Get It Right

[J.R.]

If you use history in your story, it's your responsibility to get it right. I'm guesting on the topic with the prolific mystery writer Marilyn Meredith. Comment welcome. http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com/2...

[Wayne]

Nice post, JR. You certainly got the time and place down in your book. Something So Divine is a good read.

[Jay]

J.R. wrote: "If you use history in your story, it's your responsibility to get it right. I'm guesting on the topic with the prolific mystery writer Marilyn Meredith. Comment welcome. http://marilynmeredith.blog..."

On the whole, I agree with you. It's annoying to have obvious historical errors arise in a novel. However, I can think of one obvious exception to the rule, the alternate universe story (sci-fi, and often a mystery). When you take a historical event and alter the outcome intentionally, there's no telling where it might lead.

[J.R.]

Wayne wrote: "Nice post, JR. You certainly got the time and place down in your book. Something So Divine is a good read."

Thanks, Wayne.

[K.D.]

If you are writing history or historical fiction then you need to stay true to the period, anything else I think you have a wider latitude.

[J.R.]

K.D. wrote: "If you are writing history or historical fiction then you need to stay true to the period, anything else I think you have a wider latitude."

Readers will be sure to tell you if you stray.