How to write a Historical Narrative Fiction, Part 2

 How to write a Historical Narrative Fiction, Part 2 

We usually think of history as happening in chronological order, 

So now that you have some facts about your time period and your characters, put them into chronological  order.  

Continuing with the story of Jonah and Asherbanipal: 

https://www.britannica.com/summary/Ashurbanipal

Last great Assyrian king (r. 668–627 BCE)

He was appointed crown prince of Assyria in 672 BCE

By 639 BCE he had the whole known world under his control

Then, for unknown reasons, built and gathered books from all the known world and put them in a library so vast that it took a whole palace to hold over 30,000 clay tablets. 

Yona (Jonah) https://onlyonehope.com/fun-facts-about-jonah/

Jonah was written in late 700 BC 

The name Yona means either a dove, or oppression. 

Yona didn't want to go to Nineveh to tell them to repent. 

when the sailors finally were persuaded to throw Yona overboard they made a sacrifice to God. 

Yona spent 3 days inside a great fish, possibly a whale. 

Was thrown up next to Nineveh, and now he went there. 

He told the King of Nineveh to repent, and the king did. 

First Draft  As a play: 

Characters:  

Yonah:  a prophet of the LORD

King Asherbanipal: King of Nineveh

Advisor to Asherbanipal: advisor to the king

Guard: trusted servant 

Setting King Asherbanipal's palace, Late afternoon in Nineveh. Summer has come early this year. It is very hot outside, but in the Throne Room, slaves are fanning the King with palm fronds. 

Guard: Oh great King Asherbanipal!  An  Yeudite from Yehuda  is demanding to see the Great and Wonderful King Asherbanipal! Shall I let him see your beauteous visage? 

King Asherbanipal: I have dispensed with all other business today, I haven't had any fun yet. Is there another country in the known world that I haven't conquered? 

Advisor:  King Ashebanipal, with the enslavement and destitution of Elam, you have conquered them all! 

King Asherbanipal: So, let this Israelite in, I will see him, what fun we shall have with Israel.  They are late with the tribute again, maybe the Israelite is here to pay. 

Guard: Very well, Oh Great King, Protector of the Known World!

Yonah: King Asherbanipal! Great although you think you are, the LORD GOD is greater than you! As the LORD humbled Pharoah in Kemet, HE will humble YOU! All the lands that you have laid waste will rise again and conquer YOU! ELAM, will rise from the ashes, its lands will be the breadbasket of the world. Kemet will revolt.  Tyre will come back from the sea, and lay waste to the Lands between the Rivers, Phonecia, Yehuda and Lydia will join together and destroy Assyria!  

King Asherbanipal: Who are you and from where do you come? 

Yonah: I come from Yaffo, the coast city of Yehuda, and My God is the Creator of Heaven and Earth. Beware, Nineveh has 40 days to repent or it will be destoyed! The LORD GOD has sent me!

King Asherbanipal: What powers doe this God have that he will tell me what to do?  What has Nineveh done to be destroyed?  

Yonah: Look around you, king Asherbanipal, your conquered lands do not rest so easy.  Even your brother, Shamash-shum-ukin’ in Babylonia is now gathering allies to overthrow you.  Repent!  Repent! Repent!  Turn from your Evil Ways!  If not, then The LORD GOD will bring destruction from your enemies! 

King Asherbanipal: Advisor, Why did you not tell me about my half-brother ?  

Advisor: Ah, I just only yesterday received the cuneiform tablet, and was going to bring it and read it to you!

King Asherbanipal:  Yes, you should have brought it to me first, I am always alert for first hand news of my esteemed half brother, as you know, I am not just the best swordsman, lion killer and protector of my people, I am a literate man of letters and history. 

Advisor: Yes, yes, my king.  

He passes the heavy tablet to the king. 

 

King Asherbanipal: Yes, yes, the Babylonians are indeed raising their army, oh, Advisor, what is this smudged out line at the end?  Why did not the tablet finish with the customary salutation? 

Advisor: My messenger was in a hurry to bring me news and he must have grabbed the tablet before it was finished. 

King Asherbanipal: So, you Yehudite, I see that you speak the truth, my enemies are massing for rebellion. What does your God say to that? Shall I arouse the my army, put on my armour and destroy Babylonia? 

Yonah: No, you foolish King, All events are directed by the LORD GOD!  Do as HE says and repent!  Your enemies will fade away if Nineveh turns from its evil ways! 

King Asherbanipal: Yes, we will do it!  Advisor, write to all the inhabitants of the city, they are to fast for three days, wear sackcloth and ashes, and take this prophet to instruct the people! 

Yonah: Thank you my king,  As an aside, if you are a man of letters and history, I suggest that you make yourself an even better monument to history and make amends for all your evil deeds.  Gather all the literature and knowledge of the  known world.  Make Nineveh a paradise of scholars! And please, remove the King of Elam's head from the garden.   

King Ashebanipal: I know! I will build a giant building to hold all the knowledge of the world!  I will call it a Library!  Advisor, send out all the messengers and  bring me all the stories and science that you can!  Tablets instead of war!  I will be praised forever more and the conqueror of Knowledge! 

The end