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In a lot of ways, writing historical fiction is a double-edged sword. You have the framework and structure of real lives, based on historical facts. But because it’s fiction, the possibilities of what you can actually do with your story are endless. ( When Research Leads the Story .) You can go with alternate history: Billy the Kid wasn’t killed by Pat Garrett and he lived out his life in Butte working as a rancher… until his past came calling . Or as a framework for a Shakespearean tale: Billy the Kid and Paulita Maxwell were in love, but they were from warring families that would do anything to keep them apart . Or as a slice of life portrait: One tumultuous week in the life of Billy the Kid. And the more famous the protagonist, the more scrutinized the novel will be. There is no shortage of books, movies, and television that feature Billy the Kid. So the next question you have to ask is why do you want to tell this story, especially one that is already so well-covered (to varying degrees of accuracy)? For my novel, Billy the Kid: The War for Lincoln County , I had three main goals in mind. First, entertain. Simple yet the most important. The novel is meaningless unless readers get to the end and think, “Well that was definitely worth $20.” Second, enlighten. I hope to impart some context and understanding about not just Billy the Kid, and not even just New Mexico, but where America was in the 1870s. At the time, New Mexico was still a territory and wouldn’t achieve statehood for another 40 years. But for all intents and purposes, it acted as a state. The President appointed the Governors. Local business leaders had huge sway in Washington, D.C. White people were migrating west, onto land already inhabited by people who had arrived there millennia ago. The U.S. military was the de facto tip of the spear, running not only the local Reservations but also used to keep peace in the area, if needed. And by “needed,” […]
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In the digital era, the art of writing has evolved beyond the traditional pen and paper. Technological advancements have introduced
Screenshot from the TV show Yellowjackets Do you remember it? When you changed? Or, stranger still, when you were between
