Good historical fiction makes the past feel as alive as the present. In this episode, we explore how to write immersive, character-driven stories that honor history without feeling like a textbook.First, we talk about the importance of writing contests.️ Overthinking Couch Topics:Research as foundation, story as focusCharacters as people, not historical mannequinsBalancing authenticity with modern readabilityPitfalls to avoid, from info-dumps to anachronismsBig List of Writing Contests - NewPages.comThe Best Free Literary Contests - Winning WritersThe Ultimate List of Writing Contests in 2025 • Win Cash Prizes!Submittable Discover: Writing ContestsWriting Contests, Grants & Awards | Poets & WritersFree Style Sheet TemplatesFree Writing TipsMusic licensed from Storyblocks.