Writing historical fiction

Learn to use the past to inspire new stories, with award-winning novelist Katharine McMahon

Historical fact is the heart of great historical fiction. Led by award-winning novelist Katherine McMahon (The Rose of Sebastopol, The Alchemist's Daughter), this highly practical weekend course will teach you how to research an era to discover period detail which will give life to your story, not merely decorate it.

This inspiring, supportive weekend addresses all the pleasures and pitfalls of writing in another time – from how to build plot, character and structure against a historical backdrop, to how to weave real events and people into fictional plots. You'll learn about the importance of authenticity in your prose – and how to transgress it without compromising your writing – and new ways of finding inspiration in real historical materials and artefacts, making the research process a bottomless barrel of ideas it's a pleasure to dive into. From mining social niceties for material to ensuring your dialogue sounds realistic without distracting your readers, it's the ultimate way to look forward to the past.

This course is for you if…

• You're currently writing, or would like to write, a historical novel or story but are unsure of how to research or engage with bygone events
• You write contemporary fiction but have an idea for a story set in the past
• You're writing a novelised memoir or non-fiction novel

Course description

This weekend course mixes practical exercises, discussions and examinations of great works of historical fiction to provide new perspectives on researching and writing a novel or short story set in a bygone era. Attendees will leave the course with handouts with key learning points about plot, character and research, and a detailed plan for an original piece of historical fiction. The course will cover:

• Using historical snippets – including diaries, letters and news reports – to find a springboard for fiction
• Taking liberties with history – decisions about author voice types of historical fiction
• What are you looking for? How to research beyond historical footnotes
• The parameters of authenticity in great historical fiction
• Creating a character who works within four dimensions
• Intertwining historical events and people with fictional plotlines and characters
• Bringing it all together – blending voice, plot, character, setting and historical context

Tutor profile

Katherine McMahon is the author of eight novels. Her international bestseller, The Rose of Sebastopol, set during the Crimean War, was selected for Richard and Judy's British Book Awards, and her previous novel The Alchemist's Daughter was a Waterstones Paperback of the Year. Katharine has taught creative writing in universities and for the Arvon Foundation, and is a mentor on the Eastern Arts Council Escalator programme.

Full course and returns information on the Masterclasses website