Kara Cooney goes into a lot of detail on interpreting history and the inability to remain apolitical when viewing history, and I think you hit the nail on the head talking about viewing it from a modern lens. I often find a lot of criticisms about The Gilded Age (TV show) because it’s boring. But Julian Fellows writes as accurate to the time as he can. He’s even mentioned in interviews that histfic authors tend to get too generous with modern conventions in histifc (especially around women and feminism). I think it all depends on what you’re trying to portray. Historical fantasy you ultimately have free rein. If you’re setting something in a specific period, like with anything the author needs to do their research. I read a histfic where the author was using modern colloquialisms and speaking conventions, and their excuse was ‘well when I write histfic I take what I want to use and leave the rest.’ To me that’s a very lazy way to write if one is going to write historical fiction. Now if it’s advertised as AU or historical fantasy, fine. Suspension of disbelief activated. But if it’s historical fiction, no paranormal, no supernatural, no fantasy, just plain old historical fiction, that sets the expectation for the reader. I think as long as you set the right expectations (genre, subgenre, warnings, whatever) you’re giving the reader enough to adjust their expectations by.
This is a great insight into the travails of historical fiction.
My first thought was that I agree with you about poetic license. I guess some readers don't get the fiction part. Yes, an iPhone used by Lincoln is ridiculous, but Lincoln killing vampires, why not.
A worst sin, in my mind, is when an author, James Patterson, changes the ethnicity of a character from one book to another, this happens in his Alex Cross series.
The main thing is to stick with what you write and not let the critical voices derail you.
such an interesting article.. prompting discussion ! I’m trying to breath life into a project that stalled out.. Didn’t have the strokes to close it.. yet thought the overall history & magnitude would demand or simply command International interest - after all - I was just ‘johnny come lately’ to the legendary events.. many notable others knew the waters around the Grand Banks fishery circa early 1800’s
Thus I took great liberties with my development .. & like you, diving into the research & to a great extent ‘journaling for multiple media & respective purpose & audiences’. A poem or song lyrics are more ‘heroic’ - A historical summary has many facets - A Feature Film Property set in contemporary times but reflecting the legendary events offers tremendous scope to breathe life into Real Persons
I won’t be writing or even editing in this case.. & if I were to do this all over again.. I wouldn’t change a thing. If this was draw poker .. I’d be betting the cards I dealt
(haha.. I never gamble.. ever - but we played euchre on the rural school bus daily & Women's Institute often grabbed us if short a player.. & my oh my their ‘table talk’ was legendary!)
Hardest thing for me was getting feedback.. ie readers - among family or friends.. or even complete strangers ! And let the work speak for itself.. that’s why I’m here after all.. & if there’s ways to improve ‘the package’ as my son calls whatever. that creature is.. I’m ready to rock.. with serious image support & even music or SFX such as ambience
The fun of it though.. is really the writing ! At least to me.. where I inhabit an aged seaman or 17 year old girl .. a mysterious woman aboard, ship’s officer.. or large black dog, howling winds. Yes the setting is exactly as Captain James Cook charted the approaches near Isle Aux Morts, the names of the passengers are historic fact etc.. those documents are here within the Project inside my Stack & via my Original Blog as well. I’m super looking forward to reading some of your work.. and sense of research ! Getting the picture ! Thanks !
Kara Cooney goes into a lot of detail on interpreting history and the inability to remain apolitical when viewing history, and I think you hit the nail on the head talking about viewing it from a modern lens. I often find a lot of criticisms about The Gilded Age (TV show) because it’s boring. But Julian Fellows writes as accurate to the time as he can. He’s even mentioned in interviews that histfic authors tend to get too generous with modern conventions in histifc (especially around women and feminism). I think it all depends on what you’re trying to portray. Historical fantasy you ultimately have free rein. If you’re setting something in a specific period, like with anything the author needs to do their research. I read a histfic where the author was using modern colloquialisms and speaking conventions, and their excuse was ‘well when I write histfic I take what I want to use and leave the rest.’ To me that’s a very lazy way to write if one is going to write historical fiction. Now if it’s advertised as AU or historical fantasy, fine. Suspension of disbelief activated. But if it’s historical fiction, no paranormal, no supernatural, no fantasy, just plain old historical fiction, that sets the expectation for the reader. I think as long as you set the right expectations (genre, subgenre, warnings, whatever) you’re giving the reader enough to adjust their expectations by.
This is a great insight into the travails of historical fiction.
My first thought was that I agree with you about poetic license. I guess some readers don't get the fiction part. Yes, an iPhone used by Lincoln is ridiculous, but Lincoln killing vampires, why not.
A worst sin, in my mind, is when an author, James Patterson, changes the ethnicity of a character from one book to another, this happens in his Alex Cross series.
The main thing is to stick with what you write and not let the critical voices derail you.
such an interesting article.. prompting discussion ! I’m trying to breath life into a project that stalled out.. Didn’t have the strokes to close it.. yet thought the overall history & magnitude would demand or simply command International interest - after all - I was just ‘johnny come lately’ to the legendary events.. many notable others knew the waters around the Grand Banks fishery circa early 1800’s
Thus I took great liberties with my development .. & like you, diving into the research & to a great extent ‘journaling for multiple media & respective purpose & audiences’. A poem or song lyrics are more ‘heroic’ - A historical summary has many facets - A Feature Film Property set in contemporary times but reflecting the legendary events offers tremendous scope to breathe life into Real Persons
I won’t be writing or even editing in this case.. & if I were to do this all over again.. I wouldn’t change a thing. If this was draw poker .. I’d be betting the cards I dealt
(haha.. I never gamble.. ever - but we played euchre on the rural school bus daily & Women's Institute often grabbed us if short a player.. & my oh my their ‘table talk’ was legendary!)
Hardest thing for me was getting feedback.. ie readers - among family or friends.. or even complete strangers ! And let the work speak for itself.. that’s why I’m here after all.. & if there’s ways to improve ‘the package’ as my son calls whatever. that creature is.. I’m ready to rock.. with serious image support & even music or SFX such as ambience
The fun of it though.. is really the writing ! At least to me.. where I inhabit an aged seaman or 17 year old girl .. a mysterious woman aboard, ship’s officer.. or large black dog, howling winds. Yes the setting is exactly as Captain James Cook charted the approaches near Isle Aux Morts, the names of the passengers are historic fact etc.. those documents are here within the Project inside my Stack & via my Original Blog as well. I’m super looking forward to reading some of your work.. and sense of research ! Getting the picture ! Thanks !