Writing Realistic Historical Fiction Dialogue: Tips and Techniques

Writing Realistic Dialogue for Historical Fiction

Writing dialogue for historical fiction can be challenging. But it is also an integral part of being able to capture readers and immerse them in the story. Without well-developed dialogue, you’ll have a hell of a time convincing readers that they can trust you.

The harsh reality is that we don’t have a whole lot of real knowledge about how people spoke in the past, and get back far enough, fugettabout it!

Despite this, writerss are still able to capture the essence of bygone eras and create the illusion of historical speech through various techniques. Dialogue is one of the aspects of historical writing that is free from rules and restrictions. Writer's are kinda on their own, and that can be scary.

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Today, we discuss these strategies for convincing your readers that you know what you’re doing. I’ll help you weave historically appropriate language into your stories and transport readers to the past without alienating them.

By learning how to infuse conversation with period-specific expressions, address, and etiquette, you can maintain a balance between genuine historical accuracy (to the greatest extent possible) and readability.

Contents:

• Crafting Realistic Dialogue for Historical Fiction

• The Illusion of Historical Speech

• Using Historical Language Appropriately

• Avoiding Modern Phrasing

• Editing for Historical Consistency: Tips and Tricks

• Final Words

Crafting Realistic Dialogue for Historical Fiction

As with everything in this darned genre, good research is going to be essential for creating the feeling of authenticity.

You’ll find the best research in this area is done by reading the primary sources. These are diaries, letters, and documents written during the time period in which your story is set.

But also researching dialogue can be fun because you will get invaluable information by merely immersing yourself in the media that is also set during that time like other fiction books and films.

Because let’s face it, you can only go back so far in history before the primary sources become unreadable to most people apart from expert scholars.

Though, I will say that translations of historical texts are often very well done and do manage to capture the feeling of the speech. These will still be invaluable to you.

Understanding the Time Period and Setting

To accurately represent the dialogue of a particular time period, you must understand the setting and context. Consider the location, social class, and culture of your characters. Research the customs, traditions, and beliefs of the era.

This will help you to create realistic dialogue that reflects the attitudes, values, and beliefs of the time even if you are not accurate in the language use itself.

Remember that historical events, societal norms, class structure, and regional influences all help to shape a character's speech.

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Integrating Authentic Expressions and Idioms

If you can get primary sources, try to pull out as many expressions and idioms as you can. Integrating these into your fiction will help to make your story more believable.

However, there is such a thing as too much “historical language.” The expressions you use can quickly become overwhelming, and you want to avoid slowing down your reader. It'll start to feel like a historical language info-dump. I've seen manuscript submissions like this—it's ugly.

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There is a balance to be struck.

Also avoid using anachronistic language that doesn't fit the time period.

To find authentic expressions and idioms, you can consult historical dictionaries, lexicons, and thesauruses. These resources can help you to find words and phrases that were commonly used during the time period.

You can also read literature from the era to get a sense of the language and expressions that were used. And like I already mentioned, watch the appropriate (and well done) historical films.

You are also going to want to consider the following when writing your dialogue:

• Give each character a unique voice, just like any other story. Don’t let the historical language make them all sound the same.

• Don’t forget the social class of the characters speaking and use the distinction to create variable dynamics in the dialogue.

• Strive for an equilibrium between strong historical flavor and readability. Find the sweet spot for your story where idioms and expressions enrich the narrative without overwhelming it.

Tips for Creating the Illusion of Historical Speech

Writing realistic dialogue for historical fiction requires the perfect blend of research and imagination. And that isn’t the easiest of tasks.

None of us really know what we are doing when it comes to historical dialogue. Unfortunately, we’re all wandering about with our eyes closed, bumping into stuff and hoping that it will do.

So in this section, I'm going to provide some tips to help you along the way.

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Get on the ChatGPT Train

I don’t care what your feelings are of AI, but you are an absolute moron if you do not use ChatGPT or another type of AI chat bot in this department.

I am writing a historical fiction book set in the ancient Gallic Empire, but needless to say, I don’t really have a ton to go off of when it comes to how they might have spoken. Though the Greeks at the time have various sources describing them, it’s a bit harder to find anything helpful there.

There aren’t even any good films to watch on the subject.

So, I decided in a last ditch attempt to just ask ChatGPT. And though I cannot vouch for its accuracy, it gave me a wealth of ideas, idioms, possible turns of phrase—just a pile of great stuff.

When in doubt ask ChatGPT. Maybe you are even lucky enough to be able to fact-check it against reputable sources, but even if not, I am telling you, it is a life-saver.

Study Primary Sources

AI or not, the primary sources will be important for you, as said previously.

Here is a list of the types of primary sources you will want to look for to help you with crafting your dialogue:

• Letters and other correspondences

• Diaries and Journals

• Newspapers and Magazines

• Speeches and Transcripts

• Legal Documents

• Government Documents

• Personal Memoirs

• Travelogues and Exploration Journals

• Personal Accounts of Events

• Advertisements and Brochures

• Photograph Descriptions and Captions

• Interviews and Writings of Oral Histories (such as those gathered by Roman historians)

• Literature written in the period

These types of sources will allow you to get a better feel for how people spoke and through what lens they approached certain topics, and teach you something about history along the way.

They will provide you with plenty of nuanced detail to include in your fiction to create the illusion of authenticity.

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Consume Historical Fiction and Movies

Watching historical movies and reading historical fiction can also help you get a sense of the language and style of the past.

However, be aware that these sources may not always be historically accurate, so it is essential to do your own research and verify the information. But sometimes they're the only sources you are going to get.

Also keep in mind that because people have been consuming media for so long, there is a certain expectation that comes along with it.

When readers pick up your book, they expect to see your characters speaking in a certain way that they're used to from watching films and TV shows set in the period or reading other books.

Even if what they expect is completely inaccurate, you’ll be better off meeting those expectations than shocking them with something they’re unaccustomed to.

Adapt Sentence Structure

The sentence structure of the past may differ from modern-day English. To create a more authentic dialogue, try adapting the sentence structure to match the time period you are writing about.

If you are writing a character who is a member of the upper crust, use more formal language, and full sentences. For characters from the opposite end of the social hierarchy, use more sloppy sentence structure, choppy sentences, etc.

Try to adjust the sentence structures to match the syntactical norms of the past. You'll learn these from your primary sources.

For instance, if your book was set in 16th century London, instead of your character saying:

“Could you please pass me that book?”

You could have them say something like:

“Pray, might thou hand me that book?”

I haven’t done enough research to know if that is how people would have talked then, but you get the idea. The key is to strike a balance between authentic feeling dialogue and readability. If you go too far it might start sounding like Shakespeare and your average reader could struggle to understand.

Integrate Authentic Slang

Using authentic slang from the past can add another layer of authenticity to your writing. Seamlessly include period-specific slang and colloquialisms, but ones that needs explanation to be understood.

Also, be careful not to overuse slang or use it incorrectly and make sure that the slang is also appropriate for your character. A lot of slang comes from the lower class peoples of an era and might not be appropriate for your hoity-toity protagonist.

Stay True to Realistic Formal Address

Speaking of fancy-schmancies, people from the past generally used more formal language and address than we do today. To create a more authentic historical setting, try staying true to realistic formal address in your writing.

Understand the titles and honorifics used for respectfully addressing individuals in that time.

How do these formalities change as you move up and down the social ladder?

Accurately portraying historical social dynamics is one of the most important parts of historical fiction because it reality it was one of those things that required strict adherence for most people with dire consequences if done incorrectly.

"Off with his head!"

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Realistic Politeness and Decorum

People from the past had different attitudes toward politeness and decorum as well. We may all be a bunch of self-absorbed animals nowadays, but it wasn’t always so.

Include politeness and formalities into dialogue to mirror the historical social norms, and don’t forget it, because up until recent years this was one of the most vital aspects of society.

Avoid an Overload of Historical Terms

While it is essential to include historical terms in your writing, be careful not to overload your reader with too much information. Use historical terms sparingly and only when they are necessary for the story.

Enhance the atmosphere of your book with selective terminology, but always prioritize clarity and smooth reading.

Using Historical Language Appropriately

There is a lot of nuance in language, and to make a truly immersive historical experience, capturing this nuance is a must.

In this section, I’m going to help you utilize historical language effectively. From integrating archaic vocabulary, to ensuring accurate detail in dialects while avoiding anachronistic terms.

There is a lot to consider, so let’s hop right into it.

Incorporating Archaic Vocabulary and Word Choice

We already talked about varying sentence structure to match the time period. But now I want to discuss word choice. When doing your research it is a good idea to write down all the interesting (but not too obscure) words you come across and have a running list of them to refer to when writing.

Insert these words into the text where appropriate and especially the dialogue to help create authenticity.

For example, if you're writing a novel set during the Tudor period like are last example, you might use words like "hark!" and "prithee" and “betwixt” to reflect the language of the time.

I’ll say this only one final time, and hopefully it will be enough to get it through that thick head of yours…

...don’t overdo it.

Avoiding Anachronistic Terms and Concepts

Be vigilant to weed out any terms, concepts, or references that weren't present in your chosen historical period. Verify the historical accuracy of words, technologies, or ideas before including them in your dialogue.

It could be embarrassing for you if you don’t.

Maintain a strict adherence to your research and the mindset of the era to avoid accidental slip-ups.

Keep in mind that even if you end up consulting beta readers or get an editor, they have not done the research either and probably won’t catch your mistakes, unless they happen to be experts in the field.

Adapting Dialects and Accents

Try to capture the unique speech patterns of and accents of different regions to add depth to your characters. This can include using regional dialects and accents, as well as adapting the language of different social classes and ethnic groups.

Here is an example, and to save time I asked ChatGPT to write it for me. It’s a little much but you’ll get the idea. Notice the difference in how the characters speak. One is lower class and the other is of the upper crust.

I went with our previous examples of 16th century Tudor London:

Nobleman: Good morrow, fair sir. How be ye this morning?

Peasant: Aye, mornin' to ye, m'lord. I be doin' me bit, workin' the fields.

Nobleman: Ye work hard, I can see. What news from the village?

Peasant: Naw, m'lord, nothin' much to tell. Folks buzzin' 'bout the harvest, hopin' fer a good crop, they are.

Nobleman: 'Tis good to hear. Tell me, hast seen the new mill down by the river?

Peasant: Aye, I seen it, m'lord. Impressive thing it be, a blessin' fer the village and us toilers.

Nobleman: Ye speak true, good fellow. I shall be movin' on, but afore I go, remember your toil has not gone unnoticed. Ye'll see reward for it.

Peasant: I'm grateful fer yer kind words, m'lord. May the day bring ye fortune and favor.

Granted, if I saw this dialogue come across my editing desk I would tell the author to pull the reins and turn it down a wee bit for the sake of readability (and other things, but that is for another post).

But it will do for our purposes here.

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Avoiding Modern Phrasing

Maintaining historical accuracy should be your number one priority when revising your writing. It is easy for modern expressions and language to slip by into our stories because they often feel so natural they don't warrant a thought.

For instance, terms for items that refer to places that we don’t realize didn’t exist at the time, or turns of phrase referring to people, places, or things that come much later in history but we never realized.

I was making a joke the other day about my cat because he is white but for some strange reason has black testicles, the joke was about being black-balled from the family. It was pretty lame.

Anyway.

I looked up the term after to see where it came from, just out of curiosity. I discovered:

“The origin of the word goes back to the 1700s, when club members would cast secret votes on membership using white and black wooden or ivory balls” — Vocabulary.com

I have never given this phrase a second thought, but if we were actually writing that book set in Tudor England, it would be 200 years out of place. Not that I would ever need to use it.

Whatever, you know what I mean.

It’s important that you learn how to spot anachronistic language like this. Never take any word for granted in historical fiction.

Identifying Modern Language and Terms

I suggest that you spend some of your revising/rewriting time combing through to look up words and phrases that you've used. Just to double check if they're appropriate.

You don’t have to be anal about this and catch every single one. Just the embarrassing ones. Because if you take most of these things for granted, your readers probably do too, and the book still needs to be readable.

Pay special attention to turns of phrase and words that will jar readers out of the historical setting.

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Replacing Modern Expressions

Once you have identified modern language and terms, the next step is to replace them with expressions that are consistent with the time period of your story. This can be done by using a thesaurus to find alternative expressions or by consulting historical dictionaries and other reference materials.

Replace anachronistic words with era appropriate ones, and replace expressions with ones that either exist, or sound like they at least could have.

For instance, in our Tudor example, instead of saying:

“I feel like a puppet and he is pulling my strings.”

You can have the character say:

“I am but a quill, and he, the scribe.”

I don’t think that is a real expression, but it sounds historical.

Editing for Historical Consistency: Tips and Tricks

When editing your dialogue for historical consistency, there are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind. These editing tips will help to create a more believable and immersive experience for the reader.

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They might also help you not feel so overwhelmed or lost:

1. Review all dialogue for inconsistencies (the revising pass we talked about above).

2. Cut most, if not all, contractions such as “don’t” or “can’t.” Instead use the full form of the word. “Do not” - “cannot.” Contractions like this didn’t start appearing until the late 17th century, and even if your book is set after that period, don’t use them. It is one of those expectations historical readers have.

3. Get beta readers, preferably ones who also know something about the time period.

4. Create a style guide for your books to help maintain consistency. Refer to it often.

5. Read aloud. This can help you spot awkward phrasing or anachronisms you might have missed.

6. In the final polishing stage, focus on fine-tuning language and dialogue first and foremost. You cannot edit dialogue enough—it can always be cleaner.

Final Words

Writing historical dialogue can be tough but it is also fun. It is one of my favorite things to do.

But it is also so important. You have to ace the dialogue if you want to fully immerse your readers in the history you're trying to portray to them.

By absorbing the primary sources from the period, adopting the nuances of historical language, and shunning modern intrusions like a wife of Henry VIII, you can paint a vivid picture of the past through dialogue.

Keep writing and go get ‘em.

How do you plot a historical fiction novel?

Plotting a historical fiction novel is all about merging the historical backdrop with a compelling story so that one feels empty without the other. You begin by researching your chosen era and understanding its events, people, and attitudes. Then identify a protagonist whose journey aligns with the history and whose fate is tied to the events of the time.

But there is so much more to it than that. To discover how to expertly plot your historical fiction novel in 6 steps, click here.

Next: Plotting Historical Fiction