Good historical fiction makes the past feel as alive as the present. In this episode, we explore how to write immersive, character-driven stories that honor history without feeling like a textbook.

First, we talk about the importance of writing contests.

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Overthinking Couch Topics:

• Research as foundation, story as focus
• Characters as people, not historical mannequins
• Balancing authenticity with modern readability
• Pitfalls to avoid, from info-dumps to anachronisms

• Big List of Writing Contests - NewPages.com
• The Best Free Literary Contests - Winning Writers
• The Ultimate List of Writing Contests in 2025 • Win Cash Prizes!
• Submittable Discover: Writing Contests
• Writing Contests, Grants & Awards | Poets & Writers
• Free Style Sheet Templates
• Free Writing Tips

Music licensed from Storyblocks.