Rewriting History Through Creative Writing

Abstract

Rewriting history in creative writing involves reinterpreting, reimagining, or changing historical events, people, or periods in one's works of fiction. Authors may take a variety of approaches, from small alterations providing new insights to extensive changes deviating from history considerably. This critical rethinking of the past and its narrative representations can explore alternative histories, contest established views, and highlight the voices of people historically ignored. Several types of creative writing can be grouped under the definition of rewriting history, with each having its conventions and goals. Historical fiction, based on real historical artefacts or events, allows writers to imagine filling gaps left by historical records, making history relatable. Alternate history explores what might have been if critical moments in the past unravelled differently, challenging the inevitability of historical events. Speculative fiction, a popular style, blends real historical settings with fantastical ones, offering a perspective on historical possibilities informed by imagination. Historical revisionism in imaginative literature significantly influences collective memory and cultural identity, questioning existing narratives and exposing submerged histories. The paper is a modest attempt to unravel the fact of rewriting the history through creative writing.