The 3 Biggest Challenges I Faced When Writing Historical Fiction

Have you thought about writing historical fiction? After writing her first historical fiction novel, Author Elaine Stock offers some tips.

by Elaine Stock

With the launch of We Shall Not Shatter, I might appear to have jumped from one genre to another (leaving behind the Inspirational genre), but I’ve done a good deal of soul-searching, listened to the stories and characters that called me on a first-name basis, and have embraced historical fiction wholeheartedly.

It’s funny because as a big reader of historical novels and fascinated by past events, especially how they correlate to today’s times, I candidly will share that what kept me back was my anxiety over detailed research.

Or, perhaps I should say the concerns that I would fumble over facts.

Thankfully, I’ve proven myself wrong!

How I Approach Researching Historical Fiction

I love research and actually double and triple check myself for accuracy. However, I strive to put all that research into the background—the atmosphere—of the story and focus more intently on the characters’ dilemmas and emotions.

What I’ve learned is that I have more of a historical-author voice than contemporary. Well, at least in my humble opinion!

I’m thankful that my early readers and reviewers are getting back to me saying that they’re pulled right into We Shall Not Shatter and have smiled and cried with the characters.

I read enough (history books/articles, true-life accounts, biographies/autobiographies) and watch documentaries to get a comfortable feel for the subject without getting oversaturated and bored… enough to stimulate my mind.

As I write, I also do a lot of ongoing research to fill in missing gaps and to verify and to re-verify (I tend to triple-check myself) that I have a fact correct.

I also remind myself that I’m writing fiction and must focus on the storytelling process of the novel, as well.

Why My Historical Fiction Novel Takes Place During Hitler’s Time of Power

Before I penned my first story, I was always fascinated by this tragic era.

On top of it being an evil-ruled assembly line of slaughter (for many faiths, ethnic groups, and those perceived to endanger the Aryan bloodline, like the deaf or mentally ill) and perpetually trying to comprehend that this atrocity not only occurred and that it went on for as long as it did, it’s truly reflects mankind’s innate struggle and will to not only survive but to thrive.

The story was a long brewing process. Although We Shall Not Shatter is fictional, with its main characters fictional, it was inspired by my paternal heritage from Brzeziny Poland, where the story begins.

My grandfather’s family immigrated from Brzeziny on one of the last ships permitted to cross the Atlantic before the ports were closed upon the outbreak of WWI, landing at Ellis Island on July 4^th.

Although my grandfather was hearing-abled, several of his siblings were born deaf. Fortunately, the deaf siblings were too young to be asked questions during the health inspections at Ellis Island because if they were found deaf, they would have failed the test and not been allowed into the US.

Sadly, the oldest child (a young teen), my great aunt, was either sent back to Poland after failing the health inspection or was left behind to begin with. Being Jewish, she perished in the Holocaust. I tried to honor her—this forgotten left-behind child—by creating Aanya, one of the two main characters.

The Three Biggest Challenges I Faced While Writing This Historical Fiction Book

1. Writing around the day-job without channeling my inner-panic button.

Really. I had to keep putting these struggles into perspective:

1. This is what I *want,* and what I received: a writing contract
2. This is what I enjoy
3. I’ve done this before and I can do it again, and on a faith level
4. God will get me through this

2. Learning how to swallow my fear of research, something that I’ve come to embrace and look forward.

I pushed myself, step-by-step, and realized that it was fun and not a drudgery and that I *can* do this without being lost in a rabbit hole of all research and no writing.

3. Life 101 does happen.

During this time, my father became quite ill and within a 4-month period was in and out of five different ICUs and facilities.

Thankfully, he was discharged home last week. But I also couldn’t shove aside my writing, my day-job, my own health concerns or my husband.

I learned how to take each day as it comes by—for once—surrendering control to God and to accept that certain days, if I don’t accomplish my goals, there is tomorrow and that I’m not a failure.

How I Got Blurbs for My Historical Fiction Novel

I’m very grateful to have received the endorsements/blurbs for We Shall Not Shatter.

I initially sought them from people—whether authors, teachers, other professionals, well-known bloggers, and readers—who might appreciate my style of writing, as well as the subject matter.

Of course, I had a few dream big-named authors I approached to see whether they would offer an endorsement, but unfortunately, for whatever reason, I didn’t hear back from them with the exception of one who stated she didn’t have the time to read and review my story.

With everyone I queried regarding the review of my novel, I put together a pleasant, upbeat email informing them about the book, my desire behind writing it, publisher, date of publication, plot synopsis, the book’s blurb (that’s found on the back of the paperback), and a short bio about myself.

How I Came Up with My Author Brand Tagline

My tagline: Historical fiction author exploring home, family, and friendships through time.

Through the years I’ve tried various tag lines, but when barreling into writing historical fiction with full gusto I came to realize that I will never be able to stop writing about what home, family, and friendships mean to people, why they’re such vital elements for us, and how each of these are both huge components while simultaneously being the fundamental core of human life, yet how each can and will morph throughout time.

To me, this is fascinating and I can only hope it will be of interest and encouraging to others.

As for shaping my marketing, I’m hoping potential readers are drawn to my stories without mistakenly thinking they’re find other themes. Apparently, it caught my current publisher’s attention.

However, I’m always open to change, if necessary.

Advice for Writers Interested in Writing Historical Fiction

My advice for anyone wanting to write anything—whether fiction or non-fiction—is to go about it fearlessly.

Don’t listen to the naysayers or the intrusive whispers teasing your mind that says you can’t do this… it will take too much research or time… there are no guarantees…

And specifically, to those interested in writing historical fiction: Do not fear research (like I initially did; a fear that actually kept me from trying to write historical fiction for years). It’s fun! It’s fascinating! You will learn so much and your characters and plot will benefit from it.

The trick is to find the right balance between research and not making it read dryly like a textbook.

Note: Read more about Elaine and her other books on her previous Writing and Wellness feature.

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Elaine Stock writes Historical Fiction, exploring home, family and friendships throughout time. She enjoys creating stories showing how all faiths, races, and belief systems are interconnected and need each other.

A member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association and The Historical Novel Society, she wrote We Shall Not Shatter, Book 1 of the Resilient Women of WWII Trilogy, inspired by her deaf great aunt who was left behind in Poland and perished in the Holocaust. The novel has earned the Historical Fiction Company 5-star and “Highly Recommended” Review and won the Finalist Award in the Historical WWI-WWII category of the Historical Fiction Company 2021 Contest.

For more information on Elaine and her work, please see her website and Amazon author page, and connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Bookbub.

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We Shall Not Shatter:

An unforgettable story of friendship, family and hope as two courageous young women face one of history’s most horrific tragedies.

Brzeziny, Poland, 1939 Zofia’s comfortable-lifestyle overturns when her husband, Jabez, who monitors Nazi activity, has gone missing. Rather than fleeing the country with her young son, as she had promised Jabez who is fearing retaliation, she decides to stay. She cannot possibly leave her friend, Aanya. Since their childhood they have amazed fellow Brzeziners that it does not matter that Aanya is Jewish and deaf, and that Zofia is Catholic and hearing. Now, more than ever with war looming, Zofia will do whatever is necessary to protect her family and Aanya.

As both love and war approach their Polish town, Zofia and Aanya must make choices that will change the meaning of family, home, and their precious friendship. The journey, decisions and the no-going-back consequences the women face will either help them to survive—or not—as Hitler’s Third Reich revs up its control of the world.

Inspired by the author’s paternal heritage from Brzeziny, this is a heartbreaking yet beautiful story of two women who are determined to remain united in friendship and to live freely despite the odds.

Available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Add to Goodreads here.