Falling For Henry

by Beverley Brenna

  For a young writer interested in writing a story based in a particular historical period, what advice would you offer?

  The advice I’d give is the same for both adults and young people: read copiously in the field you are interested in writing about. Write as best you can a gripping story. Research (either before, after, or both before and after) the historical period you’re focused on, so that you get the details as right as you can. In historical fiction, setting is particularly important as it is integral to the authenticity of the work. The actions, beliefs, and values of the characters must also be authentic to the time period. Then find an audience who’ll give you good feedback on whether or not your work feels “true.”