Elena Rostova, Historical Fiction Author

Who are you, and what do you do?

I’m Elena Rostova. I write sprawling historical fiction sagas set primarily in 19th-century Europe.

Walk us through your writing space and the tools you use. What kind of desk, computer, or notebook are you using right now, and what software or apps do you type into?

I have a very traditional workspace. I write at an antique, dark mahogany rolltop desk that I bought at a flea market in Prague.

I do my first drafts completely by hand. I use large, lined Leuchtturm1917 A4 notebooks and a Lamy Safari fountain pen with dark green ink. There is something about the physical friction of ink on paper that slows my brain down enough to think about the rhythm of the language.

Once a notebook is full, I move over to my M2 MacBook Air to type up and edit the draft. For software, I prefer absolute minimalism. I use an app called iA Writer set to night mode. It has a completely blank screen with zero menus, buttons, or distractions.

Do you outline your entire story before you start typing, or do you just start writing and make it up as you go along?

I do a mix of both. I outline the major historical milestones—since I can't change real history—but I leave the characters' personal paths completely open. I know the destination, but the day-to-day journey is a total surprise to me while I'm writing.

How is the "writing version" of you different from the person your friends and family see every day?

My family sees me as a serial multitasker—I'm always cooking, managing schedules, and cleaning. But the writing version of me is completely singular. I can only write between 5:00 AM and 7:00 AM before the house wakes up. During those two hours, I am incredibly quiet, still, and patient.

What do you do when you're completely stuck on a page and the words just aren't coming? Do you have a specific trick to reset?

I read poetry. If my prose feels clunky or stuck, I will open a book by Mary Oliver or T.S. Eliot and read a few pages out loud. Hearing beautiful cadence resets my ear and helps me find the rhythm of my own sentences again.

If money and space were no object, what would your absolute dream writing environment look like?

I would want a private library room with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, a rolling ladder, a massive velvet armchair, and a giant stone fireplace. Somewhere deep in the English countryside where it rains constantly.