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Despite its nearing 100th anniversary, World War II is still a very important and influential phase of history. It’s no wonder, then, that it is still one of the most popular settings for narratives. Although it only lasted about six years, from 1939 to 1945, the Second World War is an extremely fertile ground for stories. Within this short span, history was made, and the world was irreversibly changed.

However, while there are numerous tales of and about World War II, that doesn’t mean writing a story about it is as easy as apple pie. If you want to set a novel or a short story or whatever during one of humanity’s most impactful periods of time, it is important to tread a fine line between what is historically accurate and what can be creatively interpreted. To name a few things you have to consider.

A Guide to Writing World War II Stories

To help aspiring writers plan out what they should and shouldn’t put in a narrative that’s set in World War II, we’ll be giving you a rundown on what you should absolutely consider before setting pen to paper.

While the rules that will be said in this article are not hard and fast, they can be very helpful in fueling your imagination. Suppose you take the time to think about them.

All Fouled Up: Being Accurate and Creative

Whenever you are writing about any historical period in time, it is almost always important to do your research. You can’t just wing things. That would be terrible for both your story and your readers.

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Thoroughly investigating what the world was like during then is critical in providing you with the correct information on what to incorporate and what to avoid. This also lends to your credibility as an author. If you can’t even bother yourself to pick up a book and learn from it, how can you expect your readers to be bothered to read yours too?

Research also helps you to steer your narrative clear of perpetuating reductive myths and harmful stereotypes.

Something that is commonly shown or referenced in especially US-centric World War II narratives is the unfounded idea that the French easily capitulated to the Germans. This is not true. The French resistance fighters were some of the fiercest and most valiant combatants in the war against the Nazis, and minimizing their crucial role in the war would be a huge faux pas.

While being historically accurate is important to writing a historical narrative, imagination is equally pivotal to making it entertaining and engaging. It’s perfectly fine to omit historical details here and there and maybe even introduce some stuff that never happened as long as everything is treated with the utmost respect it deserves, especially if you are talking about actual individuals with actual lived experiences.

_{Photo by Mark Neal}

All Fouled Up: Setting and Narrative

As it were the Second World War, there are a lot of locations where you can set your narrative. Even places that did not actually see actual combat had strategic importance to the war. Of course, the best advice is always to stick to the places that are actually relevant to the narrative you want to construct. By being specific with the locations you want to portray, you are also narrowing your tasks when it comes to doing research. Fewer places mean fewer things to learn about.

A good tip to better ground your story is to read firsthand accounts of the war, either from soldiers, civilians, or political figures. There are also plenty of documentaries you can watch. Doing all of these helps you better understand how to bring your setting to life.

Every compelling narrative is properly paced. Consider this when you are plotting out your story. Novices try to pace everything equally, but that drags the narrative down. Always remember to think about the proper rhythm. If it’s a book where there are heavy combat scenes between armies, it might be better to slow down, but if it’s a story where spies are involved—it might be better to make it more fast-paced.

Moving On

Through careful consideration of these nuances, your book can be highly recommended for a novel set in World War II. If you want a case study on well-written and well-researched World War II novels, Barbara Jane Hannon’s Letters from World War II is your best pick. Click on the link above to learn more about it.