Historical Fiction Advice Needed
For a very long time I have been trying to develop a plan for a historical fiction novel set in the capitals of long-standing European states such as England, France, or Austria, between the 1800s and 1960s. I am experienced in writing but developing the scenario and deciding on the events that will take place is much more difficult for me than the actual writing part. Since I am still struggling with indecision regarding how and what will unfold in the novel I started two years ago, I cannot say I have finished even five percent of it. Generally I enjoy creating neo-Nazi-style villains with extreme ideas or, to give an example from real history, characters like Rasputin who possess a manipulative power great enough to poison the masses. I am fond of themes consisting of Gothic settings (manors, antique residences, operas), the modern era, extremist religious cults, popular uprisings and revolutions, mystical yet events that do not overstep enough to break realism but make the reader question things, vintage streets where horse-drawn carriages or early model cars roam, occultist experiments, gambling, making deals with a malevolent figure, assassinations, dramas of deep-rooted families, philosophy, international espionage, the clash of ideologies between different factions, thefts and heists, magnificent evening balls where something is going wrong in the background, auctions, underground societies, characters making references or nods to ancient times within the scope of theology and the history of religions, stage magic (for the purpose of deceiving people), and politically critical environments. I hope that with all these examples I have been able to visualize what I am looking for in your mind. I know it is a very broad spectrum. Implementing all the elements I love into a single story would mean creating numerous clashing logical errors. Therefore I am aware that I can never use all of them together. I have tried giving up on some ideas but I usually end up back where I started, at zero. When it comes to mysticism I want to open a separate parenthesis here. Until now I have been obsessed with ensuring that what I write is true to reality and free of anachronisms. However, looking at the types of books I love; The Picture of Dorian Gray, Frankenstein, Interview with the Vampire, Faust, The Master and Margarita, Dracula... All of these are Gothic, yet if the fantastical elements were removed, their plot skeletons would vanish. Still these are not fantasy works in the sense of having wizards throwing fireballs at each other, people cursing each other or teleporting, or fighting with lightsabers. I think I love devil and vampire themes set in the past that are detailed, realistic, and meticulously handled. Yet they are still cliches, aren't they? If you were to write this kind of novel without overdoing it would you put forward brand-new ideas that you were the first to find and use, or would you further develop existing ones? In other words should I break the cliches or play it safe? What would you suggest to me? Do you think I should set aside my "realism" requirement and be open-minded toward these mystical themes, processing them in a way that would be a first for me?