‘Mark Twain famously said […] that history never repeats itself but it often rhymes. Whoever coined this aphorism, it is a good one for the historical writer to keep in mind, if only as a reminder of the unreliability of sources.’
– Sarah Bower, author of The Needle in the Blood and Lines and Shadows
The past is full of new stories.
Are you a writer inspired by history?
Find all things historical fiction from the National Centre for Writing: from reading lists to writing courses, free-to-access tips and tricks for crafting the perfect past-rich story, plus words of wisdom from some of our favourite writers and industry experts.
National Centre for Writing loves celebrating fiction inspired by historical event and figures, and we are always looking for ways to expand our offering to historical writers and readers alike. Here is your one-stop-shop for the genre of historical fiction.
Five essential research sources for your historical writing project
Where to start when researching for memoir or creative non-fiction
Award-winning non-fiction writer Katharine Reeves, currently working on a climate change memoir set in Norfolk, shares her go-to research sources when diving into a creative non-fiction or memoir project. These tools can also enrich fiction projects, helping writers craft vivid, authentic worlds.
Hear from the experts, from published authors to industry professionals:
The flesh and bones of historical writing
Imogen Hermes Gowar shares her thoughts on historical fiction and some tips on how to start your own history-inspired story.
4 August 2025
Writing strong female characters: Joanna Miller on The Eights
In this episode of The Writing Life, writer Joanna Miller shares her insights into writing strong female characters in historical fiction.
6 May 2025
A Rising Man: Questions for readers
We look at Abir Mukherjee’s historical crime novel, set in India, 1919, and some questions to think about while reading A Rising Man.
16 April 2021
What’s on — upcoming events, workshops & courses
Delve into history and hone your writing skills, gain insights from industry experts, and focus your research practices through our upcoming events and practical courses.
How to Write Fiction (12-week course)
Learn the essential tools to craft compelling fiction, featuring personalised one-to-one feedback, engaging lessons, and practical exercises to help you develop a consistent writing practice.
Monday 23 February
An Introduction to Crime Writing (12-week course)
Explore the themes and appeal of crime fiction; looking at creating credible worlds and characters, developing and structuring story and building page-turning, tension-filled scenes.
Monday 23 February
Develop Your Fiction (18-week course)
This fiction course deepens your writing skills, guiding you through more sophisticated techniques and diverse approaches to storytelling. You’ll experiment creatively, read widely, and emerge with a polished draft.
Monday 23 February
Developing Your Prose Fiction with Ian Nettleton (ten-week course)
Take your writing to the next level with this friendly, supportive, ten-week intermediate course led by expert tutor Ian Nettleton.
Tuesday 24 February
How to Write a Novel (eight-week course)
Learn to write a novel, explore the core elements of storytelling, and receive personalised feedback to confidently bring your first novel to life.
Monday 23 March
