Writer's question

[Colleen Thomas]

I just fnished another work set in a historic time period. AS usual I have done a good deal of research, but unlike previous works, I have altered history in the story.

the alteration is not inconcieveable, nor is it hard to imagine the history books and Government covered it up.

I was just wondering though, if y'all think I need to make a footnote or author's note to let people know I am doing this? It would seem to be the most correct thing to do, but I wonder if I am being too paranoid?

Any thoughts?

 

[carsonshepherd]

I would. A word or two at the beginning, While this story is based on history, the details come from the author's imagination. Something like that is enough, wouldn't you say?

Can't wait to read it.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I would. A word or two at the beginning, While this story is based on history, the details come from the author's imagination. Something like that is enough, wouldn't you say?

Can't wait to read it.

Thanks carson, I kinda felt like it would be best to do so. On the other hand, I kinda felt like I was being overly cautious.

Hopefully I'll have t posted before I head home for the holidays

*HUGS*

 

[Evil Alpaca]

An author's note at the beginning should suffice announcing a bit of literary liscence.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

I would say yes. It's common place to do so I believe.

Q_C

 

[Liar]

One of the best historical novels I have ever read is about a resistant group fighting the Nazi invasion in WWII.

The thing is, it takes place in Sweden, which was never invaded. But it is all a very believeable scenario of what would had happened if things had been different back then. Two chapters into the book, I had bought the idea, and while reading, totally believed it to be actual history. That is suspension of disbelief on a high level.

I say if a little historical inacurracy works, it works. I don't see why yod nee to go make excuses, unless it is an actual history book you are writing.

#L

 

[carsonshepherd]

I'm too lazy to do much research (which is why I haven't written that swashbuckling pirate epic yet) so always put a note, saying the story is a work of fiction, everything in it is made up, all errors are due to my own lack of research, etc. Then at least the reader knows I'm not just grossly misinformed. Just... grossly lazy!

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I'm too lazy to do much research (which is why I haven't written that swashbuckling pirate epic yet) so always put a note, saying the story is a work of fiction, everything in it is made up, all errors are due to my own lack of research, etc. Then at least the reader knows I'm not just grossly misinformed. Just... grossly lazy!

I totally research mine. (My pirate tale was a blast to write and is pretty authentic, even down to the corect type of cannons )

I just have always stuck to history and this is the first time I have ever tinkered with it

 

[ChilledVodkaIV]

History without fact

On the day that Hitler came to town I was hid in my closet. I wasn't hid from Hitler, I was hid from my wife, who looks a little bit like Hitler and her sister is as fat as Goering.

I had drink a little bit too much of schapps in the night time before and accidentally, like I keep telling her, got into bed with Goering. When I felt her hand on my schnitzel I sighed and thought to myself in my head *dins ist dins und schnapps ist schnapps*. That is to say that duty is duty and drinking is drinking.

But when you haven't had some sex for 8 months the schnapps gets in the way of the dins. And so I fucked her as best I could, how was I to understand that I was fucking Goering?

Then when I had finished and I thought my sister had joined us in the bed, because it is a very large bed that was my grandfather's which he made himself, and there was lots of room for three people, I was very shocked when I felt my sister (who I thought was my sister) grab hold of my schnitzel and start to suck it.

Now I would never say anything to anyone about what had happened, but soon Hitler and Goering had been talking and had said to each other about the night before and had found out themselves. They were sisters, so they couldn't be mad with each other, so they decided it was all my fault and this is why I'm in the closet.

Outside the window, if I stretch up on my toes, I can just see the huge armour-plate cars driving very slow down the Plattenstrasse and passing by the pottery where is my job at the other end. Many of the volk are lining the pave outside and shouting out his name and cheering and waving flags.

Now that I can kneel on old tin trunk I have dragged over I can lean my head through the window and see there at the left, Hitler and Goering in their Mercedes and also looking out of the window of the flat are also Hitler and Goering all red faced and huffing and puffing their huge chests over the sill of the window with more than enough buttons loose to show themselves.

I will teach them each a lesson and take off my under-draws to let my proud military machine show its might. And running from my concealment I roar as I attack their undefended rears. But before I can do this I trip over the cardboard suitcase on the floor and bring the carpet a great blow to my nose.

Undettered I struggle manfully to my feet and heedless of the wound, and dripping red drips from my nose and white drips from my bazooka I take Goering completely by surprise and also myself as I accidentally push forward into my sister-in-law's anus hole. Which I fuck until she falls over in a faint. Then I spear my wife in her undefended position amid great forests of hair and all the time she is shouting and cheering more lustily with each time I pound into her area.

And then my daughter (who has her mother's moustache) runs into the room, sweating and red-faced to catch us in this act and un-heeding the situation cries "Stalingrad is relieved" and advances on me with fervour in her eyes declaring "and I'm next."

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Re: History without fact

On the day that Hitler came to town I was hid in my closet. I wasn't hid from Hitler, I was hid from my wife, who looks a little bit like Hitler and her sister is as fat as Goering.

I had drink a little bit too much of schapps in the night time before and accidentally, like I keep telling her, got into bed with Goering. When I felt her hand on my schnitzel I sighed and thought to myself in my head *dins ist dins und schnapps ist schnapps*. That is to say that duty is duty and drinking is drinking.

But when you haven't had some sex for 8 months the schnapps gets in the way of the dins. And so I fucked her as best I could, how was I to understand that I was fucking Goering?

Then when I had finished and I thought my sister had joined us in the bed, because it is a very large bed that was my grandfather's which he made himself, and there was lots of room for three people, I was very shocked when I felt my sister (who I thought was my sister) grab hold of my schnitzel and start to suck it.

Now I would never say anything to anyone about what had happened, but soon Hitler and Goering had been talking and had said to each other about the night before and had found out themselves. They were sisters, so they couldn't be mad with each other, so they decided it was all my fault and this is why I'm in the closet.

Outside the window, if I stretch up on my toes, I can just see the huge armour-plate cars driving very slow down the Plattenstrasse and passing by the pottery where is my job at the other end. Many of the volk are lining the pave outside and shouting out his name and cheering and waving flags.

Now that I can kneel on old tin trunk I have dragged over I can lean my head through the window and see there at the left, Hitler and Goering in their Mercedes and also looking out of the window of the flat are also Hitler and Goering all red faced and huffing and puffing their huge chests over the sill of the window with more than enough buttons loose to show themselves.

I will teach them each a lesson and take off my under-draws to let my proud military machine show its might. And running from my concealment I roar as I attack their undefended rears. But before I can do this I trip over the cardboard suitcase on the floor and bring the carpet a great blow to my nose.

Undettered I struggle manfully to my feet and heedless of the wound, and dripping red drips from my nose and white drips from my bazooka I take Goering completely by surprise and also myself as I accidentally push forward into my sister-in-law's anus hole. Which I fuck until she falls over in a faint. Then I spear my wife in her undefended position amid great forests of hair and all the time she is shouting and cheering more lustily with each time I pound into her area.

And then my daughter (who has her mother's moustache) runs into the room, sweating and red-faced to catch us in this act and un-heeding the situation cries "Stalingrad is relieved" and advances on me with fervour in her eyes declaring "and I'm next."

LOL *shakinghead*

No way I can compete with that

 

[carsonshepherd]

I totally research mine. (My pirate tale was a blast to write and is pretty authentic, even down to the corect type of cannons )

I just have always stuck to history and this is the first time I have ever tinkered with it

Oh, what's your pirate tale? I wanna read it!

 

[Boxlicker101]

I just fnished another work set in a historic time period. AS usual I have done a good deal of research, but unlike previous works, I have altered history in the story.

the alteration is not inconcieveable, nor is it hard to imagine the history books and Government covered it up.

I was just wondering though, if y'all think I need to make a footnote or author's note to let people know I am doing this? It would seem to be the most correct thing to do, but I wonder if I am being too paranoid?

Any thoughts?

You might add a note at the end, something like: "History books tell us that it didn't turn out the way I have described it here but how can we know for sure the real result wasn't covered up by the government? We will never really know for sure"

 

[china-doll]

I just fnished another work set in a historic time period. AS usual I have done a good deal of research, but unlike previous works, I have altered history in the story.

the alteration is not inconcieveable, nor is it hard to imagine the history books and Government covered it up.

I was just wondering though, if y'all think I need to make a footnote or author's note to let people know I am doing this? It would seem to be the most correct thing to do, but I wonder if I am being too paranoid?

Any thoughts?

I think that being accurate in your stories gives them a credibility and adds to the believability.

Doing research and using the correct terminology adds detail and makes for a more rich story. Such as the pirates mentioned above. Calling a ship and British East Indiamen rather than a Big Ship adds flavor. But that is just detail.

By there very definition, all fiction stories are made up. THat's what fiction is. If you're not writing fiction, then you're writing non-fiction. I think it's assumed when you read a fiction story, especially one based in the past, that some of the events are accurate (or close to accurate) but most are not.

In all likely hood, the major events will be accurate because it gives the reader a real reference point to put the story in perspective. But the major thread of the story will not be. If all of the story was completly historicly accurate, it would be a history book.

That being said, a small note in the begining probablly wouldn't hurt, but I don't reall think it's necessary. JMO.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Oh, what's your pirate tale? I wanna read it!

It's called Captive Hearts

 

[Guest]

hiyas Colly. i agree that doing research is the best method for writing something/anything historical. i did a ton of research for my supersition story and at the beginning i wrote:

This is a work of complete fiction. The historical events and culture of the Greeks on Angistri Island are borrowed and twined into this tale.

it was cool to be able to add that the pirate balbosa really did invade the island i wrote about...and hell, i learned a great deal in the whole affair!

 

[carsonshepherd]

...and hell, i learned a great deal in the whole affair!

So that's why I hate doing research.... I might learn something

 

[Guest]

So that's why I hate doing research.... I might learn something

i know you love playing at being blonde...leave it to the pro, schweetheart...
*grin*

 

[pop_54]

I just fnished another work set in a historic time period. AS usual I have done a good deal of research, but unlike previous works, I have altered history in the story.

the alteration is not inconcieveable, nor is it hard to imagine the history books and Government covered it up.

I was just wondering though, if y'all think I need to make a footnote or author's note to let people know I am doing this? It would seem to be the most correct thing to do, but I wonder if I am being too paranoid?

Any thoughts?

Stop worrying Colly darling, Hollywood never made any apologies for it, and they've completely stood history on its head, ripped it apart, and never bothered to put it back together, over the years.

 

[fifty5]

I just fnished another work set in a historic time period. AS usual I have done a good deal of research, but unlike previous works, I have altered history in the story.

the alteration is not inconcieveable, nor is it hard to imagine the history books and Government covered it up.

I was just wondering though, if y'all think I need to make a footnote or author's note to let people know I am doing this? It would seem to be the most correct thing to do, but I wonder if I am being too paranoid?

Any thoughts?

IMHO - put in a note if it makes YOU feel better. Fiction's fiction, and if something's in that category, then it ought to go without further blethering. I'd guess that those readers who are too dumb to get that are mostly too dumb to understand a note that makes it explicit.

Just do what makes you happy. Don't worry about what's "right".

Eff

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Re: Re: Writer's question

Stop worrying Colly darling, Hollywood never made any apologies for it, and they've completely stood history on its head, ripped it apart, and never bothered to put it back together, over the years.

thanks pops

I just happen to be a historian and it kinda felt wierd making it up as I go along.

 

[MagicaPractica]

whatever makes you comfortable

I don't think it is obligatory since it is a work of historical fiction but it is not unusual either.

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

Colly,

Have you never heard the term Alt History?

If the divergence is on a major point of history, precede the story with something like:

"What would have happened if The Spanish Armada had successfully invaded Elizabethan England?"


If it is a minor point add a footnote at the end explaining the liberty you took with known history, such as:

"While seafaring Vikings did settle briefly in Labrador, there is no evidence that their defendants had anything to do with the collapse of the Roanoke Island Colony near Virginia that disappeared in 1587."

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Colly,

Have you never heard the term Alt History?

If the divergence is on a major point of history, precede the story with something like:

"What would have happened if The Spanish Armada had successfully invaded Elizabethan England?"


If it is a minor point add a footnote at the end explaining the liberty you took with known history, such as:

"While seafaring Vikings did settle briefly in Labrador, there is no evidence that their defendants had anything to do with the collapse of the Roanoke Island Colony near Virginia that disappeared in 1587."

thanks Burly, that's what I will do.

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

Colly,

As others have suggested, do the note. Not because it's a moral or ethical requirement. After all, Phillip Roth has just churned out a highly publicized novel in which Charles Lindberg becomes President in 1940. Your goal with a note is to cut down on feedback from anal-retentive readers bitching about some minor discrepancy.

You're a historian, eh? Knew I liked you for some reason. I've got a master's in contemporary US history and a membership in Phi Alpha Theta. Of course by now that history's become ancient.

Rumple Foreskin

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Colly,

As others have suggested, do the note. Not because it's a moral or ethical requirement. After all, Phillip Roth has just churned out a highly publicized novel in which Charles Lindberg becomes President in 1940. Your goal with a note is to cut down on feedback from anal-retentive readers bitching about some minor discrepancy.

You're a historian, eh? Knew I liked you for some reason. I've got a master's in contemporary US history and a membership in Phi Alpha Theta. Of course by now that history's become ancient.

Rumple Foreskin

bachelors in History from Moo U