How Historically Accurate Should Historical Fiction Be?

Historical novels are an interesting and enjoyable way to learn about historical events, characters, or time periods. While fictionalized, many authors rely on historical, geographical, and other research to create an ambiance within their novel that is believable and translates historical reality--well, at least as much as anyone can who isn't able to go back in time and experience events for themselves. But even if we could time travel, how true would our description of history be?

Since all history is interpretation, and all interpretation is by nature subjective (or biased), even historians don't always agree with each other on the causes, meanings, or realities of historical events. All one can say for certain is that at some point in history, this or that human wrote that this or that thing happened. Possibly there are records to prove an event happened. What events mean, or the realities surrounding events are interpretations. Even contemporary perspectives of characters and events are often colored by biased interpretation, and altered by things added or left out, or by the filters through which events and characters are viewed. Historians or historical writers can sometimes create the illusion of clarity while actually providing a very fuzzy picture, and the older the historical era or event the more this is true. 

Into this fuzziness good historical fiction writers dive!

Historians sometimes accuse historical novelists of distorting historical "facts." 

While it would be nice to have all fiction stories align with history, it is after all fiction and never advertises itself as anything else. On the other hand, good historical fiction writers may find themselves in controversy with some historians because of differences in interpretation of historical facts. This is especially notable when modern historians and historical fiction writers interpret history--previously interpreted from a patriarchal or dominant culture perspective--from feminist or multicultural viewpoints.

Historical fiction writing may require one to stretch or distort reputed historical facts, in order to express deeper truths, or to explore social and cultural possibilities.

Fiction writers can be encumbered by inability to travel, lack of financial resources, and even (especially if they are students) time constraints that make extensive or personal research difficult or impossible.

(Here is a blog post I wrote for my Novel Writing class that addresses some of these issues for future students. The class was taken with Professor Cathy Day at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana during the 2011 academic year.)

Contemporary historical fiction writers are (at the least) aided by the internet, by historians at nearby universities, and by local libraries with sympathetic and knowledgeable librarians. Due diligence is, I believe, a responsibility of any contemporary writer of historical fiction. However, the very nature of fiction writing gives an author license to invent. The key is to invent with intentionality, believability, and respect for one's readers. When one does this readers experience history at its best.

What are your experiences with historical fiction? How accurate does the "history" have to be for you to enjoy reading a historical novel? Please add your thoughts to the comments section of this post!


You might also find the following of interest:
Researching the Historical Novel: Advice For Next Semester's Novel Writers (Maye Ralston)

Seven Rules for Writing Historical Fiction (Elizabeth Crook)

How to Write Historical Fiction – A Book Set in the Past  (Deanna Proach)

Is Technology Causing Us to Lose the Personal Touch?

Photo from http://www.textkills.com/?p=780

On the other hand, some question whether technology is really good for humans. Just look at any college campus where most of the people you see are shuffling down the halls, and sidewalks too, eyes glued to a tiny handheld screen, thumbs tapping at a furious pace. No one appears to be talking to anyone around them. It would seem that technology has replaced personal communication, and many complain that it has, and that it's unhealthy for us. Even worse, they claim, we're addicted to it.

Recent changes in grammar school education might also appear to support this conclusion, as more schools are no longer teaching cursive writing. In this digital age, many feel cursive writing is no longer needed. Others wonder how these children will ever be able to take notes or send hand written letters. They complain the personal touch is disappearing from our written communications, and that it's one more indication we have an unhealthy dependence on technology.

Some time ago

My Picks for QR Code Generation Software

So here are my picks for QR Code Generators:

Online business cards: 

I pick ScanMe.com for ease of use, security against data loss (contacts are saved on smartphones and online), and multiple mobile app platforms. Go here for instructions on registering your online business/calling card and downloading the mobile app to your device. Previously you had to have a Facebook account to register (login) at ScanMe and create your QR code. Now ScanMe also allows use of LinkedIn and Twitter accounts to register. Simply tap the contact buttons on the "contact" screen of the person's QR code you've scanned to connect with them. On the down side, everyone you want to connect with must have an online ScanMe account (and hopefully a smartphone with the ScanMe mobile app) to make it really useful. 

Scan.Me is an alternative that

Social Media Lab at Midwest Writers Workshop 2012

Facilitators at writers workshops may suggest that writers need to develop a social media platform to aid in marketing their books, and even offer some ideas as to how to do this, but how many offer hands-on training with a consultant (or tutor) in a computer lab?

This year Midwest Writers Workshop (MWW12 held in Muncie, Indiana July 26-28, 2012) offered attendees FREE social media tutoring at a computer lab loaned by Ball State University's English Department. Creative Writing Professor Cathy Day and four Creative Writing students (Ashley Cassandra Ford, Tyler Fields, Spencer McNelly, and Maye Ralston) operated and staffed the social media lab. Ball State IT employees installed and kept the computers operating well throughout the conference.

The Social Media Lab was kick-started Thursday evening, July 26, with a social media panel moderated by Day, and presented by the social media tutors (Ford, Fields, McNelly, and Ralston) and social media guru Jane Friedman.

Photo by Deborah Lucas

During the panel

Maye's QR Code Presentation for Midwest Writers Workshop 2012 (#MWW12)

This is a QR Code for This Blog

As promised during my presentation at Midwest Writers Workshop 2012 (#MWW12), below is a link to my QR Code Presentation slides. For those who weren't at MWW12, these slides are from a five-minute introductory presentation I gave as part of the Social Media Panel with Jane Friedman, Cathy Day, Tyler Fields, Ashley Ford, and Spencer McNelly on July 26th, 2012:

Maye's QR Code Presentation for Midwest Writers Workshop 2012.

In addition, at the bottom right of this blog's home page you will find a copy of a QR code for this blog and a QR code generator which you can use to create your own blog or website QR code. Simply click on Qurify your own QR Code here! », type the URL you want to point to (or the message you want to appear) into the box, click the "Qurify" button, and viola! Now copy and save your new QR code to your hard drive (or take a photo of it with your camera phone). Paste it on your blog, in your emails (as part of your signature)...print it and tape it to your office door, etc. 

You may also find the following of interest:
Entering the Digital Era: QR Codes for, Well, Everything
My Picks for QR Code Generation Software
Social Media Lab at Midwest Writers Workshop 2012
eSolutions for Social Media Addictions
Where to Timeline and Storyboard: eSolutions
An eSolution for Character Creation: Character Writer
Tools for Writers: The Benefits of Writing With Scrivener
My Pick for Screenwriting Software: Celtx
For a Better Quality Break Time: Creativity Enhancing Goodies

Entering the Digital Era: QR Codes for, Well, Everything

I was born for the digital era. I LOVE technology gadgets. I know you can't tell that by the number of posts on here about software programs and applications, but really I do. So when I started seeing square blobs of digital designs showing up, well, everywhere, I got curious. Seeing one on a piece of paper hung like a flyer on a bulletin board was the last straw. It was like some secret club sign that I hadn't been let in on. I had to know what it was and what it meant.

Scan this to connect with me on Twitter

When I found out,

Guest Blog: Journaling and Healing - Springboard to Bigger Things

Some have used journaling as a springboard to publishing, and even to entrepreneurial endeavors. Today’s Guest Blog Post writer is one such person. Tina Games, certified creativity and life purpose coach, and author of Journaling by the Moonlight: A Mother’s Path to Self-Discovery.

Here Tina explains how her journaling process led to healing, and from there to bigger things:

Morphing Character Portraits in Art, Literature, and Film: Lessons in Power and Responsibility

Speed painter Brad Blaze, AKA "wittypainter" at YouTube, demonstrates the result of combining creativity with canvas and house paint. He paints one portrait then transforms it into another, within a very short amount of time. But you really have to see it: