Writing Historical Fiction with Hannah Kent
Learn how to research and write a work of historical fiction
Whether you have an idea for a novel based on true events or you wish to create a work of fiction set in the past, writing historical fiction requires a research process and deep consideration of character, narrative and prose to ensure that the work feels alive and relevant to a modern reader.
This workshop is designed to explain the ways in which research can be used to strengthen characterisation, setting and plot, and will teach efficient techniques and approaches to avoid burdening your fiction with superfluous historical information or lapses into anachronism.
You’ll learn:
- Where to find research materials and what to look for in historical records
- How to generate a character from history
- How to incorporate facts into a story without overburdening the reader
- The components that make up a historical fiction manuscript (character, plot, dialogue, place and structure)
Scroll down to see the full course curriculum and a list of frequently asked questions.
Until 12 February KYD Members receive a $50 discount on this course and all other KYD workshops. Become a member here, or contact [email protected] for more information.
Want to buy a workshop for a friend? Purchase a gift voucher here.
Your Instructor
Hannah Kent is the co-founder and publishing director of Kill Your Darlings. Her debut novel, Burial Rites (2013), has been translated into thirty languages and was shortlisted for the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction, the Stella Prize, the Guardian First Book Award, and the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. It won the ABIA Literary Fiction Book of the Year and the Indie Awards Debut Fiction Book of the Year, amongst others. Hannah’s second novel, The Good People (2016) was shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, the Queensland Literary Awards and the Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction. It is being adapted for film by Aquarius Productions.
Course Curriculum
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StartIntroduction (0:22)
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StartWhat is Historical Fiction?
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StartSuggest Exercise: Why Write Historical Fiction?
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StartWhy We Read or Write Historical Fiction
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StartYour Teacher: Why I Write Historical Fiction
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StartSuggested Exercise: Why Fiction?
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StartYour Teacher: Ideas for Historical Fiction
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StartSuggested Exercise: What Questions Are You Asking?
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StartSuggested Exercise: Ethical Considerations
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StartEthical Considerations
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StartYour Teacher: Ethical Considerations
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StartSuggested Exercise: Acknowledging and Negotiating Our Ethical Responsibilities
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StartNegotiating Ethical Responsibilities
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StartIntroduction (0:38)
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StartThe Benefits of Research
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StartSuggested Exercise: What Do I Need To Know?
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StartWhat You Need To Know
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StartYour Teacher: What Do I Need to Research?
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StartSuggested Exercise: Brainstorm
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StartWhere Will I Find The Information I Need?
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StartAustralian Libraries and eResources
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StartThe National Library of Australia (NLA)
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StartInternational Libraries
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StartUniversity Libraries
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StartHow to Search a Library Database
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StartYour Teacher: Website Search Engines
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StartSuggested Exercise: Website Search Engines
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StartArchives
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StartMuseums
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StartYour Teacher: Open-Air Museums
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StartMuseum Libraries and Private Collections
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StartSources of Information
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StartOfficial Records
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StartNewspapers
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StartDiaries, Letters, Journals and Logbooks
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StartMaps
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StartPhotographs
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StartFilm
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StartAudio
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StartArt
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StartEncyclopedias and Dictionaries
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StartHistory and Non-Fiction Books
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StartAcademic Papers
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StartHistoric and Contemporary Novels, Plays and Poetry
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StartApproaching People
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StartSuggested Exercise: Writing an Introductory Email
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StartYour Teacher: Writing an Introductory Email
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StartUnderstanding Bias, Prejudice and Motive
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StartWhere Do I Start?
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StartWhen You Can't Find What You're Looking For
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StartSuggested Exercise: How to Record Your Research?
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StartYour Teacher: How to Record Your Research?