Historical Fiction Writing

no certificate
with CEU Certificate*
-
23Lessons
-
47Exams &
Assignments -
632Students
have taken this course -
23Hours
average time -
2.3CEUs
Course Description
Writing historical fiction is quite simply writing a story that is set in the past. You will do research to create a correct and realistic setting, based upon facts. Historical fiction can even include real people.
You are writing fiction, but it is so very important to do your homework so that you can pin down the mannerisms, costumes, conditions, vernacular and so on in order to make your novel realistic. In fact, historical fiction novels can take years to write due to the amount of ‘homework' (research) required.
In this course, we are going to explore the genre and all its offshoots. We'll discuss the various sub-genres, the types of characters and settings you may want to explore, character motivations, conflict, plot, plot mapping, editing, and pacing. We'll even cover agents, queries, and so much more. You will walk away from this course (at the end!) feeling as if you know exactly what you want to write and exactly how to write it.
- Completely Online
- Self-Paced
- 6 Months to Complete
- 24/7 Availability
- Start Anytime
- PC & Mac Compatible
- Android & iOS Friendly
- Accredited CEUs

Course Lessons
Lesson 1: What is Historical Fiction?
Review Article: What Is Historical Fiction?
Take Survey: Reasons for Taking this Course
Complete Assignment: Introduction
Complete: Lesson 1 Assignment: Historical Fiction Ideas
Complete: Lesson 1 Exam
Lesson 2: Elements of Historical Fiction
Complete: Lesson 2 Assignment: Historically Realistic Characters
Complete: Lesson 2 Exam
Lesson 3: Mystery as a Sub-Genre of Historical Fiction
Complete: Lesson 3 Assignment: Your Sub-Genre Details
Complete: Lesson 3 Exam
Lesson 4: Romance as a Sub-Genre of Historical Fiction
Complete: Lesson 4 Assignment: Historical Romance Writing
Complete: Lesson 4 Exam
Lesson 5: Classical Historical Fiction and More
Complete: Lesson 5 Assignment: Historical Fiction Writing Exercise
Complete: Lesson 5 Exam
Lesson 6: Characters, the Who
Review Article: The Seven Rules for Writing Historical Fiction
Complete: Lesson 6 Assignment: Historical Character Writing Exercise
Complete: Lesson 6 Exam
Lesson 7: Setting, the Where
Complete: Lesson 7 Assignment: Google!
Complete: Lesson 7 Exam
Lesson 8: Real or Make-believe?
Complete: Lesson 8 Assignment: Real or Make Believe?
Complete: Lesson 8 Exam
Lesson 9: Research: What to Include
Complete: Lesson 9 Assignment: Pre Writing Questions
Complete: Lesson 9 Exam
Lesson 10: How to Do Research
Complete: Lesson 10 Assignment: Your List
Complete: Lesson 10 Exam
Lesson 11: Hands-on Research (Writing What You Know, or rather, What You Don't Know)
Complete: Lesson 11 Assignment: The Process of Research
Complete: Lesson 11 Exam
Lesson 12: The Experts
Complete: Lesson 12 Assignment: Begin Your Research
Complete: Lesson 12 Exam
Lesson 13: Historical Fiction and Fact
Complete: Lesson 13 Assignment: Adding Fictional Characters
Complete: Lesson 13 Exam
Lesson 14: Plagiarism, Lies, and Wikipedia
Complete: Lesson 14 Assignment: References
Complete: Lesson 14 Exam
Lesson 15: Plotting: Plot Lines and Plot Maps
Review Article: Plot Map
Complete: Lesson 15 Assignment: Plotting
Complete: Lesson 15 Exam
Lesson 16: Conflict
Complete: Lesson 16 Assignment: Conflict
Complete: Lesson 16 Exam
Lesson 17: Subplots and Motivation
Complete: Lesson 17 Assignment: Sub-Plots and Additional Characters
Complete: Lesson 17 Exam
Lesson 18: Pacing
Complete: Lesson 18 Assignment: Pacing
Complete: Lesson 18 Exam
Lesson 19: Showing, Rather than Telling
Complete: Lesson 19 Assignment: Showing, Rather than Telling
Complete: Lesson 19 Exam
Lesson 20: Editing and Re-editing
Review 2 Articles: Beating Writer's Block; The Adverb is Not Your Friend: Stephen King
Complete: Lesson 20 Assignment: Editing
Complete: Lesson 20 Exam
Lesson 21: Agents
Complete: Lesson 21 Assignment: Agent Research
Complete: Lesson 21 Exam
Lesson 22: The Query Letter
Review 2 Articles: How to Write a Query Letter; Sample Query Letters and Templates
Complete: Lesson 22 Assignment: Writing Your Query
Complete: Lesson 22 Exam
Lesson 23: Final Words
Review Article: Random House: What I Look For in a Rough Draft
Take Poll: What is your opinion of this course?
Take Survey: Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course)
Complete: The Final Assignment
Complete: The Final Exam
Learning Outcomes
- Define what historical fiction is.
- Define the elements of historical fiction.
- Describe mystery as a sub-genre of historical fiction.
- Describe romance as a sub-genre of historical fiction.
- Summarize classical historical fiction and more.
- Identify characters, the who.
- Identify setting, the where.
- Determine if what you're writing should be real or make-believe.
- Describe methods on how to do research.
- Recognize who the experts are and how to get information from them in your writing process.
- Determine historical fiction and fact.
- Summarize plagiarism, lies, and Wikipedia issues.
- Describe plotting techniques.
- Describe what conflict is and how to build on it.
- Describe subplots and motivation.
- Identify the correct pacing for your story.
- Describe showing, rather than telling techniques.
- Describe the editing and re-editing processes.
- Summarize what to do to find an agent or if you need one.
- Develop a query letter, and
- Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
Additional Course Information

- Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
- Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
- Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
- View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
- Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media

Choose Your Subscription Plan
No Certificate / No CEUs
This course only
Includes certificate | X |
Includes CEUs | X |
Self-paced |
![]() |
Instructor support |
![]() |
Time to complete | 6 months |
No. of courses | 1 course |
Certificate & CEUs
This course only
Includes certificate |
![]() |
Includes CEUs |
![]() |
Self-paced |
![]() |
Instructor support |
![]() |
Time to complete | 6 months |
No. of courses | 1 course |
Certificates & CEUs
Includes all 500+ courses
Includes certificate |
![]() |
Includes CEUs |
![]() |
Self-paced |
![]() |
Instructor support |
![]() |
Time to complete | 12 Months |
No. of courses | 500+ |
Certificates & CEUs
Includes all 500+ courses
Includes certificate |
![]() |
Includes CEUs |
![]() |
Self-paced |
![]() |
Instructor support |
![]() |
Time to complete | 24 Months |
No. of courses | 500+ |
Student Testimonials
- "The instructor was warm, friendly, and encouraging. The information is vital to those hoping to see their writing published was presented in an open, generous and encouraging way." -- Barbara P.
- "Everything was great!" -- Cathy K.
- "This was another great class with such a great instructor. If I have any problems she is extremely willing to help." -- Donna N.