Selecting a Time and Place

In historical fiction, the elements of the time period become a character in the story. So, selecting a setting and a time period become as important as developing your characters and creating the plot. Remember, to be historical fiction, the story can take place only in the place and time where it is set.

There is no single right or wrong way to select a time period for a work of historical fiction. Some writers are fascinated by a certain time period, say the turn of the 20th century or Elizabethan England, and read about the history of the period until some sort of inspiration hits. For example, the true story of a slave woman named Mumbet may spark an idea. Mumbet decided, upon hearing the Declaration of Independence read, that she would sue for her freedom. She famously said, “I am no dumb critter. ” There are several stories that can arise from this historical fact: the story of the trial, the story of her finding a lawyer and of the lawyer accepting the case, the story of how society reacted, and numerous other stories limited only by the imagination of the writer. But, remember, historical fiction allows literary license with some details, but not the major points of historical record. For a story related to Mumbet to be considered historical fiction, it must be set in the late 1700s at the time of the trial and must take place in Massachusetts where Mumbet lived and the trial was held. So, in this example, the historical facts dictate the place and time.

Another way to select a time period for historical fiction is to first choose the basic story and then select a time period and place for which the story can be adapted. A key element of historical fiction is that it can take place only in the time and place where it is set, so once these are selected, the story must be adjusted to meet this requirement. For example, consider the plot of a young woman coming of age. There may be a great story here, but that plot can be—and has been—set in any time period. To make this historical fiction, the author must make history an integral character in the story. Craft the character of the young woman as someone who, through her coming of age, becomes involved in the suffragette movement. Throw in some action pivotal to the plot that centers on historical events, and you have historical fiction. The story can only take place at a certain time and in a certain place. So, while the original story idea did not dictate the time and place, it was possible to add time and place to create historical fiction.

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