Historical Settings

[BigAndTall]

I've had a few talks with here about placing stories in historical settings.

Do anyone else use history as a background for their stories?

 

[cantdog]

I used the 60's once. Lit rejected the story, but it was near to my heart. I find I have little to add to history, on the whole.

 

[Weird Harold]

I've had a few talks with here about placing stories in historical settings.

Do anyone else use history as a background for their stories?

Several do. I tend to keep my stories as timeless as possible to cut down on the research.

The chain story "The Talisman" is entirely historical settings, each chapter by a different author.

 

[OhMissScarlett]

I've written two historical group sex stories about a renaissance painter set in Germany during the late part of the 15th century. I hope to write the third and final installment sometime soon. I'd love to write more historical stories if the research didn't take up so much time. If I had a team of trusty fact checkers, I'd do this sort of thing all the time.
Feast of the Rose Garlands
Feast of the Gods

 

[BlackShanglan]

I mostly use the 1800's, but I've also done 1722, some time in the 1400's, and 539. At the moment I'm working on one in 800's Denmark. I try to be accurate, but not dogmatically so; I'm willing to bend facts when they make a better story another way.

Shanglan

 

[cantdog]

I'm not sure I understand the question, though.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Sure. I've got two in XVIII dynasty Egypt and one in classical Greece, a few in the Victorian era and one set exactly in 1969.

One of the best fedbacks (feedsback?) I ever got was from an Egyptologist who commended me for the accuracy of "In Pharaoh's Boat". A lot of that stuff about the Egyptian religion was speculation on my part.

I'm also working on and off on a tall ship bodice-ripper romance set in 1803.

 

[BlackShanglan]

What I wouldn't have given to have had a bodice concession in Victorian England ...

 

[neonlyte]

I mostly use the 1800's, but I've also done 1722, some time in the 1400's, and 539. At the moment I'm working on one in 800's Denmark. I try to be accurate, but not dogmatically so; I'm willing to bend facts when they make a better story another way.

Shanglan

800's Denmark. That sounds a toughy to research. Isn't Danish history pretty thin on the ground around that time?

 

[BlackShanglan]

800's Denmark. That sounds a toughy to research. Isn't Danish history pretty thin on the ground around that time?

Going to contemporaneous fiction and poetry. It's a fantasy/reality hybrid. Just needs feel, not historical events, as I'm inventing a kingdom anyway.

Shanglan

 

[Gringao]

Sometimes the story demands it. I'm writing one right now for a Lit friend that is set in a harem, effectively cutting off the credible time frame at around 1922. In addition, another parameter put on my story was that the main female character be American.

So I've got it in a seraglio around 1905, in the area known today as Jordan, with a sheikh that is descendant of the Hashemites.

It's coming along quite nicely.

 

[neonlyte]

Going to contemporaneous fiction and poetry. It's a fantasy/reality hybrid. Just needs feel, not historical events, as I'm inventing a kingdom anyway.

Shanglan

That sounds right. If you've not read it - The Vikings by Magnus Magnusson gives a good impression of the feel and cultural traditions prevalent across the period 790 - 1066. What ever happened before 790 in the Scandanavian arena seems pretty hard to pin down.

Historical writings: I have a romance set in 1970's Portugal, not too historical but it was the time of Portugal's transition from dictatorship to democracy. It's on hold while my Portuguese lessons allow me the ability to read the nuances of Portuguese accounts of the period.

Second work set around the RL burning of the 'stave churches' in Norway in the early 1990's and an old man who lives the Saga's in a remote valley and seeks retribution for the travesty.

 

[BlackShanglan]

Thanks very much for the source tip, Neonlyte.

 

[Sabledrake]

Many of mine have a historical or pseudo-historical setting. The Wild West, the 1950's, ancient Greece, the cliffhanger era, the pirate era, the witch-trial era ... I gets around, I does

Sabledrake

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I have one set in the age of sail: Captive Hearts
Several in and around WWII: Resistance, Cold recpetion, Wasp
One that cut across several settings: Inspiration

I'm working on a concept story in Vienna/Berlin in the roaring 20's.

I love period pieces

 

[scheherazade_79]

My most recent is historical, and it was also the most interesting to write. I set it in Berlin during WW2 and got really engrossed in the contextual stuff. There are some who always preach that you should only write about what you know, but I disagree - sometimes it's even better when you write something about what you'd like to know. I guess personal interest is the key - if you like the period you're researching, you're more likely to do a decent job of making it convincing.

 

[eric shawn listo]

I have an unfinished novel here set in late 1800's American West. And a story taking place on Feb. 14, 1929. And my other novel is set in the 70's. Only two stories with contemp settings.

A long way to say "Yes" I guess.

 

[NoJo]

I so agree about writing what you want to know.

A big regret is not having studied history at school. I've been making up for it in the last few years. For a screenplay set in 16th Century Prague, I decided to go there, after having read books and books about it. It's the most well-preserved Rennaissance town I've ever seen. And after writing a relatively quick and painless Literotica piece about 17th C Japan, I've been smitten by Edo (now Tokyo) -- Although I've been told it's much harder to see Historical Japan unless you leave the city.

 

[Alex De Kok]

The chain story "The Talisman" is entirely historical settings, each chapter by a different author.

My episode in the 'Talisman' chain, 'Lucy McFey', is set circa 1825, near the Roman Wall across Northern England - about 25 miles from me as I write. I have an urge to write a nautical-themed bodice-ripper one day . . .

Alex

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I so agree about writing what you want to know.

A big regret is not having studied history at school. I've been making up for it in the last few years. For a screenplay set in 16th Century Prague, I decided to go there, after having read books and books about it. It's the most well-preserved Rennaissance town I've ever seen. And after writing a relatively quick and painless Literotica piece about 17th C Japan, I've been smitten by Edo (now Tokyo) -- Although I've been told it's much harder to see Historical Japan unless you leave the city.

A lot of historic Japan didn't survive WWII. The fire bombing raids destroyed 31 square miles of Jpanese cities in a week. Tokyo, Nogoya, Kobe, etc lost their historic centers in the flames.

 

[OhMissScarlett]

I have an urge to write a nautical-themed bodice-ripper one day . . .

Me too. Really I want to write a lady pirate story, but I doubt I could make it any more interesting than the true story of Ann Bonny.

Also, I've always wanted to write a WW1 epic, but I doubt I'll ever be in a situation where I have the time to devote to the research. I wouldn't even know where to start.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Me too. Really I want to write a lady pirate story, but I doubt I could make it any more interesting than the true story of Ann Bonny.

Also, I've always wanted to write a WW1 epic, but I doubt I'll ever be in a situation where I have the time to devote to the research. I wouldn't even know where to start.

Lady pirate stories are fun

For a WWi story, the best place to start is to decide when you want to set it during the war years. The tides of battle and perceptions on the varius home fronts changed radically as the war progressed. I'm no expert, but if you need some info, I'd be glad to help.

 

[sweetnpetite]

Sure. I've got two in XVIII dynasty Egypt and one in classical Greece, a few in the Victorian era and one set exactly in 1969.

One of the best fedbacks (feedsback?) I ever got was from an Egyptologist who commended me for the accuracy of "In Pharaoh's Boat". A lot of that stuff about the Egyptian religion was speculation on my part.

I'm also working on and off on a tall ship bodice-ripper romance set in 1803.

Maybe you were an ancient egyptian in a past life.

You never know.

 

[sweetnpetite]

someday I want to write a story about a female outlaw/bank-robber in the old west.

But I don't really know anything about the old west, i don't even read westerns

I just have this picture of a sexy raven haired beauty ridding bareback on a brown horse. She's wearing a stetson, a loose blouse, a red bandana on her face and a pair of tight jeans. You can't really tell she's female until it's too late

Where is this picture- in my head

 

[NoJo]

someday I want to write a story about a female outlaw/bank-robber in the old west.

But I don't really know anything about the old west, i don't even read westerns

I just have this picture of a sexy raven haired beauty ridding bareback on a brown horse. She's wearing a stetson, a loose blouse, a red bandana on her face and a pair of tight jeans. You can't really tell she's female until it's too late

Where is this picture- in my head

I think you're just lusting after Rideme Cowboy. You can't tell she's female until it's too late.