By Sarah Rodi
Characters are everything. They are what your readers care about and drive your story forward. But in historical romance, your setting is equally important – it’s why readers might pick up your book in the first place, because they’re interested in a certain time period.
Your characters will behave in ways that are realistic to the time period but they also need to be relatable to readers today. They should have a goal, go on a journey, learn and grow throughout your book. The setting is where this all takes place, and the ‘world’ you have created may well change throughout your story too. Here are a few top tips:
Do your research:
To create authentic characters, immerse yourself in the historical period in which your story is going to be set. Learn the language, societal rules, fashion – find out what everyday life was like. This will help you create characters who are shaped by their historical context, making them believable.
My latest novel. The Viking’s Princess Bride, is set in 874, Northumbria, England, when Viking Njal wins the Saxon crown – and their princess! The pair are forced to wed while trying to create stability in Jorvik and Bamburgh – two locations I felt were ideal foundations for their romance; one a bustling settlement and one a fortress on a beach.
Backgrounds are useful:
Think about your characters’ backgrounds. Understanding their upbringing and standing in society will shape their values and goals. In historical romance, conflict often arises from personal struggles and societal constraints. For example, a woman in Regency England may feel a duty to wed while secretly longing for a love match.
Make them memorable…
…in how they look and behave. Most of my heroines are headstrong, as this makes them stand out and forces them to take more risks within the historical settings I create. Ensure your characters’ dialogue is reflective of your time period too, as this will bring them to life.
Settings can be symbolic:
Settings can be used to enhance a character’s personality. In The Viking’s Princess Bride, the story opens on the battlefield, where Viking Njal and Saxon princess Cwen meet each other for the first time and we feel the force of their instant attraction amid the danger of the conflict. Surroundings can say a lot about a character. A place can stir a memory, and the weather can evoke a mood. I like to personify scenery, such as mountains representing a challenge, or the stormy North Sea reflecting a characters’ mood.
How will they change?
Throughout your story, your characters should evolve – whether it’s overcoming a fear or re-evaluating their goals. Seasons and landscapes can change alongside them – perhaps from a time of war in winter to peace in summer – also representing growth.
All the time, think about how your characters and settings are intertwined, and how they can shine a light on each other. I hope these tips help you to create characters in a historical setting that captivate your readers.
In Sarah Rodi’s latest Harlequin romance, The Viking’s Princess Bride, Viking Njal takes the Saxon crown – and their princess! But while he’s wedding Cwen in the name of peace, he cannot deny the way she entices him, even if it’s clear she’s holding something back…
Princess Cwen has long accepted being used for her kingdom’s gain, but taking the enemy’s hand is the most outrageous request yet! Still, the rugged warrior ignites a fire inside her… But Cwen can’t let Njal storm her carefully constructed walls. Because she’s harbouring a secret that could rock the foundations of their marriage!
The Viking’s Princess Bride is out now! Check it out on Harlequin.com.
