Historical Fiction for Indie Authors: How to Write Stories That Bring the Past to Life

Historical fiction offers readers a journey into the past—immersing them in the lives, cultures, conflicts, and landscapes of bygone eras. These stories allow us to explore the timeless struggles of love, war, justice, and ambition within the context of real-world events. From ancient empires and medieval courts to World War frontlines and roaring twenties ballrooms, historical fiction combines fact and imagination to reveal the human experience through a different lens.

Unlike fantasy or science fiction, historical fiction is anchored in research and authenticity. It asks the writer not only to tell a good story but to honor the truth of the time period—even while inventing characters, conflicts, and dialogue. For indie authors, the genre offers vast creative opportunity, a wide audience, and the chance to bring overlooked stories and marginalized voices to light.

If done well, historical fiction doesn't just depict the past—it inhabits it. This guide will help you develop an authentic setting, compelling characters, and a plot that resonates across time while staying grounded in historical truth.

What Makes a Historical Fiction Novel?

A historical fiction novel is set in a real past era, generally at least 30 years before the time of writing. While the main characters are usually fictional, the world they inhabit is rooted in real history—whether it’s Elizabethan London, the trenches of WWI, or Harlem in the 1920s. Historical fiction blends factual accuracy with creative storytelling, allowing readers to explore past events through personal and emotional lenses.

A well-crafted historical novel requires:

Authenticity: Accurate depictions of period customs, speech, dress, and setting. Even if you alter events, the atmosphere must feel genuine.
Emotion and Theme: Historical settings enhance the stakes, but the heart of the novel still lies in timeless human struggles—love, betrayal, ambition, freedom, identity.
Immersive World-Building: Historical details should be seamlessly woven into the narrative, not dumped in exposition. Readers want to feel like they’re there.
Respect for Reality: Even when characters are invented, historical events and figures should be portrayed with sensitivity, nuance, and factual grounding.

Historical fiction isn’t just about placing a story in the past—it’s about using the past to elevate the story. A great historical novel reveals something essential about the era it portrays and the human condition.

The Popularity of Historical Fiction

Historical fiction has long enjoyed critical and commercial success, from the epic sweep of War and Peace to the immersive intimacy of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (available on Amazon). In recent years, authors like Kristin Hannah (The Nightingale, available on Apple Books), Ken Follett (The Pillars of the Earth, available on Kobo), and Madeline Miller (The Song of Achilles) have shown how emotionally resonant and commercially successful historical fiction can be.

Popular subgenres include wartime fiction, Tudor dramas, ancient civilizations, historical romance, and revisionist tales that center marginalized voices. On screen, hits like The Crown, Downton Abbey, Outlander, and Bridgerton have further fueled interest in historical settings.

For indie authors, historical fiction offers the chance to write across time, explore lesser-known periods, and highlight stories overlooked by mainstream narratives. Whether you’re drawn to the grandeur of the Roman Empire or the quiet resilience of Depression-era America, there’s a loyal readership hungry for well-told stories from the past.

Reader Expectations for Historical Fiction

Readers of historical fiction expect to be transported. They want accuracy, atmosphere, and a sense of immersion so deep it feels like time travel. But they also want emotional storytelling, compelling characters, and themes that feel universal.

Readers expect:

Historical Accuracy: Your timeline, geography, customs, and material culture must be correct—or at least plausibly interpreted. Even small anachronisms can pull readers out of the story.
Human Connection: A romance in 1812 still needs sparks. A rebellion in ancient China still needs personal stakes. Readers want to see themselves in characters—even in unfamiliar settings.
Rich Details: Period-appropriate language, architecture, fashion, food, and politics should enrich the world, but not overwhelm the plot.
Balance Between Fact and Fiction: Don’t lecture. Don’t let historical accuracy strangle the pacing. Story always comes first.

Above all, readers want authenticity—not just in the setting, but in the emotional truths your characters face. If the characters feel real, the history will, too.

Common Tropes in Historical Fiction Novels

Historical fiction often embraces familiar tropes that help ground readers in the setting and stakes. These include:

Star-Crossed Lovers: A romance challenged by class, war, or social norms. Think The Nightingale or Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (available on Barnes & Noble).
Ordinary People in Extraordinary Times: A baker in WWII Paris. A housemaid during the Russian Revolution. These stories show how big events impact individual lives.
The Hidden Heroine: A woman defying the expectations of her time to follow ambition, intellect, or love. See The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles.
Dual Timelines: A modern-day character uncovers a secret about the past, often told in alternating POVs. This structure is popular in romantic and wartime fiction.
Rising Against Injustice: Whether it’s a slave’s escape, a soldier’s rebellion, or a journalist’s defiance, many historical novels center resistance against corrupt systems.
Lost Letters or Diaries: Used to uncover secrets, reveal truths, or bridge time gaps. A favorite device in dual-timeline and family saga plots.

Tropes aren’t rules—but readers love them when executed well and grounded in fresh perspectives.

Structuring Your Historical Fiction Novel: The Plot Map

Here’s a structure that works well for historical fiction, allowing space for research, emotion, and dramatic escalation:

Context and Character: Introduce the historical setting and the protagonist’s role within it. Show how the world shapes their beliefs and limitations.
Inciting Event: A war begins. A stranger arrives. A rule is broken. This disrupts the character’s expectations and propels them into action.
Rising Tension: Conflict escalates. The character’s goals are threatened—by society, war, family, or personal trauma. The setting intensifies pressure.
Crisis or Turning Point: A major loss, betrayal, or revelation forces a change in direction. The stakes become personal.
Climax and Consequence: The protagonist must make a decisive choice. This may involve defiance, escape, confession, or sacrifice. The setting (and history) collides with their agency.
Resolution: The story resolves with emotional payoff—love gained or lost, freedom earned, or legacy defined. Even if history marches on, the character’s story feels complete.

Final Thoughts for Indie Historical Fiction Writers

Writing historical fiction means doing your homework—but it also means telling a story that moves the reader. Don’t let the weight of research bury the plot. Let the history enhance the emotional journey.

As an indie author, you have the freedom to choose time periods and voices that traditional publishers overlook. You can spotlight underrepresented cultures, challenge historical myths, or focus on quiet, personal dramas rather than famous figures and battles.

Respect the past—but write for today. Readers want meaning, not just accuracy. They want stories that connect across centuries. And if you give them characters to care about and a world they can believe in, they’ll follow you—no matter the century.