How to Write Historical Fiction: A masterclass with Emma Darwin & Sanjida O'Connell
A 90-minute masterclass on writing powerful, authentic historical fiction — with an expert on historical fiction, including a Q&A and take-home handout with tips and practical exercises.
Learn how to weave research and imagination into unforgettable historical fiction.
Join Dr Emma Darwin, author of The Bruegel Boy, the prize-nominated and best selling historical novels, The Mathematics of Love and A Secret Alchemy, and the acclaimed guide Get Started in Writing Historical Fiction, together with award-winning novelist, Dr Sanjida O’Connell, author of two historical novels, The Priest and the Lily and Sugar Island for a 90-minute online masterclass.
20% discount for subscribers to our Substacks:
This Itch of Writing & Wild Writing with Sanjida
We’ll explore:
The inspiration behind Emma’s new book, The Bruegel Boy and what it took to write a novel set in sixteenth century Holland
What makes historical fiction resonate with modern readers
How to balance research with storytelling
Create authentic characters and dialogue
Find the right voice for your period
Avoid common pitfalls in the genre
You’ll also receive a downloadable handout of writing exercises to develop your skills further. The session will finish with a live Q&A, giving you the chance to ask your own questions about writing and publishing historical fiction.
Whether you’re just starting out or polishing your novel for submission, this session will equip you with the tools and confidence to write compelling historical fiction.
Dr Emma Darwin:
Emma Darwin’s passion for Pieter Bruegel the Elder was born in a childhood spent partly in Brussels, as well as Manhattan and London. Her debut novel The Mathematics of Love was nominated for both Commonwealth Writers and Romantic Novelists’ Association awards, and A Secret Alchemy was a Sunday Times bestseller. She is also the author of Get Started in Writing Historical Fiction and the memoir This is Not a Book About Charles Darwin. She studied Drama and Theatre Arts at university, holds a PhD in Creative Writing and has taught at Oxford, Goldsmiths and the Open University. Her Substack This Itch of Writing is linked to by writing courses around the world.
Dr Sanjida O’Connell
Sanjida has a PhD in zoology and psychology. She’s the author of eight novels, four short stories and four non-fiction books. Sanjida has been shortlisted for the BBC Asia Awards, the Betty Trask Award for Romantic Fiction, the Daily Telegraph Science Writer's Award, Asian Woman of the Year, highly commended for BBC Wildlife Magazine's Award for Nature Writing, and shortlisted, long listed and the winner of CWA Daggers for her thrillers.
Sanjida’s third and fourth novels, The Naked Name of Love and Sugar Island, originally published by John Murray have been republished by Hummingbird Books (now The Priest and the Lily). She also writes psychological thrillers under the pen name, Sanjida Kay.