The "Never Go Full Viking" Rule (And Why Your Novel Needs It)

If you're an aspiring historical fiction writer interested in the medieval period, here is a preview of my upcoming course through Medievalists.net.

I’m excited to announce that we’re four weeks away from my upcoming workshop offered by Medievalists.net: Writing Medieval Fiction: From Research to Publication.

If you’ve done a little writing or are thinking of writing, but are feeling paralyzed by a research rabbit hole, concerns over “authenticity,” or confidence to enter the market, this course was built for you.

Led by yours truly, this 5-part workshop takes you from a rough idea to a professional-grade manuscript.

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A Free Preview: The "Never Go Full Viking" Rule (And Why Your Novel Needs It)

If you’ve listened to the Vikingology podcast, you’ve heard me talk about this before. It’s a riff on the famous line from Tropic Thunder, but for historical fiction writers, it’s a life-or-death rule for your manuscript:

Never go “Full-Viking.”

It sounds counterintuitive. We spend hundreds of hours researching Norse law, weaving patterns, and ship construction because we want to be “authentic.” But there is a dangerous paradox at the heart of historical fiction:

If you create a character who is literally 100% historically accurate to the 10th century, your modern reader will likely find them repulsive, alien, or impossible to root for.

The example I like to use to illustrate this point is Robert Eggers’ The Northman. From a historical standpoint, it was a masterpiece. It went “Full Viking.” The result? It was panned by audiences.

Why? Because the protagonist’s moral compass and value system were so authentically medieval—so rooted in a cycle of honor-bound violence and alien spirituality—that the modern audience couldn’t find a “way in.” They couldn’t identify with him.

Peter Konieczny from medievalists.net and I had a rather funny back-and-forth about the film in the comments section of a film review. Together we landed on a description of the protagonist of the film as, “Like watching a slasher film from the point of view of the psychotic killer.”

That’s not the look you want for the MC of your novels!

To write a successful novel in 2026, you have to walk a tightrope. Your readers expect to be immersed in the past, but—here’s the kicker—it must be the past as they imagine it, or at least a past that contains a bridge to their modern sensibilities. You have to juggle faithfulness to the Source by keeping the world-building rigorous while giving your characters motivations (like the desire for agency, love, or justice) that a reader today can actually get behind.

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The Logistics

• Start Date: April 2nd, 2026.

• Format: Five live 1.5-hour sessions (all recorded for lifetime access).

• The Goal: By the end, you will have a clear roadmap for your book and a professional pitch ready for the market.

I’m keeping the cohort size manageable so we can have real Q&A sessions. We’re currently sitting at 9/15 spots taken, so if you’re serious about your novel, don’t wait until we’re full! Also, get 10% off with code ‘ADRIEN’ at checkout!