History has held onto many of the muses writers keep using. From the musings of the Borgias, to the arrogance of King Henry VIII, to even the pain of the Affair of the Poisons, it’s these instances in history that have led writers to the darker corners of their imaginations. It’s led to the cultivation of different fictional revolutions, as well as the various thoughts of what it means to be alive. I even consider myself a history buff, judging from the various articles I’ve written, as well as my somewhat useful minor in History (thank you, witchcraft class).

Still, there’s a certain beauty in writing historical fiction. It’s alluring, and can give you a satisfaction that isn’t found in other genres. As such, below are two reasons why you should take up historical fiction.

Connections
Whenever we read about the motivations behind famous historical figures, we’re often whisked away to a different time in which different values, beliefs, and dreams shroud the environment. We bond with these people, and often set our characters in an environment where they connect us to the past. Despite what we may think, from the moment we decide to write about the past, we explore it in a way that we can’t anywhere else.  

For example, Philippa Gregory acts as a historian to her works in order to bring to life famous figures who are long since dead. She, as well as other historical fiction giants, have long explored their different antics, and have humanized them in a way many other writers might not have been able to in any other genre. When we think about a bad guy in history, we also think about the context, and how they might think interact with our own characters. Think of it as a realistic fanfiction, but without the stigma.

Research
Of course, if you’re going to write historical fiction, you should, at the very least, consider doing some research involved with your story. If a period in the Renaissance interests you, you might want to understand just what that society was like, and the important people in it. If you’re going to write about the Affair of the Poisons, you wouldn’t talk about the Egyptians and your characters building the pyramids. But while it can be a lot of work, historical fiction gives you a reason to question what you know and develop a healthy curiosity about topics you might not otherwise have thought about.

Historical fiction blends the imaginative with the real. It has an appeal that often comforts both academics and writers alike. It allows us to reinforce our own interpretations of history, giving us a truth of our own to believe. In other words, we become historians, and learn the lessons a majority of people might not even know. By writing historical fiction, we can understand both ourselves and humanity, even if it is just within the confines of a book.