To write well, read fiction. But to take it up another level …

Which book genre acts as a cheat code?

One genre both entertains and enlightens.

You get all the fun and benefits of reading great prose, while also learning a little history. 

It’s historical fiction. My favorite genre. 

What makes a historical fiction book great?

The key to historical fiction is to get the “big facts” and the small lifestyle details of the era exactly right. With a solid structure in place, great writers propel the story forward by weaving in emotionally powerful—but fictional—narratives within and amongst the characters. Most books include both historical figures and fictional characters.  

Where to start with historical fiction?

My favorite is “The Devil in the White City,” by Erik Larson. Larsen’s book takes place as a serial murder mystery wraps around the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. 

RIght now, I’m enjoying ”New York,” by Edward Rutherfurd, a 900-ish page tale that opens with the earliest European settlements of the city. 

The best writers write fiction

It’s an old saying, and I think it’s true. The most creative writers, the writers who care most about their prose, write fiction. And what we consume fuels what we create. So reading the best writers can only improve our own writing. 

But when you’re picking your next book, try historical fiction. There’s nothing like content that both improves our own writing and makes us just a little smarter. 

That’s historical fiction.