Who? Tom Palmer on Finding Characters for your Historical Fiction

Who? 

When I write a history story I have to decide when the action is going to take place – and also where to set it. I also have to decide what is going to happen based on the setting. Then how it happens. And why it happens. But – for me – writing historical fiction always has to begin with the character.

The who. That who is usually a real person who lived through a period of history that fascinates me. That’s my character.

Once I have the who, the where and when look after themselves. That’s my setting. I need to set the book in the time and place that person lived. If you are basing your story on a real person this is the easy part.

Now – with more research in books, online and in film, maybe – I can find out what they did. Along with how they did what they did, I have a plot or a storyline.

And, finally, why. What motivated my historical figure to do what they did? 

That’s my WRITING CHALLENGE for all you young Time Tunnellers. 

Can you think up a good idea for a story based on a real historical figure that you are interested in? 

Now ask yourself the questions:

Who do you want to write about from history? 

When did they live? 

And where were they when they made their contribution to history? 

What did they do in that time and place that so interests you? 

How did they go about it? 

And – very importantly – why? 

For me this is the starting point for every book I write. Some answers come easier than others, but, if you keep going and research deeply into your who, where, when, what, how and why, then you should have a decent story on your hands.

Tom Palmer is the author of over 60 children's books, including award-winning historical fiction for young people. 

Find out more about Tom here. 

William Shakespeare, Part 1: A Classroom Activity

Much has been written about Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon.

This week's Time Tunnellers post will instead offer an interactive and fun classroom activity: A Jumping Quiz.

Use masking take to mark out a long line on the floor. Invite as many volunteers to participate as you can fit on the line. They should stand on it. 

Explain: A jumping quiz works in the following way.

There are ten statements which you (as the teacher) will read out. The statements will either be true or false.

Pupils should think about their answer (which may well be a guess), but not give anything away.

Then you say 'Ready, steady, JUMP!' On the command, pupils should jump forwards for 'true', and backwards for 'false'. You can then reveal the answer.

As there are ten statements, pupils can keep track of their own scores on their fingers.

Apart from being fun and interactive, jumping quizzes are great for engagement: even those watching can participate by deciding on an answer and awarding themselves points if they were right.

In addition, cheating is all but impossible: you can't turn yourself around in mid-air, can you!

So without further ado, here are ten questions based on our video!

1. William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon. (TRUE)

2. William Shakespeare married a lady called Mary Arden. (FALSE, Mary was his mother!)

3. The Shakespeare home was on Hamley Street. (FALSE, Henley Street)

4. William Shakespeare's Dad was a glovemaker. (TRUE)

5. William Shakespeare became a player and playwright in London. (TRUE)

6. William was the youngest surviving son of the Shakespeare family. (FALSE, eldest)

7. Shakespeare's son Hamnet tragically died at the age of five. (FALSE, eleven)

8. The bedrooms in the Shakespeare house were upstairs. (TRUE)

9. The Shakespeare coat of arms above the door shows a quill. (FALSE, an arrow)

10. The schoolmaster in Shakespeare's school taught Latin and French. (FALSE, Latin and Greek)

TIE BREAKER QUESTIONS (in case of a draw between top scorers):

A. Shakespeare attended the Grammar School from the age of five. (FALSE, seven)

B. Shakespeare's portrait hangs in the National Gallery in London. (FALSE, Portrait Gallery)

Barbara Henderson is one of the regular Time Tunnellers and an award-winning author of eleven books, eight of them historical adventures for children.

Find out more on her website.