Historical Fiction Panel - July 18, 2012 discussion
Research and Writing Process
I have never written a novel, but have often entertained the notion. Since my tastes have run to historical fiction for the last several years, I feel that would be my natural choice of genre. It has been my experience that the best historical fiction novels are obviously very well-researched, and while I enjoy research, I confess I'm a bit daunted and don't really know where to begin! To all the authors, how did you get started on your first historical fiction novel? What approaches/resources were most successful/least successful? Do you have any tips to pass along? How long do you typically spend on research before you start writing?
Thank you in advance for your comments!
I have written 8 historical novels and I find I love the research, especially since I am obsessed with English history. I usually have an idea about the lead characters and I just start writing and I do the research as the story unwinds. I usually have an idea of the time period, Victorian, Georgian etc but I may tweak the exact year depending on world events. I've even been known to change the date of a novel if I didn't like the style of dress in that time period! I always suggest to new writers-write! Just start pouring it out on the page and then get into the research as you go otherwise you'll never get started.
I would think writing historical fiction would be the hardest and most daunting task because of the research involved. I mean you would want to be as accurate as you need to be but then again, it is a work of fiction.In most of my novels, I may touch upon a certain time period but only for a chapter or two then I am right back to the present.
I do have a question: why historical fiction? I understand the appeal as a reader but what about as a writer?
To answer Ash - Some author said "Write what you want to read", and I believe that is why they write historical fiction - because that is what they want to read - what they had been reading until they started writing.I love historical fiction and romance, and any time I tried to write something else, it never worked. I am currently working on a historical fact/fiction book (based in part on a relative of my mother's), and it is flowing like crazy. The worst part of the process for me is the actual physical act of typing or writing - I can't get it out fast enough for my brain!
To Paula- That makes total sense. I do write what I want to read. I guess writing your own stories is wish fufillment in a way. Thanks for answering my question.
Paula wrote: "To answer Ash - Some author said "Write what you want to read", and I believe that is why they write historical fiction - because that is what they want to read - what they had been reading until t..."Lucky girl on the "can't get it out fast enough". Many authors suffer to the opposite problem. Just let it flow; you'll catch mistakes or weak areas on your rewrites.
Jess wrote: "I have never written a novel, but have often entertained the notion. Since my tastes have run to historical fiction for the last several years, I feel that would be my natural choice of genre. It h..."Hi Jess,
If you enjoy reading historicals you probably have a favourite time period. Narrow down a particular time in history that appeals and then I'd suggest reading a couple of social histories as these can provide fascinating anecdotes that can lead to story ideas as well as giving you a general 'feel' for the period.
I find that developing a story comes in incremental steps and that's usually the way I start my books.
The characters' conflicts are often suggested to me by the historical times in which they live. I'm careful not to give them 21st century sensibilities however it's often the contrast of their historical environment with ours that can provide the most fascinating ideas. For example, I love writing about women trapped by convention in a time when they had almost no legal rights.
Good luck!
Beverley Eikli
Jess wrote: "I have never written a novel, but have often entertained the notion. Since my tastes have run to historical fiction for the last several years, I feel that would be my natural choice of genre. It h..."Hi Jess.
It depends on the period, the length, and what matters in the story. It took me 7 years, from 2003-2011 to complete the first book in my Flower from Castile Trilogy. Research took a good chunk of that time, but I also traveled to Spain to see, feel and learn about the setting. Now that all the research has been completed, I can write Book II of the Trilogy within one year.
To fully answer your question, you can concentrate on less characters and less historical events. Although, you can't compromise veracity and quality of those historical events. I hope that helps.
Lilian Gafni
www.flowerfromcastile.com
I don't write fiction, but I read it to start the research process for whatever I'm looking for. I've done some writing but haven't "published" anything except on my blogs.
how important or necessary is travel when writing historical fiction? and how much liberty do you feel you can take when writing about a real person vs a completely fictional one?
Ivy wrote: "I don't write fiction, but I read it to start the research process for whatever I'm looking for. I've done some writing but haven't "published" anything except on my blogs."Ivy wrote: "I don't write fiction, but I read it to start the research process for whatever I'm looking for. I've done some writing but haven't "published" anything except on my blogs."
Hello Ivy,
There comes a time when we all have to take the plunge. Writing is a cathartic occupation. There's also more reward when you see it in print. If you feel you have something to say about your subject matter, then there's always someone looking to read that particular topic. Writing can be done for oneself, but there's also the satisfaction that it could be read. You may have something valuable to offer to readers.
Good luck and take that plunge!
Lilian Gafni
I'm working on a project that's kept me busy for more than two years now. Not historical though, it's more analytical.
I don't know if I could write fiction, as I only read it to put myself to sleep, or otherwise as the starting point for research. Because I'm interested in the European royals, have been since my teens, I work on my database, and read fiction about the characters to get them in perspective for my family tree. I recently got Alison Weir's royal history. I want to work through that one to fill in the gaps. I've never been good with fiction, as much as I read, I can't write it.
I don't know if I could write fiction, as I only read it to put myself to sleep, or otherwise as the starting point for research. Because I'm interested in the European royals, have been since my teens, I work on my database, and read fiction about the characters to get them in perspective for my family tree. I recently got Alison Weir's royal history. I want to work through that one to fill in the gaps. I've never been good with fiction, as much as I read, I can't write it.
Tara wrote: "how important or necessary is travel when writing historical fiction? and how much liberty do you feel you can take when writing about a real person vs a completely fictional one?"
I wish I could travel to visit all the palaces in Europe, but the cost is too much from South Africa, so I have to rely on what I find out through research and the internet is wonderful for images.
I wish I could travel to visit all the palaces in Europe, but the cost is too much from South Africa, so I have to rely on what I find out through research and the internet is wonderful for images.
Tara wrote: "how important or necessary is travel when writing historical fiction? and how much liberty do you feel you can take when writing about a real person vs a completely fictional one?"Travel is important and necessary if one can afford it. Having said that, when I wrote Hello Exile, I was asked if I had traveled on the Trans-Siberian Express. I did not. I read many volumes on the Soviet Union and Siberia and researched the topic thoroughly.
You can also use your imagination, for example, snow and blizzards are similar to all cold regions. With Siberia, however, a quick check online will give you temperatures, fauna, flora, etc.
When you write about real people in history, you must adhere to accurate, historical events. Sometimes there will be room to wiggle-in additional details. For example, feelings and thoughts of true historical characters can be imagined within the character's circumstances or moral character. Your character cannot become a gigolo overnight, nor go from a pious man or woman then suddenly commit a sinful crime, unless he/she had a traumatic experience or forced into a dead end. That's when conflict is exposed to test the character.
Good luck with your research.
Lilian Gafni
I have found my local librarian to be an invaluable resource when it comes to research. The internet only brings you so far. I usually perform some basic research and then begin writing. I can fill in more details with additional research as I go along.
Nearly thirty years spent as an analyst has given me a pretty deep well of esoteric knowledge to draw on. For instance, you’d be surprised how much I already knew about the history, culture and society of Afghanistan from my job, in addition to what I knew from being a fan of Kipling. I had to do very little additional research for the gun running flashback in The Reckoning. I did a lot of research for the parts of The Taker set in Maine pre-statehood. I found textbooks used by Maine colleges to teach state history. I also read everything I could get my hands on regarding prevailing views on sexuality and morality, two big issues in the book. I relied a lot on academic research.
Once I’m in the writing phase, I find that little things always pop up and take you out of the writing to chase down: what was a typical breakfast in colonial America? How long would it take to travel by wagon from Fort Kent to Bangor? Tracking down these types of questions invariably took the most time.
I feel as though I am sitting on top of a novel, as there was an interesting death that took place right on the road on which I live. And, the murder of the young woman caused people all around to take up arms and seek revenge. I love these books I read, as they may have changed history. I wonder how often writers come across pivotal moments, like mine, that stay with them.
Teri wrote: "I feel as though I am sitting on top of a novel, as there was an interesting death that took place right on the road on which I live. And, the murder of the young woman caused people all around to ..."Teri - That is exactly what happened to me. I had been doing family history research, working on my mother's side of the family, and came across a man with a very interesting story. I only was able to find out the general outline of his life, but that was enough. I only hope I am able to do him justice, and that my writing will impact others as his life has me.
I spend a long time reading, listening to lectures (thank you TED and BigThink!), traveling to the places where my characters will live and behave. It's important to me to have a blueprint of the story, a loose outline with the beginning, middle and end, the main characters, the historical events that my characters will live through. The research period is frustrating because I want to start writing but don't write actual chapters until I have the narrative voice clear in my head. Once I can hear the voices, I begin to write. The research and listening phase might last months, and in the case of CONQUISTADORA, it was years.
Jess wrote: "I have never written a novel, but have often entertained the notion. Since my tastes have run to historical fiction for the last several years, I feel that would be my natural choice of genre. It h..."I didn't think I'd ever write historical fiction, but in the process of learning more about Puerto Rico, where I was born, the characters that became the protagonists in CONQUISTADORA emerged as if they'd been waiting for me to become aware of them. The more I thought about them and their lives, the more research I had to do in order to learn about them. It was a fascinating, sometimes frustrating, always challenging process. But it was satisfying to finish a section or chapter and to realize that the history and the characters felt real to me. I recommend reading as much about the history you're interested in, and to imagine how the people of that period might have behaved.
Ash wrote: "I would think writing historical fiction would be the hardest and most daunting task because of the research involved. I mean you would want to be as accurate as you need to be but then again, it i..."Having written three memoirs, writing historical fiction was a big challenge because of the research. When you write memoir, you know what happened. When you write fiction, you're creating a world. And when you're writing in a historical time, there's the challenge of how accurate you want to be.
I chose to be as accurate as possible, because I'd found the events fascinating and wanted to share what I had learned. It was a different kind of challenge for me from the memoirs, not only because I was not writing about myself, but because the people I was writing about were so foreign from me and my experience.
Tara wrote: "how important or necessary is travel when writing historical fiction? and how much liberty do you feel you can take when writing about a real person vs a completely fictional one?"Hi Tara,
I found that spending time in the places where my characters lived helped me to know them better. I could look at the river than runs through Seville and, even though it looks very different now than in the mid-nineteenth century, I was inspired by things like the color of the water, the narrow streets of the old town, the climate. I could have imagined it, but I felt closer to the people I was creating.
Teri wrote: "I feel as though I am sitting on top of a novel, as there was an interesting death that took place right on the road on which I live. And, the murder of the young woman caused people all around to ..."Hi Teri,
Yes! It's so exciting to be working along on your story and then to come across an esoteric fact, or a little known moment or event. If I came across something that grabbed me, I noted it, and if stayed with me, I knew that it was important and that I should try to include it in the novel.
Teri wrote: "I feel as though I am sitting on top of a novel, as there was an interesting death that took place right on the road on which I live. And, the murder of the young woman caused people all around to ..."Teri, I think a lot of writers stumble across ideas for stories in exactly the way you mentioned. I was just in NYC for the annual convention of thriller writers (Thrillerfest) and heard similar stories left and right. My friend John Milliken Thompson fictionalized a death that occurred in 1885 in Richmond, VA to write The Reservoir, which went on to be a bestseller.
Teachers always told us to " write what we know " as historical fiction writers, do you te d to stay in time periods you loved studying about or have some background in? I think I'd be drawn to write about an era in which. I'd love to find myself. What are your thought s on writing from that which you know? (Beginning writers)
Jess wrote: "I have never written a novel, but have often entertained the notion. Since my tastes have run to historical fiction for the last several years, I feel that would be my natural choice of genre. It h..."Those are a HUGE number of questions, Jess! I will try and be succinct (but I'm no known for that in my family!). I was totally daunted when I decided to try and write A ROSE FOR THE CROWN. Never having been to university, I had never done more than write essays for homework at my boarding school, and our library was probably ten books strong ;-) so no footnotes, no research other than what was in our textbook or that subject or had been written on the blackboard. I bought myself a small plastic 3-x5 card file box and began to fill up cards on different people from the Wars of the Roses. Pretty soon that developed into an accordion-type file and now I have a huge filing cabinet filled with information on the medieval period that I have collected over the years. So, yes, I was very nervous about "research." How lucky I was to have landed on Long Island at this particular juncture when my husband moved jobs. I went in and out of NYC to the amazing public library and spent days and days rifling through their collection of 15th century English history. After six months of this, I asked my husband "how much research do you think I should do before I start writing?" He actually laughed. "I didn't like to say anything, because you are being so diligent, but judging by that bulging file, I think you might be ready to write!"
But key to starting to write a historical for me, Jess, is the walk every inch of where you will be writing about. So that does mean doing a lot of research before your trip -- I have actually had to go back to Belgium because I did not anticipate writing my third book THE KING'S GRACE when I was there researching for DAUGHTER OF YORK and missed some vital places for that third book (like Portugal and Scotland!) I like to see what my characters would have seen, although I admit I have a hard time seeing past 20th century buildings in many cases!
Teri wrote: "Teachers always told us to " write what we know " as historical fiction writers, do you te d to stay in time periods you loved studying about or have some background in? I think I'd be drawn to wri..."Good question Teri. Because I have always read historical fiction, I was not about to write anything other than that when I started thinking about writing a book. I do keep "write what you know" in mind a lot when I write. I have a funny story about that, if you will indulge me: After A ROSE FOR THE CROWN came out, my father in law took me aside and asked if I had written the sex scenes from experience. Of course, I was mortified, but I kept a straight face and replied "Well, Dad, I was always taught 'write what you know'" and he replied; "No wonder Scott walks around with a smile on his face." I am not kidding. This actually happened.
So as far as everyday experiences go, I would certainly draw on your own, but if you are passionate about medieval times, Roman times, REvolutionary War times, then I would start there and immerse yourself in the period. Then you will be able to "write what you know"!
After A ROSE FOR THE CROWN came out, my father in law took me aside and asked if I had written the sex scenes from experience. Omg, that's awful!!
I'm still laughing. Quite a father-in-law!!!
Ash wrote: "I would think writing historical fiction would be the hardest and most daunting task because of the research involved. I mean you would want to be as accurate as you need to be but then again, it i..."This is interesting, Ash. As I wrote to Teri, I knew that if I ever wrote a book it would be historical fiction because that's what I love to read. I think you have to have a love and not just an interest for the past to want to write about it. I think people can generally be put into three categories (wouldn't Jung love this!): those who look back with nostalgia and love to imagine living in the past (HF and fantasy); those who live for and in the here and now and feel comfortable reading about today (contemporary fiction); and those who look forward to whatever the future may hold for the world (sci-fi). Ever since I was a little girl, my daydreams had me running around castles and manor houses in long dresses. I never found the present very interesting and I still don't; and trying to imagine a world of robots, flying saucers and laser guns turns me off completely. So for me, as soon as I turn on my medieval music, shut my office door and start writing about those castles, ladies in long dresses and red and white roses, I am lost in time.
Teri wrote: "Teachers always told us to " write what we know " as historical fiction writers, do you te d to stay in time periods you loved studying about or have some background in? I think I'd be drawn to wri..."Great question, Teri. Yes, we're taught to write what we know, but some writers take that literally. It doesn't mean you write only about women if you're female. Or that you should only write about being poor if you grew up in an economically challenged family. Write what we know, I think, means to delve into your emotional knowledge, how you've experienced life, how to express anger, fear, love, envy, etc. Everything else can be researched.
In my novel, CONQUISTADORA, I was writing about slavery in Puerto Rico in the nineteenth century. While there were very few sources about the everyday lives of slaves, I have experienced humiliation, fear, claustrophobia, love for my spouse and children, a desire for independence and freedom. I am not a man, but have admired women who, to me, are beautiful. I also have experienced lust, and while I am heterosexual, I can imagine that love and lust are basic emotions regardless of gender or orientation. When I needed more information about, for example, sexual practices among Victorian era Spanish aristocrats, I had to read and look at things I would have never imagined existed. But I knew my characters, and tried to learn from them, which meant they taught me and the information I gleaned from the research added to the depth of their lives.
I write about Puerto Rico because I'm working out answers to my own questions about what it means to be a Puerto Rican who lives and works in the United States. I know what it feels to be that person, so from that perspective, I'm writing about what I know. But as above, there is more I have to learn in order to create characters who are not me, who can express what I know and what I've learned through the lens of their experience, whether it's about their historical reality, the work they did, their dreams and aspirations, what they hated and what they loved. Quite often they knew more than I did, and learning about them was the most rewarding and fascinating aspect of this experience.
Anne- Everyone in the doctor glanced up as I laughed aloud! A toast to you this evening.
Tara wrote: "how important or necessary is travel when writing historical fiction? and how much liberty do you feel you can take when writing about a real person vs a completely fictional one?"Hi Tara, for me it's vital and I couldn't write without it. Travel gives me a sense of place and insight into my character. When I go where they were born, and stand where they stood, and see what they saw (sometimes - when development hasn't obliterated the view!) scenes come to me, and I always return with a greater sense of the person I'm about to write about.
Patrick wrote: "I imagine with any work of historical fiction there's a fair amount of research involved. How much research do you do for your books? And when do you know when it's time to stop researching and sta..."What a great question, Patrick. I love the research part and keep reading and visiting sites until I feel I have a good handle on the historical figure and their story. That's when I sit down and write.
Tara wrote: "how important or necessary is travel when writing historical fiction? and how much liberty do you feel you can take when writing about a real person vs a completely fictional one?"Hi Tara, I might be in the minority on this questions, too, because of my background in intelligence, you can't always have first-hand experience and get to be quite expert at gathering information from afar. For this reason I don't worry too much about writing about places I haven't seen in person. You can find an amazing amount of information, pictures, etc. on line, of course. Though I was able to make a research trip to Florence recently for my third book, THE DESCENT, and I must say it made a huge difference making things come to life for me. Now I can see why books set in Paris are so popular among writers. :-)
Jess wrote: "I have never written a novel, but have often entertained the notion. Since my tastes have run to historical fiction for the last several years, I feel that would be my natural choice of genre. It h..."Hi Jess, I love the research too, like Therese. I started writing historical fiction because I became enamored of a politically maligned historical figure and had to give his side of the story. In other words, I became a participant of the Wars of the Roses on the Yorkist side. That’s how I started. As far as resources go, university libraries, museums, documentaries, and trips to the places associated with my story are vital resources. Tips? Begin with what’s in your heart. If you don’t, your book won’t have soul.
Ash wrote: "To Paula- That makes total sense. I do write what I want to read. I guess writing your own stories is wish fufillment in a way. Thanks for answering my question."Ash, wish-fulfillment? Yes, and no- how many times have I wished I could change the ending!
Tara wrote: "how important or necessary is travel when writing historical fiction? and how much liberty do you feel you can take when writing about a real person vs a completely fictional one?"Hi Tara, for me it's vital and I couldn't write without it. Travel gives me a sense of place and insight into my character. When I go where they were born, and stand where they stood, and see what they saw (sometimes - when development hasn't obliterated the view!) scenes come to me, and I always return with a greater sense of the person I'm about to write about.
Ivy wrote: "Tara wrote: "how important or necessary is travel when writing historical fiction? and how much liberty do you feel you can take when writing about a real person vs a completely fictional one?"Hi Tara, for me it's vital and I couldn't write without it. Travel gives me a sense of place and insight into my character. When I go where they were born, and stand where they stood, and see what they saw (sometimes - when development hasn't obliterated the view!) scenes come to me, and I always return with a greater sense of the person I'm about to write about.
Many authors of historical novels include in their acknowledgments people who helped the author with the historical accuracy of some particular aspect of the novel - the dress, food, religious practices, politics. At what point is this person brought into the writing of the novel? How does the author find these experts? Does the author take the expert at his or her word on suggestions to improve the accuracy or does the expert point the author in the direction for further research? I'm a behind-the-scenes kind of a person, so I'd like to know more about the working relationship between the author these people.
Sandra wrote: "Ivy wrote: "Tara wrote: "how important or necessary is travel when writing historical fiction? and how much liberty do you feel you can take when writing about a real person vs a completely fiction..."I'll first of all agree with Sandra re: travel. Vital for me! I know some authors have never set foot in the country they are writing about and I don't know if a reader can spot that or not. I just know I am such a visual person, I have to see my characters walking down a certain street and into a certain church and so I must go and see it for myself. However, there are times (like in A ROSE FOR THE CROWN) where I had to invent a house for Kate's husband's family to have lived in (no historical evidence of that particular family) and so I physically drew it so my characters consistently walked into the right room from the preceding one!
As for your second question: I invent a few characters to flesh out the real ones, but as much as I can read into a character from the history and the documents we have from that period about them, I form a character. Of course, all conversations and thoughts are my imaginings--but I often use real letters in my books.
Robin wrote: "Many authors of historical novels include in their acknowledgments people who helped the author with the historical accuracy of some particular aspect of the novel - the dress, food, religious prac..."Such a good question, Robin. As I go about my travels, which will include castles, museums, libraries, archives etc. if someone has been of special help, like the historian at Dublin Castle who went into their archives before I ever came for the visit to give me photocopies of a plan of the medieval castle, and information about Richard of York's tenure there as viceroy, then I acknowledge him or her. I like to acknowledge people who have helped me make those journeys to remote locations or put me up for nothing, even if they didn't necessarily contribute to my knowledge. It's my way of saying thank you. I have a friend who plays medieval and renaissance music for a living and she helped me with A ROSE FOR THE CROWN. I think she qualifies as an expert--certainly enough for an historical novel, don't you? (Without mentioning her music scholarship and degrees!)
Teri wrote: "Anne- Everyone in the doctor glanced up as I laughed aloud! A toast to you this evening."Hey, glad I can bring a little levity to this very earnest discussion group ;-) Someone has to do it, and it usually falls to a Brit!
Patrick wrote: "I imagine with any work of historical fiction there's a fair amount of research involved. How much research do you do for your books? And when do you know when it's time to stop researching and sta..."I’m always researching, even when I’m writing. It’s hard to say exactly how long it takes because I’ve been studying much of my subject matter since I was a boy, long before I thought I’d publish a novel. So, in a way, my research has been going on for many years, and when a subject comes up, it’s a matter of refreshing and deepening my focus. When I’m starting to work on a project, I do spend at least two months developing a psychological / emotional blueprint for my characters, after the bulk of the main research is done. I’m also the kind of writer who researches as I go; I cram enough in to start, and when I hit a block or obstacle, I return to my sources for inspiration. But I do have to know enough about the character’s inner life first: I have to know who she is when she starts her story and who she’ll be when it ends. Facts are easy enough: she was born on X date, she went here on X date, this happened, then that happened, etc. How she felt is a different matter.
Jess wrote: "I have never written a novel, but have often entertained the notion. Since my tastes have run to historical fiction for the last several years, I feel that would be my natural choice of genre. It h..."I just plunged into my first novel; looking back, I think I was pretty brash. Or naive! The research overwhelmed me at first; I found out about six months into it that I literally had enough material to write four novels! It affected the book, too; I ended up writing an opus that required serious editing. But it's how I learned and everything I found out in my research has seeped into other books I've written. With true research, very little is wasted. I think my best advice would be to not let it be daunting; start small, with biographies, accounts of the period. Gradually move from secondary sources to primary ones (the actual documents of the era, if available); often, secondary sources will give you a better idea of what you'd like to find in primary sources, if that makes any sense?
Ash wrote: "I would think writing historical fiction would be the hardest and most daunting task because of the research involved. I mean you would want to be as accurate as you need to be but then again, it i..."For me, the appeal is that I'm fascinated by hidden stories within history. It's often less about what is known and more about what is not. For me writing historical fiction is a bit like being a detective; I have to piece together the past into a cohesive whole. Also, unlike non-fiction, I must make decisions. I can't waver; I can't write, "Isabella agreed to the Inquisition but we really don't know why." I have to show the reader why. It's challenging and rewarding.
Tara wrote: "how important or necessary is travel when writing historical fiction? and how much liberty do you feel you can take when writing about a real person vs a completely fictional one?"I answered this on another thread, I think :) For me, travel is essential: I need to see the landscape and the places, even if much has changed, as it often has. With a real person, I confine liberties I take to what is plausible and likely; I can't, for example, change the particular way a character acts if it was established in the historical record that he or she did that. With fictional characters, I must stay true to the era in which they live, but I do feel as though I can develop them more along whatever lines I feel best suited to the story. For example, in my Spymaster series, the lead character, Brendan, is fictional. He is a Tudor man but he's also an exile, a shadow on the edges of his world: he's not like everyone else.
Teri wrote: "I feel as though I am sitting on top of a novel, as there was an interesting death that took place right on the road on which I live. And, the murder of the young woman caused people all around to ..."Just the way you described it, Teri. Something stays with you: it gets into your soul and you can't shake it. That is the seed of why we write a story.
Hi Christopher! Here's a question that popped into my head since I know you're working on Lucrezia Borgia, and I think the other ladies here have had a similar dilemma:Let's say you're writing about a historical figure who is controversial in some way, or about whom conflicting information is known. Like Lucrezia: you can make a case that she was an innocent pawn in a powerful family, yet all these rumors of incest and poison abound. Do you consider it your job as a writer to try to find the truth about that character (or as much of the truth as you can), and present it in your book? Or are you willing to slant your portrayal in the direction will serve your storyline? (Not to change historical facts that are known, but to pick and choose the facts that support the slant you want when those facts are conflicting.)
I've been chewing on this question since talking with Stephanie Dray about her portrayal of Empress Livia as a baddie - she admitted that it's perfectly possible Livia was a good woman, and that the historical rumors swirling around her were just rumors. But her story needed a baddy, so she decided to go with the negative data that survives about Livia.
Historical Fiction Panel - July 18, 2012
Books mentioned in this topic
Before Versailles: A Novel of Louis XIV (other topics)Through a Glass Darkly (other topics)
Through a Glass Darkly (other topics)
Now Face to Face (other topics)
If you have any other questions about the authors' writing process, please feel free to ask them in this thread!