Because an historical narrative tells a story about a specific event, narrow the topic enough to bring focus to the piece. For example, 1920s America was a remarkable decade filled with flappers, fashion, politics, Prohibition and the stock market crash of 1929. Consider the decade as a whole to help shape a character or describe the setting, but focus on only one event to develop a manageable conflict and resolution.
The Boston Tea Party, Prohibition, and the Cold War are only a few suggestions for historical narrative writing topics. After you choose the topic, you'll want to make the reader feel as though she is living in your literary account. Think about the time period, and the season, for example. If your topic is the Boston Tea Party, describe what the streets of Boston looked like in 1773 or what people were wearing. Think about who was at the event and what they were doing.
Historical narratives focus on a past event, which generally use past-tense verbs. Good writing often goes through several drafts, so each time you proofread, pay attention to verb tense. If your setting is by an ocean, for example, write: "The waves were pounding on the beach as she waited for the ships to appear," instead of "The waves were pounding on the beach while she waits for the ships to appear."
Chronological words such as first, second and third can help you manage the order of the narrative, but be sure the tense is consistent throughout.
Writing in an active voice can add conviction and confidence to your historical narrative. Strunk and White's "Elements of Style" states, "The active voice is usually more direct and vigorous than the passive." Putting that advice into action makes writing more definite and shows your confidence as a writer. Passive writing tends to be more verbose and less to the point.
Active voice:
He painfully remembered the events of Sept. 11.
Passive voice:
The events of Sept. 11 were painfully remembered by him.