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. You should start the writing process by creating a plot outline so you have a general sense of where your story is headed. You may deviate from your plot outline as you get into the writing. But having a guide can make it easier to dive into the story and get words on the page. You may use a plot diagram to outline your story. A plot diagram is one of the more common ways to structure your story and consists of six sections: the set up, the inciting incident, the rising action, the climax, the falling action, and the resolution. Alternatively, you may use the snowflake method. The snowflake method is often used by writers who do not want to follow the more traditional plot diagram, but are still looking for a way to organize their story. The snowflake diagram consists of a one sentence summary of the story, a one paragraph summary of the story, character synopses, and a summary of scenes. Many writers fall into the trap of letting historical fact take over their fictional story, creating a story that reads more like a history lesson than a gripping fictional tale. Avoid letting historical fact limit or constrain your ability to tell the fictional story. Instead, use historical fact as a basis for your fictional story and feel free to tweak or adjust smaller details for the sake of your story. Though you should strive for accuracy and fact in your story, you should also be willing to sacrifice historical fact for a good tale. You are writing fiction based on some element of history, after all, and are not obligated to ensure every detail is historically correct. The need for historical fact should never trump your ability to create an engaging tale. Cliches are phrases that have become so familiar they no longer hold meaning or make an impact on your reader. You should strive to create descriptions and details that are unique and unfamiliar, as your reader might tune out if your sentences are littered with phrases they have heard before. It can be tricky to avoid cliche when you are writing historical fiction, especially if it is set in a time period with familiar images and phrases, such as the British monarchy or turn of the century Paris. You may need to work extra hard to ensure your writing does not fall into cliche when describing the setting of your story or the perspective of your characters. For example, rather than describe a party in turn of the century Paris as "packed to the gills, with a bevy of artists and creative types," you might describe it with more detail, "so crowded you could only spot the champagne glasses on brass trays, floating over the perfumed heads of every known artist in Paris." Once you have created a first draft of your story, you should sit down and revise it. Historical fiction can take years to write and you may write many drafts. You should be prepared to revise your drafts several times until you have a finished manuscript. Read the draft out loud to yourself. You should highlight any cliches or familiar language as well as any awkward sentences or phrases. Make sure you are historically accurate whenever possible and that you have a good reason for the instances when you deviate from history. You should also ensure your draft adheres to your plot outline. If you deviate from your plot outline, it should be for the good of the story overall. You should also read the draft out loud to someone else. Get feedback and constructive feedback from them to improve your writing and your next draft. Often, getting an outside perspective on your work can only make it better and more engaging for your readers.
Create a plot outline Do not limit yourself to historical fact. Avoid cliche descriptions and details. Read and revise your rough draft.