Historical Romances

[bg23]

Is it just me, or are there very few historical romance stories on this site? Personally, the only few that I've managed to find haven't really struck me at all either historical or romantic, and I'd really love to find one that is. The funny thing is, historical romance is a major genre in the romance industry, so you'd have thought maybe we'd get more on this site.

In any case, I would love to know what you think, since I would like to post one here. If you like my writing, or historical romances, please let me know. I'll make my decision based on the feedback.

Ciao

bad_girl23

My Stories

 

[Sabledrake]

I've got a couple that might apply:

Emma is the tale of a lusty young lady's Wild West adventures.

And the epic 20-chapter The Ravishing of Constance is a raunchy, bodice-ripping romp through the Caribbean.

Quite a few of us keep hoping for a Historical category.

Sabledrake

 

[bg23]

Hmm. That's an interesting idea. It would be lovely to have a category of historical romance all to itself. Then historical romance fans wouldn't have to sift through all the other stuff to get to it. Let's start a petition!

P.S. Have you read any of Wishfulthinking's stuff? That's the stuff I'm talking about!

 

[wishfulthinking]

Flattery will get you everywhere!

As to historical romance, there is only one other that I can think of, and that was suggested to me by someone in feedback. I thought it had lady in the title, and possibly BDSM category, but I can't find it.

I think there is a strong argument that with a lot of stories floating around on lit, there needs to be more defined categories.

But the otherside of the argument is using the right search function keys when you submit a story. And I just searched, and I thought I used 'historical romance' in the keywords for most of my stories, but not one of them came up. Hmmm

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Hmmm. Well, wait a minute.

Historical romance means that it happens in a real historical context, right? Or do you consider anything that has guys in tights riding horses to be "historical romance"? I mean, doesn't it have to have a certain amount of historical accuracy? Otherwise it's just genre fantasy stuff.

I know I've seen a whole slew of Lord Ravensmuts ravishing fair maidens here at Lit, but I don't consider them historical fiction because they happen in some imaginary fairy land. The exception is Sabledrake, because her stuff has historical veracity, at least the stuff I've read.

Or am I just being too picky?

---dr.M.

 

[wishfulthinking]

Hmmm. Well, wait a minute.

Historical romance means that it happens in a real historical context, right? Or do you consider anything that has guys in tights riding horses to be "historical romance"? I mean, doesn't it have to have a certain amount of historical accuracy? Otherwise it's just genre fantasy stuff.

I know I've seen a whole slew of Lord Ravensmuts ravishing fair maidens here at Lit, but I don't consider them historical fiction because they happen in some imaginary fairy land. The exception is Sabledrake, because her stuff has historical veracity, at least the stuff I've read.

Or am I just being too picky?

---dr.M.

Nope. I think you've distinguished the two genres pretty well. One has a mildly to exceptionally accurate historical context (depending on the writer). The other is made up.

I think the idea of 'historical romance' that badgirl is alluding to (correct me if I'm wrong BG!) is that there is not only a few bodices being ripped, but also that there is a happy ending. None of this share with all my buddies, or I'm married so you're my mistress stuff.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Is it just me, or are there very few historical romance stories on this site? Personally, the only few that I've managed to find haven't really struck me at all either historical or romantic, and I'd really love to find one that is. The funny thing is, historical romance is a major genre in the romance industry, so you'd have thought maybe we'd get more on this site.

In any case, I would love to know what you think, since I would like to post one here. If you like my writing, or historical romances, please let me know. I'll make my decision based on the feedback.

Ciao

bad_girl23

My Stories

There really isn't much of a demand for historical romances. There are relatively few stories in the "Romance" category and to further subdivide this into historical and other would be too fine a division. There was some discussion of this idea early in the year, relating to the Survivors' Contest but nothing came of it, in terms of new categories.

 

[bg23]

That's exactly what I mean, wishfulthinking. Kinda the type of historical romance which we all secretly read and love, but just a little more raunchier, i suppose, since this is an erotic story site.

Historical accuracy is usually appreciated, but since its fiction I guess there is a certain amount of leeway, just as long as you don't go about saying that Napoleon defeated Wellington or something like that.

 

[Omni]

I made an entire business based on your ideas, badgirl and wishfulthinking.

Taking the romance and historical romance genre that "step" beyond. I think I leaped though! ~laughs

I have Regency, Medieval, and Future so far. I target women that read traditional romances for my hopeful customers. One man, one woman, adventurous, erotic love-ish type stories.

Anyways, I tried when I posted the few I have on Literotica, to either put Historical or Regency in the title. I noticed on my last one however they took it out of the posted story. Also, I do put in keywords for my stories, as a long shot. Historical, regency, medieval etc.

I love these stories from any authors I can find writing them, and I agree it is very hard to find them on Lit, if there are many.

Love to see a viking one, or remember the old bodice rippers pirate phase, or gothic would be great too, any turned to erotic adventure.

So my link is in my sig line. I have read Sables (good stuff) and now I have the lead, I am on to Wishful's!

Omni

 

[M. Millswan]

No Historical Romance!?!
Rolling the Bones is a historical romance novel posted on this site in the Novels and Novellas section. It was awarded story of the month in 2003, and attained second place as novel of the year last year. Readers have loved it. In the public comments and feedback section readers have stated they think this is one of the best novels they have read ever. Right now,an agent in New York is considering representing it to be published. Many readers have asked again and again for a sequel. If you want well-written historical romance, look no further. And if enough people ask, I will do a sequel; I already have the story outlined in my mind.
Mad Mike

 

[bg23]

Geez...talk about over the top.

So people say you're good.

No need to be quite so...VOCAL about it, and make the rest of us non-contest winners feel crap.

Presented simply to me as a SUGGESTION I would probably have considered reading. By shoving it down my throat, however, Mike, its just put me off.

I truly didn't want to step on any toes around here, but I'm sorry, its just the way I feel.

 

[wishfulthinking]

I've started my swash-buckling pirate and feisty maiden who gets her bodice ripped, but it hasn't been getting the attention it deserves!

Congratulations Mad Mike, but why wait until people ask for a sequel if it has been so successful?

 

[bg23]

May I just also point out that you have only three public comments in your public comments section?

 

[Tanuki]

There are so many great historical romances at the local bookstore, that I'd guess there's not much demand for it here, unless as bad_girl said it was more erotic and sexual than what you'd find in the romance novel section of B&N.

Maybe if it was a historical incest story?

 

[wishfulthinking]

Maybe if it was a historical incest story?

That cracked me up!

I've been inspired by this thread to finish my pirate story! Would it be romance or non-consent?

 

[bg23]

Would it be romance or non-consent?

Its tricky to decide, isn't it? On the one hand, its a love story, with a bit of "persuasion". If you plop it in romance, people might get offended. On the other hand, if you put it in non-consent and its not "violent" or whatever enough, you're not doing justice to the genre. The worst thing is when you write in chapters, and one chapter is fully romance and the other is not, and then you have chapters scattered all over the place or chapters that don't belong in categories being plonked in them just to keep them together.

Ah, the trials of a writer.

I say just put it in whichever category appeals to you, wishful. But if you put it in the romance category, it means you'll have stories spread across more categories.

 

[Sabledrake]

My "Constance" story is in Novels & Novellas, partly because it goes 20 chapters and partly because it ranges across so many categories (including, hee-hee, historical incest!)

Thanks for the kind words, Dr. M! I admit that "Constance" is a lot more cinematic than realistic history, but I did do actual research for "Emma"

Sabledrake

 

[Nicola_Italia1]

Hi!

I'm not sure if its what you are looking for - but I have been writing a story that some people seem to like.

It's in the romance section and its called "The Sheik and the Slave."

I have written some purely masturbation material (my opinion) and I love writing those. They are all about the sex and the cock and you get the point.

But I also wanted to write some romantic stories and thus the Sheik was born. I also have another story called "Gracie and the Love Triangle" but its modern with Gracie torn between two brothers.
Anyways, I just happened to stumble across this thread and wanted to respond.
If you do decide to read them, please let me know what you think.

I LOVE my feedback.

Cheers!

Nicola

 

[bennmorland85]

Just a note to say a couple things.

First, Patricia51 wrote a longish story called "Bridget's Nights" about a vampire. There is the usual fun, but there are some wonderful vignettes set through the decades and centuries. She is very accurate, historically speaking. There is currently a new story going on in that vein, also by Patricia51, called "Bridget's Days". Even more historical settings.

Secondly, I've been allowed to write a story with Patricia's Bridget character, set during the (First) Irish Troubles, which ran from 1916-1923. Being a history teacher myself, and having lived in Europe, and being in love with Ireland, I will definitely keep tight rein on historical accuracy.

--Benn

 

[Guest]

Dumb Young Things, anyoe?

 

[bennmorland85]

Who, what-now?



--Benn

 

[Coachcasa]

I personally enjoy historical stuff, but the reason that you don't see more of it is that it probably isn't easy to write. To write historical romance, you have to not only be able to write romance, but also know the time period and be able to put everything into believable context. I would love to see more of these writings, maybe from the some of these era's: Roman empire, 17th century France, and American Revolution.

 

[mrmgp]

I once had an idea for an adult novel that would feature adults through history who stumbled upon a cave in the Eastern United States with an underground spring that had some kind of strange natural chemical in it that removed sexual inhibitions and instilled extreme lust. The story would have started in the fifteenth century where the cave is first discovered by a Native American couple. They decide to keep the cave a secret. Another chapter would take place during the Revolutionary War as a Continental Army officer and an unmarried young woman flee a Native American/British Army ambush and stumble upon the cave as they flee for their lives. They, too, decide to keep it a secret, but since she became pregnant, they decide they have to marry, and after the war, they settle in the area. Another chapter would have dealt with two highly religious and quite prudish teenage girls who stumble upon the cave while exploring the woods near their homes and are suddenly overcome by wanton lust for each other. They know they can never divulge what they have just done, and so they, too keep the cave a secret. Another chapter would have involved a World War II fighter pilot who was rendered impotent after combat wounds in the Solomon Islands dogfight against the Japanese and gets his sexual stamina miraculously restored when he finds the cave while contemplating suicide after the loss of his sense of masculinity.

I had several other chapters planned, but I can't remember them now. The problem was, I get bored when writing, and sometimes can't return to a story. That and the fact that I had no idea how to end the novel. I never did begin writing it.

 

[RoseMadder]

It's a shame you didn't write that story mrmgp, it sounds like it could be interesting.

Why don't you start working on some of the scenario' s you mentioned. If you take one idea at a time and work on each as if it's a short story, you should be able to go back and edit it later into a reasonably long novel. Even if the finished plot doesn't lend itself to being edited into one long story, you'd have a lovely collection of tales with a central theme.

If you tackle it that way it shouldn't feel like such a chore. Also, you'll be able to keep your interest up by just writing in short chunks. Once you've finished a few 'chapters' perhaps you'll want to continue.

I love the idea of the story being based around a place rather than a central person. Just think of all the new characters you can introduce to keep the story alive!

As for the ending, you could set the final chapter/story in the present day. It wouldn't be so unbelievable if some entrepenurial type stumbled on the cave and tried to bottle it's water to sell for vast profits (after testing it out on a host of different people first obviously!) The water could quite easily lose it's power once removed from the cave and something horrible could happen to the person who tried to profit from it's powers.

I'd be interested in collaborating with you further on this if you like?

 

[mrmgp]

It's a shame you didn't write that story mrmgp, it sounds like it could be interesting.

Why don't you start working on some of the scenario' s you mentioned. If you take one idea at a time and work on each as if it's a short story, you should be able to go back and edit it later into a reasonably long novel. Even if the finished plot doesn't lend itself to being edited into one long story, you'd have a lovely collection of tales with a central theme.

If you tackle it that way it shouldn't feel like such a chore. Also, you'll be able to keep your interest up by just writing in short chunks. Once you've finished a few 'chapters' perhaps you'll want to continue.

One of the problems is getting my history straight. I can do the Revolutionary War period and the World War II chapters quite well since I am fairly well acquainted with them. But to try to put myself in the mind of a Native American couple five hundred years ago or a couple of teenage girls from the early 19th century would take some doing. I take writing very seriously, and don't want any plot holes or moments where the reader says to him/herself "This isn't how things were back then." But I also have a bad habit of writing myself into a corner, and then it becomes a major hassle to backtrack to a point where I no longer feel hamstrung in plot progression. I also have a problem writing concise sex scenes. I'm not satisfied with a two-sentence fuck scene, but I'm also not satisfied with a ten-paragraph scene where every thrust is mentioned. I have yet to find that happy medium.

I love the idea of the story being based around a place rather than a central person. Just think of all the new characters you can introduce to keep the story alive!

That was something that appealed to me as well. It's been all to easy for me when reading adult paperbacks (does anyone still write and publish these any more) is that sometimes I couldn't give two shits about a character after a while because they end up doing or saying something that rubs me the wrong way. With an anthology set around a place rather than a story about two or a few people, it gives the opportunity to create new and completely different characters throughout the saga.

As for the ending, you could set the final chapter/story in the present day. It wouldn't be so unbelievable if some entrepenurial type stumbled on the cave and tried to bottle it's water to sell for vast profits (after testing it out on a host of different people first obviously!) The water could quite easily lose it's power once removed from the cave and something horrible could happen to the person who tried to profit from it's powers.

Now that is a good idea. I can just imagine some modern day snake oil salesman who drains the spring dry and ends up destroying it completely, ending forever its curious effect on people who stumble upon it.

I'd be interested in collaborating with you further on this if you like?

I haven't written anything in years. I once tried my hand at an adult novel, but lost interest about half-way through, and when I wanted to go back to it and continue the story later, I realized that it had been lost in a move. It was a swapping story about two couples. One couple had a good sex life and the other couple's sex life was in the toilet. The couple with the good sex life decides that they will help their friends by swapping so that they can teach their friends how to be better lovers. It was about average people who don't have 10 inch cocks or DDD breasts and can't screw repeatedly in one night and can't come by the cupful or have pussies that gush like garden hoses. Over the years, I had written numerous adult short stories, but several years ago, I lost the writing "bug" and haven't been able to get it back.