Not strictly about writing per se, but...

[Taka]

Hello.

I was wondering if anyone knew of some interesting historical accounts that would make a good work of historical fiction. I was re-reading Robert Harris's "Imperium" and thought that writing something like that would be a good way for me to develop my technique (my problem is that I write about 6,000 words and then start thinking that the plot's awful and so stop). My reasoning was that if I used an existing plotline then I wouldn't get the same kind of discouragement from myself.

I don't want to re-use a story from any well-known novels as I'm afraid I might simply copy them. Can anyone suggest interesting bits of history? I'd prefer not things from world wars 1 & 2 because they have been explored a lot already. Also something a bit more original than the Romans :roman: would potentially be more intersting.

Thanks very much!

[Optional Toaster]

This may or may not be helpful, but I have a few that I thought of.

*Salem Witch Trials
*Bombing of Pearl Harbor
*Magna Carta being nailed to the Cathedral
*Great Pyramid construction
*Ludlow Massacre
*Exiling of Napoleon

Can't think of any others at the moment. I hope these are at least of some help. :unsure:

[Lykaios]

Battle of Alesia? It's Romans, but awesome all the same, and I've never read anything outside of textbooks that cover it. Ummm . . . I'll brianstorm some more and get back to you. History <3 :D

[PJN]

What about the Persian or Peloponnesian Wars?

[thecollector]

YES! Dude, you remind me of Clive Cussler- JUST SAYING. xD And, that's not a bad thing. He's actually one of my favorite authors. *laughs and grins* So, I haven't read Imperium, but it ties into the historical past, as does Cussler's works of his Dirk Pitt series. :D

Okay, so Cussler did a novel called Treasure based on the Roman times, the era where the library of Alexandria is burned, and I'm just telling you that so you don't copy it. Here's an idea for historical significance; the time of the Greek wars and the Roman mythology eras... Like the Kracken. It's just a thought, based on an assumption, because I've never read that book. But, I hope this helps...

[Crocolyle]

If you're into Medieval history, try Einhard's The Life of Charlemagne, which is a quick, easy, and fun read, despite being from the Middle Ages. Then try reading the writing of some other Carolingian chronicler to give you a more rounded picture (since Einhard saw Charlemagne as his foster-father).

[Bowie20049]

Offtopic: OMG CROC IS BACK!!!! <333

[Silver_Poet]

If anything, I would go with the Presidency of John Tyler. =D He was a misfit in his party, elected as VP basically so they could kill his career (it was thought of as a dead end back in those days), and then set the precedent (later made law) of VP taking Presidency after the President is killed. His party was really upset, and he flipped 'em off and annexed Texas just to upset them! Yeah, that's really why Texas is a part of the USA. xP But yeah, he was a BOSS. If there's historical fiction to write, it's about good ol' John Tyler. =D

[Crocolyle]

Offtopic: I've been checking in occasionally.

[Writing_for_a_life]

YES! Dude, you remind me of Clive Cussler- JUST SAYING. xD And, that's not a bad thing. He's actually one of my favorite authors. *laughs and grins* So, I haven't read Imperium, but it ties into the historical past, as does Cussler's works of his Dirk Pitt series. :D

Okay, so Cussler did a novel called Treasure based on the Roman times, the era where the library of Alexandria is burned, and I'm just telling you that so you don't copy it. Here's an idea for historical significance; the time of the Greek wars and the Roman mythology eras... Like the Kracken. It's just a thought, based on an assumption, because I've never read that book. But, I hope this helps...

Wasn't Cracken in the vikings' mythology?.

Greek have many wars with the persians and themselves-peloponosian war is really interesting and one of the greates historians (some say he was the first really historian) Thoukididis has written about them .If you are looking for conspiracies,great leaders,big fights and cultures' downfalls ,this is your history to be based on.
Having stydied this age for 2-3 years ,I am open to give you any help.

I found interesting the history of the north Europe with Vikings ,or the crusades or the french revolution.

[Crocolyle]

The Kraken, despite being a Norwegian legendary beast, isn't actually from Viking mythology, because it doesn't appear in any Saga and it doesn't appear in Edda, which is an incomplete compilation of Viking myth from the 13th century, after the myths had already received a Greco-Roman and Christian influence (in other words, Norse myth should not seems as standardized as Snorri Sturluson makes it seem). Different sea monsters appear, including giant squids, but none called the Kraken. The Kraken is more something high medieval Norwegian fishermen believed in (if my understanding is right).

The Kraken doesn't appear in Greek or Roman mythology either, despite what one may think from Clash or the Titans, whether the original or the recent remake. Perseus is actually supposed to fight Ceto or Cetus.

[Writing_for_a_life]

Perseus is actually famous for killing the Medousa.

[snow_yuki]

Hmm, what about the Egyptians and other ancient people, like Mesopotamians, Aztecs and etc. ?