Are There Rules for Writing Historical Fiction? A Guide to Best Practices

Historical fiction is competing for the top spot of genres I have most often edited, whether romance, mystery, or literary.

Historical fiction has been around for centuries and has gained tremendous popularity in recent years, especially in the indie scene.

However, writing historical fiction is no easy task. It requires a lot of research, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of the period your story is set in. But are there rules for writing historical fiction?

The answer is yes and no. No hard and fast rules must be followed when writing historical fiction. But there are certain guidelines that writers should keep in mind if they want to create a great historical fiction story.

For example, historical fiction should be grounded in fact and strive for accuracy in portraying historical events and figures.

At the same time, writers can't be afraid to take creative liberties with the story and characters to make it more engaging for readers. The historical fact isn't always exciting enough to make good historical fiction.