Comments for History Into Fiction http://historyintofiction.com The Writer's Craft of Recreating the Past in Novels and Movies Tue, 01 Feb 2011 03:33:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Michele Bachmann? Blame Historical Fiction by Dave McGowan http://historyintofiction.com/2011/01/michele-bachmann-blame-historical-fiction/comment-page-1/#comment-1316 Dave McGowan Tue, 01 Feb 2011 03:33:55 +0000 http://historyintofiction.com/?p=436#comment-1316 All of our founding fathers could use a little mocking. Well, the Canadian and US ones, anyway. Those British Isle and European ones from, what, 1500 years ago? were far too terrifying to result in very much humor. On another subject with no connection to founding fathers, the US right to bear arms has nothing to do with modern engineering and design and the capabilities of today's firearms. Nor does it have anything to do with the attitude (or perhaps stupidity) that compells individuals to spend their hard earned money on fully automatic firearms. Dave www.dmmcgowan.blogspot.com All of our founding fathers could use a little mocking. Well, the Canadian and US ones, anyway. Those British Isle and European ones from, what, 1500 years ago? were far too terrifying to result in very much humor.
On another subject with no connection to founding fathers, the US right to bear arms has nothing to do with modern engineering and design and the capabilities of today’s firearms.
Nor does it have anything to do with the attitude (or perhaps stupidity) that compells individuals to spend their hard earned money on fully automatic firearms.
Dave
http://www.dmmcgowan.blogspot.com

]]> Comment on Tony Curtis and Spartacus by Glorya Lord Lannes http://historyintofiction.com/2010/10/tony-curtis-and-spartacus/comment-page-1/#comment-1209 Glorya Lord Lannes Thu, 25 Nov 2010 18:12:43 +0000 http://historyintofiction.com/?p=239#comment-1209 Definitely divinely fascinating. Will be reading your novel As I'm exploring CATHAR TODAY g Definitely divinely fascinating.
Will be reading your novel
As I’m exploring CATHAR TODAY
g

]]> Comment on Rabasa’s Rules for the Literary Researcher by Wendy Bertsch http://historyintofiction.com/2010/08/rabasas-rules-for-the-literary-researcher/comment-page-1/#comment-718 Wendy Bertsch Sun, 22 Aug 2010 15:54:15 +0000 http://historyintofiction.com/?p=209#comment-718 Thank you! I'm in the research stage of a new book revolving around a real character from the 17th century, and have an obsessive fear of being caught out in some small error. I worry that this will hamper my ability to shape an effective plot. You've encouraged me to ease up a bit and allow myself to create a great story around the few known facts, Fortunately there's a lot of 'gray area' to work with. Wendy Thank you!
I’m in the research stage of a new book revolving around a real character from the 17th century, and have an obsessive fear of being caught out in some small error. I worry that this will hamper my ability to shape an effective plot.
You’ve encouraged me to ease up a bit and allow myself to create a great story around the few known facts, Fortunately there’s a lot of ‘gray area’ to work with.

Wendy

]]> Comment on Rabasa’s Rules for the Literary Researcher by Dave McGowan http://historyintofiction.com/2010/08/rabasas-rules-for-the-literary-researcher/comment-page-1/#comment-668 Dave McGowan Thu, 05 Aug 2010 16:14:14 +0000 http://historyintofiction.com/?p=209#comment-668 Great advice! In 'Partners' I moved the assasination of Police Constable Jack Lawton a few weeks so that it would fit in with my story. In 'Homesteader' I moved a stage coach robbery a few weeks for the same reason. Most people - even those who read Canadian history - didn't know that those two events happened, never mind when. And historical facts helped to entertain, even when the timing was changed slightly. Dave www.dmmcgowan.blogspot.com Great advice!
In ‘Partners’ I moved the assasination of Police Constable Jack Lawton a few weeks so that it would fit in with my story. In ‘Homesteader’ I moved a stage coach robbery a few weeks for the same reason.
Most people – even those who read Canadian history – didn’t know that those two events happened, never mind when. And historical facts helped to entertain, even when the timing was changed slightly.
Dave
http://www.dmmcgowan.blogspot.com

]]> Comment on Rabasa’s Rules for the Literary Researcher by George Rabasa http://historyintofiction.com/2010/08/rabasas-rules-for-the-literary-researcher/comment-page-1/#comment-667 George Rabasa Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:12:19 +0000 http://historyintofiction.com/?p=209#comment-667 Glad some of my comments made sense to you. One point I like to make, and which often gets me into trouble, is that all good fiction is "historical" fiction the year after it's been published. That is, it reflects its time and freezes the moment for future readers. John Irving's "World According to Garp," John Updike's "Rabbit Run," Don Delillo's "White Noise" are examples that leap to mind. On the other hand, few genres beat the thrill of the time travel that true historical fiction offers, and the light of understanding it can often shed on the present moment. Glad some of my comments made sense to you. One point I like to make, and which often gets me into trouble, is that all good fiction is “historical” fiction the year after it’s been published. That is, it reflects its time and freezes the moment for future readers. John Irving’s “World According to Garp,” John Updike’s “Rabbit Run,” Don Delillo’s “White Noise” are examples that leap to mind. On the other hand, few genres beat the thrill of the time travel that true historical fiction offers, and the light of understanding it can often shed on the present moment.

]]> Comment on Quote of the Day: Verisimilitude, not Accuracy by Richard Warren Field http://historyintofiction.com/2010/05/quote-of-the-day-verisimilitude-not-accuracy/comment-page-1/#comment-641 Richard Warren Field Sun, 23 May 2010 03:32:46 +0000 http://historyintofiction.com/?p=180#comment-641 Primary sources have also been known to exaggerate the facts. Some of the troop numbers quoted in primary sources over a number of eras have strained credulity. And as we look at current events, how many times do we hear the statement: "history will be the judge?" It is a tricky business, figuring out just what the "truth" was. That's what makes this type of writing endlessly fascinating. I just ask writers to be up front about what they have invented - without ANY sources! Primary sources have also been known to exaggerate the facts. Some of the troop numbers quoted in primary sources over a number of eras have strained credulity. And as we look at current events, how many times do we hear the statement: “history will be the judge?” It is a tricky business, figuring out just what the “truth” was. That’s what makes this type of writing endlessly fascinating. I just ask writers to be up front about what they have invented – without ANY sources!

]]> Comment on Viral Marketing and Historical Fiction by Al http://historyintofiction.com/2010/02/viral-marketing-and-historical-fiction/comment-page-1/#comment-540 Al Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:00:57 +0000 http://historyintofiction.com/?p=86#comment-540 What a great thing to ponder. How would Salinger fare now? Probably not to well. But then...Al <a href="http://publish--or--perish.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Publish or Perish</a> What a great thing to ponder. How would Salinger fare now?
Probably not to well. But then…Al

Publish or Perish

]]> Comment on Frost/Nixon and the Subjectiveness of History by CL http://historyintofiction.com/2009/02/frostnixon-and-the-subjectiveness-of-history/comment-page-1/#comment-515 CL Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:22:10 +0000 http://historyintofiction.com/2009/02/frostnixon-and-the-subjectiveness-of-history/#comment-515 A year late-but thanks for this thoughtful post. While not being in total agreement, I can understand Morgan's cynicism on this point. Anyone who reads enough historical non-fiction should become aware that not only are the large over-arching theories usually disputed among experts, even basic facts often are as well. What IS a fiction writer or dramatist to do when faced with two, three, or more versions of events? A year late-but thanks for this thoughtful post. While not being in total agreement, I can understand Morgan’s cynicism on this point. Anyone who reads enough historical non-fiction should become aware that not only are the large over-arching theories usually disputed among experts, even basic facts often are as well. What IS a fiction writer or dramatist to do when faced with two, three, or more versions of events?

]]> Comment on Exposing History’s Cracks in Logic by D.A. Riser http://historyintofiction.com/2009/03/exposing-historys-cracks-in-logic/comment-page-1/#comment-465 D.A. Riser Thu, 26 Mar 2009 01:58:11 +0000 http://historyintofiction.com/2009/03/exposing-historys-cracks-in-logic/#comment-465 I think it is up to the writer to decide what is more important - the truth or the story. Hopefully, both can be given their equal due, but if story prevails, historical authors who note their discrepancies at the end win my forgiveness. I think it is up to the writer to decide what is more important – the truth or the story. Hopefully, both can be given their equal due, but if story prevails, historical authors who note their discrepancies at the end win my forgiveness.

]]> Comment on Germaine Greer and the Historical Novel by Melisende http://historyintofiction.com/2009/02/germaine-greer-and-the-historical-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-463 Melisende Sun, 22 Mar 2009 05:58:21 +0000 http://historyintofiction.com/2009/02/germaine-greer-and-the-historical-novel/#comment-463 I personally think she is past her "use by" date. Her opinions of late seem to be a little "off kilter" and as a reference or even "authority", she would not be my first choice. I personally think she is past her “use by” date. Her opinions of late seem to be a little “off kilter” and as a reference or even “authority”, she would not be my first choice.

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