Do you think a degree in history is best if one wants to write historic novels?

Heather Webb I'm just seeing this, Patricia! So sorry about that. I don't think it's necessary, no. Not at all. In fact, I think many assume being competent in the world of academia means fiction should come naturally to them as well. This isn't the case. They are vastly different skills. Writing fiction takes a lot of practice, years of reading and craft work, as well as a creative inclination to read between the lines of historical record--to fill in the silences and the forgotten emotions that shaped those historical records. Thanks for your question! Happy reading.

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