tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post4741582559165185792..comments2023-10-30T07:08:09.860-07:00Comments on It's a Mystery: When You Write, Get it RightElspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-14102678748459951232009-12-22T03:17:56.018-08:002009-12-22T03:17:56.018-08:00I'm with you on this, Elspeth. When I read his...I'm with you on this, Elspeth. When I read historical fiction, I expect the history to be right. Luckily, I am not too familiar with history that is not Indian and I rarely read historicals set in India, so I haven't really had to tear my hair out yet. BUT there was a recent book I read, set in the recent past/ present which was so inaccurate I almost threw the book across the room a Natashahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00481081735923606868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-90001594666889873642009-12-13T08:49:44.336-08:002009-12-13T08:49:44.336-08:00I agree; if you're going to use history make s...I agree; if you're going to use history make sure what you use is accurate or don't use it.<br />However, as 'history is written by the winners' it can sometimes be as only as accurate as the 'winner' wants it to be. An example that comes quickly to mind is the history of firearms in Canada. There is a great deal of written word explaining that pioneer Canadians did not D.M. McGowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05008773391981989236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-56054154614852903112009-12-11T09:41:11.327-08:002009-12-11T09:41:11.327-08:00Yes, accuracy is important. We should try to writ...Yes, accuracy is important. We should try to write as if and expert from that period will be reading the book. You never know...they just might be.<br /><br />Best, Galen.<br /><a href="http://www.galenkindley.com/blog.htm" rel="nofollow">Imagineering Fiction Blog</a>joe doaks-Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283066862112820202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-73526530584142774502009-12-11T09:29:56.609-08:002009-12-11T09:29:56.609-08:00Elizabeth; Aren't her photos fantastic? I...Elizabeth; Aren't her photos fantastic? I've always admired her work. I'm glad you're with me on this; if you're using real people then get your facts right. Too many people learn their facts from movies or books, it's upsetting to think they're learning it wrong.Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-60137959738658782982009-12-11T00:59:30.702-08:002009-12-11T00:59:30.702-08:00I think any writer takes a risk whenever they choo...I think any writer takes a risk whenever they choose to write about a real person, living or dead. I know you're talking about books, but I watched a movie last night titled "Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus." <br /><br />I'm a huge fan of Diane Arbus's work. For those of you that don't know, she was one of the most important woman photographers of the last Elizabeth Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03150221675618198674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-89848400141751929062009-12-10T20:01:32.027-08:002009-12-10T20:01:32.027-08:00Jemi; I'm certainly no expert, but it does dr...Jemi; I'm certainly no expert, but it does drive me batty!<br /><br />Jan; I'm with you about Anne Boleyn. Isn't the real history interesting enough?<br /><br />Carlos; Movies and television are the way I think many people know history; which is why I wish it was told correctly. As for fictional history; I don't like it being played with to any large degree.<br /><br />Helen;Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-65198076402506919842009-12-10T19:27:07.540-08:002009-12-10T19:27:07.540-08:00I have read historicals, but if there were mistake...I have read historicals, but if there were mistakes, I didn't know about them. I do think, though, if I were going to write an historical, I would try my best not to make mistakes.<br /><br />Helen<br /><a href="http://straightfromhel.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Straight From Hel</a>Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-19844881600052637382009-12-10T18:47:59.819-08:002009-12-10T18:47:59.819-08:00...and what do yo think about "fictional hist......and what do yo think about "fictional history" being changed. example. I love Superman Stories (the superhero)but... the tv series Smallville is breaking all the enchatment placing characters like Luisa Lane, and Lex luthor together, studing together in the same school when they were youngs. sounds very stupi to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-20328317547424969022009-12-10T18:41:30.604-08:002009-12-10T18:41:30.604-08:00it is important the chronology and events in stori...it is important the chronology and events in stories to be right. my point is... i know of history what i read in books and watch in movies. King Arthur, the stories of Excalibur, dragon and magicians showed in movies about him... makes me believe those were historical events... but something in my mind tells me they were just invented to made his history unforgotable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-12500725163247154712009-12-10T18:23:14.420-08:002009-12-10T18:23:14.420-08:00Hi Elspeth - so with you! Almost to the point of n...Hi Elspeth - so with you! Almost to the point of not bothering anymore with historical fiction unless I'm sure I don't know anything about it but then my husband will and he'll really rant and rave! I couldn't even watch The Other Boleyn Girl - I'm so in love with Anne Boleyn that it would make me mental to see that messed with. Just the idea of it. The Tudor period is the oneJan Morrisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01771180344305042855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-61315467074170637092009-12-10T17:46:37.320-08:002009-12-10T17:46:37.320-08:00I'm no historical expert, so when a mistake or...I'm no historical expert, so when a mistake or an anachronism jumps out at me, it must drive experty folks like you batty!Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-36485219516307921902009-12-10T16:44:25.219-08:002009-12-10T16:44:25.219-08:00Carolyn; The Other Boleyn Girl did have historica...Carolyn; The Other Boleyn Girl did have historical errors, but nothing that made me tear my hair out. I have no problem at all with maybes. But Phillippa Gregory (bless her) is not known for historical accuracy. She sacrifices history to make a better story, and she's a best-selling author, so maybe it's the right decision!Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-66347482023833199032009-12-10T16:41:53.709-08:002009-12-10T16:41:53.709-08:00Alan; Perhaps you should. Expand, young man, exp...Alan; Perhaps you should. Expand, young man, expand!Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-17011987842570198422009-12-10T13:59:10.371-08:002009-12-10T13:59:10.371-08:00The only historical fiction I read takes place in ...The only historical fiction I read takes place in the sixties. (The 1960's, for clarification.) Actually, that's not true! I read THE GIVEN DAY by Lehane. It was good (it might have been better, tho, if set in modern day :) ).<br /><br />Maybe I should expand my reading horizons.Alan Orloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03695574442723430347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-79929898399452757572009-12-10T13:50:28.436-08:002009-12-10T13:50:28.436-08:00I read historical fiction. There were a lot of may...I read historical fiction. There were a lot of maybes in The Other Boleyn Girl, but I don't think any errors.<br /><br />One of my critique members found an error in mine. I had a character sipping from a Styrofoam cup, except they weren't invented yet! Thank goodness she found it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-40830521272254983252009-12-10T12:31:53.083-08:002009-12-10T12:31:53.083-08:00Karen; If they explain in the preface they're...Karen; If they explain in the preface they're taking liberties then I have no problem at all.<br /><br />Cassandra; Misquoting mythology is another wonderful example of someone not doing the necessary research in my opinion. Thanks leaving a comment!Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-47478312339445194952009-12-10T12:25:38.327-08:002009-12-10T12:25:38.327-08:00Historical inaccuracies only bother me if I have a...Historical inaccuracies only bother me if I have an interest in the period outside of the story. For instance stories set in ancient greece or rome. Other periods it doesn't both me so much but I can imagine that for someone else the inaccuracies must be frustrating. <br />I also dislike it when people misquote mythology. Particularly confusing the greek or roman gods. That can kill an Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-1249528019492930912009-12-10T12:21:04.917-08:002009-12-10T12:21:04.917-08:00Elizabeth; Some of my knowledge comes from school...Elizabeth; Some of my knowledge comes from schooling, a lot comes from just my interest. I was reading English history novels when I was 12!<br /><br />JW; I understand not everyone is an expert on history. I don't consider myself an 'expert' but there are periods I know a great deal about. I'm saying if you choose to write a story in a certain time period, know the time Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-39260138624968409172009-12-10T12:05:41.405-08:002009-12-10T12:05:41.405-08:00I can accept the ´don´t knows´, but I expect that ...I can accept the ´don´t knows´, but I expect that the writer is knowledgeable and does his/her best to get the facts right. Actually I prefer stories from the Victorian age or newer, because then it is easier for me to judge how realistic the book is.Dorte Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14535044092722418173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-33109479329832792522009-12-10T11:39:48.772-08:002009-12-10T11:39:48.772-08:00Elspeth - I know exactly what you mean! Of course,...Elspeth - I know exactly what you mean! Of course, I'm not the history buff that you are, but I really do dislike it when an author isn't accurate about history. That's why I respect Edward Rutherford and James Michener - both do their homework, so to speak.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-78515819038258322772009-12-10T10:37:01.902-08:002009-12-10T10:37:01.902-08:00Elspeth, I think writers can get away with it beca...Elspeth, I think writers can get away with it because most of us are not experts on all history. I know writers can tell me something about certain historical times and I would accept it, because history is not my area of interest, except for very common facts. <br /><br />Great thoughts.T. Powell Coltrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02160774009926623671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-14595669487603183762009-12-10T10:01:22.150-08:002009-12-10T10:01:22.150-08:00I do read some historical fiction, but my history ...I do read some historical fiction, but my history knowledge is spottier than yours. Unless it's covering a time I studied heavily in tandem with my English classes. Which, actually, the Tudor age would encompass, because of Shakespeare studies. So that *would* bother me, too.<br /><br />Elizabeth<br /><a href="http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> Mystery Writing is Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.com