Historical fiction blends fantasy and fact for an appeal all of its own—join author Jane Rawson for a look at how to use the best of both worlds for one-of-a-kind fiction.

Whether you’re writing a novel set in the jazz bars of 1930s New York, a short story that takes place in an Industrial Revolution cotton mill, or a multi-generational epic based on the lives of your own ancestors, there’s always room to make things more evocative and unique.

In this workshop we’ll look at how you can divert your historical fiction down back alleys or inject it with a little magic. This is a hands-on workshop with thinking and writing exercises, but if you don’t want to read your work out loud you won’t have to.

Participants will:

• look at some ways established writers have combined research and fantasy
• consider the ethics of rewriting history
• discuss how to choose a tweak that makes sense for their own historical fiction
• develop strategies and techniques for building believable alternative worlds
• try some tricks with voice and see what it does to ideas about authenticity.

This workshop is suitable for emerging writers, or established writers who want to try something different.

About Jane Rawson

Jane Rawson lives in Tasmania, where she works as a writer for a conservation organisation. Her latest novel, A History of Dreams, was published by Brio in 2022 - along with her second novel, From the Wreck, it is based on her family history. Her first novel, A Wrong Turn at the Office of Unmade Lists, won the Most Underrated Book Award and From the Wreck won the Aurealis Award and was longlisted for the Miles Franklin. She is also the author of a non-fiction guide to surviving and living with climate change called The Handbook and a novella, Formaldehyde. Her essays on climate change, nature and speculative fiction have been published widely.

WSA Member $88 / Non-member $140

Venue: The Hetzel Lecture Theatre, the Institute Building, the State Library of South Australia, North Terrace, Adelaide 5000. 

—We strongly recommend all staff, speakers, and attendees of in-person events be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. You cannot attend if you have been asked to isolate by SA Health or are feeling unwell. See our full policy here.

—Writers SA members must be logged in to receive the member discount. If you would like to use a workshop credit to book in, please contact [email protected] at least five working days before the workshop commencement date. Our staff don’t work full time and we don’t want you to miss out!