Historical Fiction Advice From Author Lee Nelson:

I found some old notes I took while attending a writer’s seminar several years ago at the Spanish Fork Memorial building. These are notes of counsel from Lee Nelson

He has done the book Storm Testament. Author will actually ride a horse across a river 7 times to see what the experience was like so he can write about it accurately.
Steven Spielberg made the move Shandler’s List” It is not on the page it is not on the screen. Steven Spielberg saw the best screen-play he had ever read and that was why he had written “Shandler’s list” Jewish holocaust movie.
There are a lot of ways in your writing and publishing then sending it to a publisher. He tried.
1. When researching Storm Testament”, he read the chronicles of church history he then approached Deseret Book to see if they would be interested. They said no. So he and a friend went to do it by themselves. They made the book. When they got it done they got it type set. They then found out from bookstores how much a book must sell. They discussed quality and cost. They made 5,000 copies. They then went to the book stores and didn’t sale any. Book store would sell on commission=books in hold and store pay.
They did news advertising on TV. Then the books sold.
What next. He wrote the journal of Brigham. He wrote all the juicy stuff of history. Did radio ad and not many books sold.
Created an ad that played with the game between BYU and the Methodist college and used that theme (hot at the time) to sell his books with that slant.
The Journal started printing parts of the Storm Testament.
Why not serialize the novel in the newspaper. The journal paid him $500. A month to write his first book. The readers called waiting for the next serial segment if delivery boys wouldn’t deliver. Then the series got distributed to other newspaper.
The easiest to get published in writing is non-fiction. He would send in a query letter to publisher with an outline and ask publishers if they want to see it. If they do, then lee would write the outline and a couple of chapter.
Lee approached Edward, BYU football coach and asked if Edwards would like to do a book on how he changed BYU around in success. He made 15=17 hours of interview on tape. They would talk for an hour and 1/4 each morning.
Then he would divide all the info of the tapes into different subjects. Did big printing and a lot of pictures and they sold 20,000. This came to pass because Lee had an idea and went with it.
Formula for Writing:
1. Research first. He has written 24 books. If you want to be a professional writer you need to be learning a lot. He starts with a manila folder for a particular subject and gathers good books on the subject. And the manila folder will have turned into a box. Then there should be enough information to write a book. You have to fill your mind/box with material before you can write something. You need to gather and digest things before you can write.
Reading journals can help bring a past time periods can come from journals. In a journal he read that someone would travel 62 hours a day. 21 hours of riding and 3 hours of sleep, to keep ahead. Man following a trail that looked like an elephant foot in a trail and the traveler finds an Indian had had both legs cuff off, from frost bite. This found in a journal. Cluchies are destroyed by journal. Two Indians from desert and want to use coals of fire. They cooked raddle snake in coals. That came from a journal.
When he was writing about Butch Cassidy, Lee was able to get personal stories from children of people who knew/lived with Butch Cassidy. Found out that Cassidy had brand with two EE. His name is not with an E. Found out that the EE was being used by a Texas company. And the reason is to take the cattle from others and put his brand on top of others.
The most interesting things you can learn and to make a book interesting is the people. Have characters who are real people. You get into the human side. That is why the journals are so interesting.
As you get writing a lot of people will start seeing you things. You may get some of your best material from people who know what you’re interested in.
Organizing:
For historical fiction you spend years gathering information. He has to understand the period and the people. Get an understanding of the location, streams, date, times and places where you know it a great deal. Then you start weaving your fictional story on top of the history where it fits. Readers can get a wonderful history lesson as they read a book.
One historical book on polygamy he put in the first of each chapter, actual references from the journal and newspaper at the time to show the accuracy of his information.
Organization:
Does about a 30 page outline. He will internalize all the info and put the notes and outline away and then you write just from what you know. Otherwise the fiction could be too restrictive. This way you write about the characters.
A lot of wish-a-be writers intend to have a first draft be written. Don’t worry about problems of grammar. Let it be sloppy. Let your creative side take over. No one will ever see your first draft. When you’re done, than you can edit and polish the piece. Maybe two or three times may go back and look in notes or outline and then store it again. He believes is rewriting. He will go over a scene 3 or 4 times let it stand for a few days and then come back. Make every word count (Have its own power.
If you’re going to sell in a Christen market, the kiss of death is a Utah address. You may want to submit from a different address.
Q: where do you find the journals: BYU library? Look at a good history book and look in the biography at the back of the book.
One 16 yr. old reader thought a book that Lee wrote had pictures. It didn’t but the book had come so alive that he had really thought there were pictures.
Susan McCloud: She has written a wide variety of novels on various subjects.
Experiences as a writer:
Desire:
Will motivate someone to go beyond their abilities. Sometimes an opportunity can come up with a simple conversation. Often success can be timing.
If you can trust the integrity of a writer than you can enjoy historical fiction.