This two-hour workshop will cover the broad strokes of crafting historical fiction. We'll talk about the role of research, look at short-cuts and tips specific to historical fiction, think about plots and characters set deep in the past, and, finally, spend some time generating writing that could be a seed for a short story or longer work.
Ben Shattuck is the author of the collection The History of Sound and wrote the screenplay for the 2025 movie based on the title story. Publishers Weekly described The History of Sound as a “magnificent collection about love, longing, and New England history” whose “exquisite stories capture the spirit of the Northeast.” With his brother, Ben owns Davoll's General Store, founded in 1793 and the oldest operating general store in Massachusetts.