 3 Assignment: Your Sub-Genre Details
- Assessment: Lesson 3 Exam
Lesson 4: Romance as a Subgenre of Historical Fiction
- Complete: Lesson 4 Assignment: Historical Romance Writing
- Assessment: Lesson 4 Exam
Lesson 5: Classic Historical Fiction and More
- Complete: Lesson 5 Assignment: Historical Fiction Writing Exercise
- Assessment: Lesson 5 Exam
Lesson 6: Characters: The Who
- Complete: Lesson 6 Assignment: Historical Character Writing Exercise
- Assessment: Lesson 6 Exam
Lesson 7: Setting: The Where
- Complete: Lesson 7 Assignment: Google!
- Assessment: Lesson 7 Exam
Lesson 8: Real or Make-Believe?
- Complete: Lesson 8 Assignment: Real or Make Believe?
- Assessment: Lesson 8 Exam
Lesson 9: Research: What to Include
- Complete: Lesson 9 Assignment: Pre Writing Questions
- Assessment: Lesson 9 Exam
Lesson 10: How to Do Research
- Complete: Lesson 10 Assignment: Your List
- Assessment: Lesson 10 Exam
Lesson 11: Hands-On Research (Writing What You Know, or Rather, What You Don't Know)
- Complete: Lesson 11 Assignment: The Process of Research
- Assessment: Lesson 11 Exam
Lesson 12: The Experts
- Complete: Lesson 12 Assignment: Begin Your Research
- Assessment: Lesson 12 Exam
Lesson 13: Historical Fiction and Fact
- Complete: Lesson 13 Assignment: Adding Fictional Characters
- Assessment: Lesson 13 Exam
Lesson 14: Plagiarism, Lies, and Wikipedia
- Complete: Lesson 14 Assignment: References
- Assessment: Lesson 14 Exam
Lesson 15: Plotting: Plot Lines and Plot Maps
- Complete: Lesson 15 Assignment: Plotting
- Assessment: Lesson 15 Exam
Lesson 16: Conflict
- Complete: Lesson 16 Assignment: Conflict
- Assessment: Lesson 16 Exam
Lesson 17: Subplots and Motivation
- Complete: Lesson 17 Assignment: Sub-Plots and Additional Characters
- Assessment: Lesson 17 Exam
Lesson 18: Pacing
- Complete: Lesson 18 Assignment: Pacing
- Assessment: Lesson 18 Exam
Lesson 19: Showing, Rather than Telling
- Complete: Lesson 19 Assignment: Showing, Rather than Telling
- Assessment: Lesson 19 Exam
Lesson 20: Editing and Re-editing
- Complete: Lesson 20 Assignment: Editing
- Assessment: Lesson 20 Exam
Lesson 21: Agents
- Complete: Lesson 21 Assignment: Agent Research
- Assessment: Lesson 21 Exam
Lesson 22: The Query Letter
- Complete: Lesson 22 Assignment: Writing Your Query
- Assessment: Lesson 22 Exam
Lesson 23: Final Words
- Lesson discussions: What is your opinion of this course?; Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course); Course Comments
- Complete: The Final Assignment
- Assessment: The Final Exam
Learning Outcomes
- 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.
Additional Course Information
- Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
- Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
- Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
- View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
- Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media
Choose Your Subscription Plan
No Certificate / No CEUs
This course only
Includes certificate | X |
Includes CEUs | X |
Self-paced | |
Instructor support | |
Time to complete | 6 months |
No. of courses | 1 course |
Certificate & CEUs
This course only
Includes certificate | |
Includes CEUs | |
Self-paced | |
Instructor support | |
Time to complete | 6 months |
No. of courses | 1 course |
Certificates & CEUs
Includes all 600+ courses
Includes certificate | |
Includes CEUs | |
Self-paced | |
Instructor support | |
Time to complete | 12 Months |
No. of courses | 600+ |
Certificates & CEUs
Includes all 600+ courses
Includes certificate | |
Includes CEUs | |
Self-paced | |
Instructor support | |
Time to complete | 24 Months |
No. of courses | 600+ |
Student Testimonials
- "This was a wonderful course with a great deal of information. I have always wanted to write my own historical fiction, I may never do it, but I feel I have the correct tools to try now!" -- Jana E.
- "I enjoyed being able to read work submitted by other students. It helped me understand how others were presenting their stories." -- Nancy C.
- "The work at my own pace is the absolute best! At times, I couldn't decide weather to write and take another lesson! Each topic was very engaging and some of them were pretty difficult." -- Angela H.
- "This was another great class with such a great instructor. If I have any problems she is extremely willing to help." -- Donna N.
- "The instructor was warm, friendly, and encouraging. The information is vital to those hoping to see their writing published was presented in an open, generous and encouraging way." -- Barbara P.
- "Everything was great!" -- Cathy K.
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