Co-Writing Historical Fiction
From epic television adaptations, such as Outlander and The Last Kingdom, to historically-rooted fantasy series, such as Game of Thrones, there is plenty of evidence that sweeping historical sagas are ideal for the ‘golden age of streaming’. Given the scope and complexity of such stories, co-writing is a strategy that can help authors create immersive worlds that translate well to the screen. Should all writers at least consider co-writing as a possible part of their career path? Ashlee Cowles and Danielle Stinson—the author team behind an epic duology set in the ancient world—provide a realistic overview of the pros and cons of co-writing, along with strategies for making the experience successful and rewarding. A number of bestselling co-author teams suggest this approach is becoming more common thanks to the technological tools that make collaboration easier than ever before. Creativity feeds creativity, and current narrative trends in historical fiction and film incentivise collaborative projects that allow for a wider range of POV characters and story scopes that are multifaceted and cinematic. When authors combine their skill sets and knowledge bases, they can accomplish together what might be out of their reach individually. Writing with a partner can provide powerful motivation, a built-in support system, and opportunities for personal and professional growth. Co-writing may help authors write faster, cleaner drafts while broadening book marketing reach through a pooling of resources and platforms. However, most writers are self-professed ‘control freaks’. Is it possible to join forces and remain friends by the end of the process? We are living proof that it can be done, though that doesn’t mean co-writing is easy. But the rewards are immense. This session equips you with practical knowledge on how to find an ideal partner and come up with a writing plan that results in an epic story fit for the screen. We aim to leave you with a better sense of whether or not co-writing is for you.
A.D. Rhine is the co-author team (Ashlee Cowles and Danielle Stinson) behind Horses of Fire (Dutton/Penguin-Random House, July 2023) and Daughters of Bronze (Dutton/PRH, 2024). This epic and historically-rooted retelling of the Trojan War sets the familiar story in the less familiar period of the late Bronze Age collapse, resulting in a cinematic duology that bestselling historical author Kate Quinn said was ‘destined to stand out, spinning a fresh take on classic themes with mesmerizing energy’. Ashlee holds an MLitt in medieval history from the University of St. Andrews and Danielle holds an MA in law and diplomacy from Tufts University.
The Historical Novel Society UK 2024 conference 