I'm sharing this great blog post on writing historical fiction because it's got some great tips, tips that I think I needed to hear as I start yet another historical fiction novel. I'm also embarking on my third overhaul of Hospital Hill which has now been passed over by a total of five literary agents.
I find that after years of writing nonfiction about asylums I have a hard time writing real people into the buildings that I know so well. Everyone who has read HH in workshop lately has complimented me on my ability to describe the buildings and craft a setting but they have said over and over that there's something missing: tension. So now I have sat down and taken a hard look at what's happening in HH and hopefully I've managed to build a bit more tension!
On a happy note, yesterday I had the opportunity to see the last untouched morgue in a state hospital in Massachusetts. Though HH is about Northampton State Hospital, Westborough State is easily my second favorite asylum and I have wanted to view the morgue in the basement of the tuberculosis ward for nearly a decade. Now that I work for the Department of Youth Services, I was able to visit the building where they have a fantastic display of vintage photographs and paper ephemera from the asylum. The security guard has a soft spot for the history of the campus and took me to see the morgue which is now being used for storage. It was glorious! A perfect, untouched, beautifully preserved four tray morgue.
Day. Made.
xoxo Poison
I find that after years of writing nonfiction about asylums I have a hard time writing real people into the buildings that I know so well. Everyone who has read HH in workshop lately has complimented me on my ability to describe the buildings and craft a setting but they have said over and over that there's something missing: tension. So now I have sat down and taken a hard look at what's happening in HH and hopefully I've managed to build a bit more tension!
On a happy note, yesterday I had the opportunity to see the last untouched morgue in a state hospital in Massachusetts. Though HH is about Northampton State Hospital, Westborough State is easily my second favorite asylum and I have wanted to view the morgue in the basement of the tuberculosis ward for nearly a decade. Now that I work for the Department of Youth Services, I was able to visit the building where they have a fantastic display of vintage photographs and paper ephemera from the asylum. The security guard has a soft spot for the history of the campus and took me to see the morgue which is now being used for storage. It was glorious! A perfect, untouched, beautifully preserved four tray morgue.
Day. Made.
xoxo Poison
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