What It Really Takes to Write Historical Fiction That No One Talks About

From the outside, writing historical fiction often looks romantic. There’s a certain image attached to it—an author surrounded by old books, sipping coffee, effortlessly weaving together facts and imagination while bringing the past to life. And while there are moments that feel exactly like that, they are only a very small part of the reality. Because what it really takes to write historical fiction… is something quite different.

It Starts With Curiosity—But Doesn’t End There

Most historical novels begin the same way: with a spark of curiosity. A person, an event, a place, or even a single question that refuses to let go. For me, that curiosity often turns into weeks—or months—of research. And not the kind that neatly wraps itself up once you’ve “learned enough.” Research in historical fiction has a way of expanding the more you dig. One answer leads to five more questions. One source contradicts another. And suddenly, you find yourself deep in a rabbit hole you never expected to enter. What no one really tells you is that the research never truly stops—not even when the writing begins.

Accuracy vs. Storytelling

There’s an ongoing balancing act in historical fiction that can be surprisingly difficult to manage: staying true to history while also telling a compelling story. Facts matter. Details matter. But so do pacing, emotion, and character development.

At some point, every writer of historical fiction has to make choices:

• Do I stay completely accurate, even if it slows the story down?

• Or do I adjust slightly to keep the narrative flowing?

There isn’t always a clear answer. And those decisions don’t come with a rulebook.

The Weight of What’s Missing

One of the most challenging—and often overlooked—aspects of writing historical fiction is dealing with what history didn’t record. There are gaps everywhere. Missing perspectives. Silenced voices. This is especially true when writing about women. So much of their lives was never documented in detail, or only filtered through someone else’s perspective. That leaves the writer with a responsibility: to imagine carefully, respectfully, and thoughtfully. You’re not just filling in blanks—you’re giving shape to something that was never fully preserved.

Living Between Then and Now

Writing historical fiction means constantly shifting between two worlds. You have to think like someone from another time—understand their values, their limitations, their beliefs—while still writing in a way that resonates with modern readers. It’s not just about language or setting. It’s about mindset. And sometimes, that tension can be exhausting.

The Emotional Investment

This is the part that rarely gets mentioned. When you spend months—or years—with a story, it stops being just research and writing. It becomes personal. You carry the characters with you. Their struggles, their fears, their decisions. You think about them when you’re not writing. You question whether you’re doing their stories justice. And when the book is finally finished, you don’t just feel relief. You feel… a kind of quiet emptiness.

It Takes Time (More Than You Think)

Historical fiction is not a fast genre. Between research, drafting, revising, fact-checking, and sometimes going back to research again, the process takes time. A lot of it. There are no shortcuts—at least not if you care about getting it right. And most writers in this genre do.

Why We Do It Anyway

With all of that, you might wonder why anyone chooses to write historical fiction at all. The answer is simple. Because it matters. There is something deeply meaningful about bringing the past to life in a way that allows readers to experience it, not just learn about it. To step into another time. To see the world through someone else’s eyes. And perhaps most importantly—to give voice to those who were never fully heard. That, more than anything else, is what makes the long hours, the uncertainty, and the endless research worth it.

by A. Piper Burgi

Piper is the award-winning author of The Country Girl Empress series. When she isn't busy typing on her computer, she can be found chasing after her furry children or holding on tightly to a good cup of coffee. Follow her on LinkedIn, Facebook, Medium, and Goodreads