Special Guest Darlene Franklin on Writing from Historical Events

This month, Blissful Writing Thoughts is pleased to welcome veteran Darlene Franklin on writing from historical events.

Writing from Historical Events

In one way, writing historical fiction is easy: Find an interesting event and write a story about that event (or inspired by it).

I’m not talking about the “big” events, like the Civil War. I’m talking about a specific event, like the northernmost battle of that war, St. Alban’s Raid. A group of confederates stole into Vermont from Canada, claimed the town of St. Alban’s for the Confederacy, robbed a bank—and were run out of town, right back to Canada. My current work-in-progress is about a copycat bank robbery in the fictional town of Maple Notch.

So far all the historical books save one I've sold were inspired by actual events or people. I have yet to sell a story where I think of a story then look for a place and time to match it.

Unsold?

A Dr.-Quinn type story of an Eastern girl who goes to medical school (Colorado, 1876)

An asthmatic stage coach owner and a reclusive ranch owner (Texas, 1891)

A crusading

preacher who falls in love with the daughter of the prostitute he’s trying to run out of town (Colorado, 1894)

Among others

Sold?

A story inspired by the worst blizzard in Colorado history (1913): Snowbound Colorado Christmas. (Colorado, 1913)

A story inspired by Vermont folk tale hero Ann Story, a patriot who lived in a cave during the Revolutio

nary War: Prodigal Patriot. (Vermont, 1777)

A story inspired by the town history of Egypt, Vermont: Bridge to Love (Vermont, 1816-1817)

Among others

The same event—the infamous Year of No Summer that struck the Northeast in 1816, when snow fell at least once every month during the year—has inspired three different stories for me. In addition to Beacon of Love (Barbour, 2009—repackaged this summer in Seaside Romance) and Bridge to Love (November, 2010, Barbour), an editor has requested a manuscript based on the exodus of Mainers to Ohio during 1816.

My search for story “sparks” is usually intentional. I usually have a geographical region in mind, as well as a general time period. I look at state time lines, town histories, and other websites until I find a fact that makes me say “aha!” Sometimes I can claim serendipity. A visit to the Colorado History Museum added elephants to my Snowbound book. A trip through Oklahoma for my cozy mysteries introduced me to Pawnee Bill’s wife—the inspiration for Lucy Ames in Wild West Christmas. Fun and colorful facts and characters crowd history. Join me on the treasure hunt!

Book giveaway: Please leave a comment any time between now and the end of June to win a copy of Prodigal Patriot. Also check out my blog for additional opportunities to win one of my books and titles from other amazing authors!

Prodigal Patriot may be purchased online at Barbourbooks.com and amazon.com.

My website: http://darlenefranklinwrites.blogspot.com

Sally Reid’s family decides on a dangerous course when the Tories of Maple Notch, Vermont, chase Patriot families off their land. They live in a cave and farm their land by moonlight.

When Josiah Tuttle discovers their secret and offers to help, Sally doesn’t know if she can trust him. After all, Josiah’s father is one of the Tories who forced her family into hiding.

The Tuttles have already lost one son to the hated Patriot cause. How can Josiah both honor his grieving father and protect the woman he loves? When called upon to take a stand, which side will he choose? How can Sally and Josiah battle through the barriers separating them to love and forgiveness?

Research Made Interesting

Welcome to Chatham in Fredericksburg, Virginia. And home to a scene in my soon to be released novella, 'Till Death Do Us Part in the collection, A Blue and Gray Christmas.

This is one of the many places over the course of my writing career where I have gone to do research on my novels. In my Civil War novella, there is a major scene that takes place at this very house. And what better way to bring the scene to life than to make a visit. Which we did during the holidays, and I was able to paint a more accurate portrayal of the house once I walked the grounds and listened to the guides tell of its history.

It's important to have factual research in books, especially historical novels. Guides are eager to oblige when you tell them you're a writer and you have a novel coming out soon about their particular historical area. Several years ago I went to Mammoth Cave, Kentucky to research the cave for an upcoming book, Into the Deep. Before arriving, I talked to the ranger in charge of media relations and also the historical ranger. The first ranger gave me a free guided tour of the cave, even taking us to places now off limits to tour groups. And then I sat down for two glorious hours with the historical ranger talking about the history of the cave. All of this was then incorporated into the novel which was then published and is now a part of the collection, Kentucky Brides.

Of course sometimes it's not possible to actually journey to the places you are writing about. But if you can do it, it lends an certain authenticity that is unmistakable. And it makes you one with your novel as you seek to bring the historical nature of the story to life in the written word.

You Can Always Learn New Revision Techniques

This is me sometimes in the picture - frantically trying to make my manuscript the best it can be. Going over and over it, checking the flow of the story, checking grammar, checking for words that spellcheck misses. All important areas so that your story, and not the glaring mistakes, comes forth to the editor's eye.

For me, I tend to write and write whatever comes into my mind and worry about the rest later. I am not a proficient typist either, so the spelling is atrocious. Sometimes I will go back to spellcheck and it is so bad, I can't even figure out what it is I was trying to say! I did take a typing class in high school, but I have not gotten much better, even with the dozen books I have written! But going back over with spellcheck also enables me to go back over the sentences and the story in general. Even if I have to do it many times. And through that careful perusal, I am able to pick out places where the story drags, the sentences are in the wrong place, or even sentences that can be deleted altogether.

One of the best classes I took at the Philadelphia Write His Answer conference was on revising your work. Every author needs to take a course like this, no matter how many books they have published. There are always new things to learn to make your work shine even brighter. And I found out about redundancy with words, choosing the best of two actions in a sentence (not both actions), dialogue (such as the author "says" things, not does things when speaking such as sigh, laugh), and as this one teacher from the Christian Writers Guild said - "resist the urge to explain (RUE)" - such as - Sylvia was frustrated. She paced the length of the room. This can simply be stated - Sylvia paced the length of the room (as the frustration level is already implied by the action).

Now I have written quite few bocks, but these types of revision techniques were important to learn. Especially now, as I am working to revise my latest mss in progress. I can employ them to make my work tighter and shinier. And hopefully land that elusive contract as a result.

Cornucopia of a Fiction Proposal

I was decorating for the fall season today and set up a display of cornucopia - the traditional horn of plenty overflowing with fruit and vegetables of the season. It got me thinking today about the fruit and veggies that I put into a fiction proposal to ready it for an agent or an editor.

So what do I put in this type of "horn of plenty?" For starters, it's important to have a good first line to grab an editor or agent's attention. The hook, if you will. I begin with a two or three sentence "hook" that describes my proposed book. Something that will catch their attention and make them want to read more. I then go into a short synopsis or blurb of the intended book. Writing a synopsis of any length takes practice. It is no easy task to condense a 300 page novel into a few paragraphs. But writing a succinct synopsis that shows the plot and theme of your book gives the editors and agents not only an idea as to the book's content, but shows off your skill as a writer. It makes for a good impression which is needed to lift your work above the others massing in an editor's computer Inbox.

I then will add in a listing of published and contracted books. Even if you don't have much to say, try to put in anything you have accomplished that is writing related. You can also add in if you maintain a blog and / or web site. When I first began, I was even adding the letters I had written to the editor of my local newspaper that were published. I then add in a short bio about myself and any other credentials that might prove helpful.

Next comes the chapter by chapter synopsis. Again, this can take quite a bit of effort to do and do well, especially if your book is not yet finished. But even with this, I have found that constructing a synopsis that includes three to four sentences describing the main action of the chapter, helps me write the book when the time comes. Again, succinctness is important.

Finally comes the all important three sample chapters. Make them shine. Whatever it takes. I heard from a few editors at the last conference that if the first chapter doesn't grab them, they won't even bother looking at the rest of the proposal. So make sure you are giving them a shiny red apple they cannot refuse. And make certain the rest of the chapters are equally as good. Check your grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Nothing turns off editors more than these simple mistakes.

It's beneficial as well to have others critique your proposal for any mistakes. Then once you have it ready, send it off with much prayer that God will open the door at the right time for your project. And surely the editor will enjoy feasting on your wonderful words.