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The Terror of Topics

© Julia Buitrago

Choosing a topic can be a frustrating problem--the ultimate in writer's block, preventing an aspiring writer from setting pen to paper or fingertip to keyboard. Since this group is about historical writing, you've got a head up on some new writers. You know that your topic will fall somewhere in the history of mankind. That can't be too hard, can it?

So how do you choose which tidbit of mankind's amassed history to write about? First, you need to select something that you like. One unusual way to get a feel for what interests you is to grab a copy of your local TV guide. Flip through it, and write down the shows that you see that interest you. Chances are you'll start to notice some correlation between the different shows you watch. Do you watch mostly sitcoms? Then you might want to focus on the day-to-day life of a specific historical person. Do fantasy shows catch your fancy? Try cultural history topics, from literature to music and fashion to fads. Can't survive without TV news programs? Historical headlines and important events might be your speed. Are talk shows always speaking to you? You probably like to think about the interconnectedness of different historical time frames. The list can go on, but try to keep in mind WHY you like to watch what you do.

Once you've selected a broad topic (for the sci-fi fans out there, I'll choose "science"), your next step is to narrow down a time period. For this, try going to your bookshelves and magazine racks. Is there a particular time period that interests you? Your bookshelves may contain anything from Civil War diaries to medieval romance novels. Pick a time period that you feel comfortable with, and you'll have much better luck in your research and writing. In my case, I've got a variety of novels set around the turn of the century. Combining the two categories, I've developed a basic, broad topic: Science around the turn of the century.

There are a few issues to keep in mind when selecting a topic. It is more important to pick a topic you like than to pick a topic that you know a lot about. You can always learn more about a topic, but it is MUCH more difficult to learn to like a topic. The company I work for allows a year for their writers to generate a completed manuscript. That means for one whole year, that topic is going to be on your mind, your desk, in your car, and flooding your mailbox. If you don't care for the topic when you start, you will HATE the topic when you sit down to write about it. Trust me, it will show in your writing.

The copyright of the article The Terror of Topics in Historical Writing is owned by Julia Buitrago. Permission to republish The Terror of Topics in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.