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| Image - Morguefile.com |
As an author, a question I occasionally encounter is, “Why do you write stories with historical settings instead of contemporary stories?”
My superficial answer is I’m drawn to the Old West, Roaring Twenties, and 1950s, because I'm a history nerd with a particular interest in these time periods, and also because writing stories in any historical setting feeds my nerdiness.
The serious reasons are these.
Reason 1—Research
Every historical I write allows me to tumble down research rabbit holes. I’ve discovered the most intriguing and amazing tidbits of history in my research Wonderland. It’s important to me to have the details in my stories as historically accurate, but I temper the accuracy with the need to tell a good story. I am, after all, writing fiction as entertainment, not creating a historical documentary.
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| Image Fotolia.com |
Reason 2—Living vicariously in the past
While I’m writing a story set in the past, I get to travel to a different place and time and live in someone else’s shoes and view the world through their eyes and perspectives. I’m like Anthony Marston in Quigley Down Under: “…Some men [women] are born in the wrong century.” I’m on an adventure that can take me anywhere I want to go.
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| Alan Rickman | Anthony Marston - Image courtesy IMDb |
Reason 3—Challenge of overcoming inconveniences
I like writing stories that lack modern day conveniences. Without the amenities we’re accustomed to nowadays, there are so many juicy complications for the characters to face, deal with, and overcome that otherwise could be written away with a call on the cell phone or by hopping an airplane.
I get a little giddy imagining the possibilities...
*Contraception: Without our modern-day contraceptives, the possibility of pregnancy looms in historical stories as an ever-present consequence of a romantic dalliance. This is a great plot device for building the emotional tension between the hero and heroine. Fear of out-of-wedlock pregnancy and the real threat of dying in childbirth both add another layer of anxiety to the romantic relationship.
*Communication: When the hero and heroine have to depend upon letter writing and telegraph messages, both of which were slow (relatively speaking) and could more easily be intercepted or even lost, the villain has the opportunity to weasel his way into the heroine’s life and console her. Perhaps the heroine thinks the hero jilted her at the altar when he doesn’t show up for their wedding when actually the villain intercepted the telegram, which explains the legitimate reason for the hero’s delay.
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| Morse Key and Sounder image courtesy Wikipedia HERE |
*Transportation: Transportation wasn’t necessarily convenient or terribly comfortable. Horseback riding was functional, but for long periods of time over great distances is exhausting and full of plot-enhancing dangers and challenges. Stagecoach travel was cramped, dirty/dusty, really hot/really cold, and could be dangerous. It lacked privacy that women need. Obtaining a decent meal could be an on-going problem. Generally, stage travel was a grueling test of endurance. Traveling by train was limited to where the tracks were laid, and it shared many of the same drawbacks as stage travel, plus the additional discomfort of soot and cinders coming into the passenger cars. After all, the heroine might be kidnapped by a drop-dead handsome train robber or find herself stranded on the Texas prairie with nothing but a scoundrel of a gambler as her companion along with the one surviving horse from the stagecoach team after the Comanche attack.
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| Image - Fotolia.com |
My questions to you...
Authors of historical romances: What would you add? What draws you to your historical writing?
Readers of historical romances: What is it about historical romances appeals to you?
Until next time,
Kaye Spencer
Stay in contact with Kaye
I like writing in the same time periods as you, Kaye. I agree with you about most of my reasons for writing historical stories, (research being the most enjoyable), but I think the past seems so peaceful than the hectic, anxiety-ridden present. When I'm researching and writing historical stories I feel my spirit become quiet and settled.
ReplyDeleteI felt very connected to what you had to say in this post, Kaye. Well done.
Sarah,
DeleteThank you for your kind words. You're always to supportive. *hugs*
Kaye,
ReplyDeleteYou've hit all the reasons I like writing historical romance as well. :-)
Kristy,
DeleteThere's a fine line between writing stories with a historical setting and actually wanting to live in those historical settings. lol I'd miss many of our modern conveniences, even though I don't mind making my characters do without them. Thanks for stopping in.
I love writing in the past because of all these reasons. On top of that there are social restrictions which put barriers between people in a way which doesn't happen now, and that brings conflicts we don't encounter. And those who break down those barriers tend to be mavericks, and they're always fun to write about.
ReplyDeleteC.A.,
DeleteI am so glad you added the social restrictions. I definitely will add that to my reasons. (You gave me an a-ha moment. lol) It is fun to break down those social barriers with the woman-gone-rouge against societal norms. She walks a tightrope of being progressive or being committed. lol
I studied the Victorian novel in graduate school, and as it turns out, my teaching and my professional research have moved in a different direction. Writing historical fiction -- and I tend to stick with the 19th century, in a variety of locations -- is a way of getting back to that reading and research that I loved, as well as exercising my imagination in a different way. Or, to put it briefly, as you say -- I'm a history nerd. ;-)
ReplyDeleteCate,
DeleteStudying the Victorian novel--- Wow. ;-) You have insights and perspectives of the 19th century woman that adds layers and depth to your stories. Thanks for commenting.
Excellent post, Kaye. I agree--so many possibilities and I love each and every one of them. I think for one thing, the freedom we are allowed in historical fiction is just wonderful. Although we do have historical facts to guide us, our characters can be from so many different backgrounds, and face so many obstacles that we can only imagine the ways they might have handled such circumstances, and that's fascinating. Thinking, for instance, of how they might have faced a tornado's devastation, or an unchecked fire that could burn for miles and miles--there is no living person to tell us firsthand about those kinds of events so our imaginations run wild with those and so many other scenarios. I love writing historical romance!
ReplyDeleteCheryl,
DeleteSo true. And how they handled diseases without the knowledge and resources we have now. Scary yet fascinating with, as you said, so many possibilities.
You've covered all the bases, Kaye. One of the things I like best, especially when writing American historical, is developing a great admiration and appreciation for our country and the forefathers who had great visionary talents.
ReplyDeleteBecky,
DeleteOoh... you make a good point that hadn't occurred to me. I'm going to think about this. I like it a lot. Thanks for commenting.
Love your blog, Kaye. I didn't realize I was drawn to historical writing until an author friend had an aha moment and realized my writing style leaned to historicals. Growing up, I read children's detective stories, then Nancy Drew and later Perry Mason, but in my very late teens I switched to Frank Yerby, Jean Plaidy and Georgette Heyer. And then I discovered the Angelique series and I was hooked. I think there's some truth to you write what you like. I think I fell in love with an age or elegance unfamiliar to me but one I was drawn to, and of course I was too naive to realize the horrible living conditions for the poor. I love my modern conveniences but in my heart I'm a throw-back to those more gracious, elegant times. So, perhaps in addition to all the points you made, Kaye, I live in history vicariously through my writing. Does that make sense?
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, It does make sense. I live vicariously through my writing, also. ;-)
DeleteBrilliant blog, Kaye!
ReplyDeleteI love writing historicals for the scope, the high stakes and the romance - even a romance where mud and fleas may be involved!
Kaye, well said and all true. I also enjoy writing set back in the time. For me, it's the finding of unexpected characters who defied or were in reality the convention, instead of the 'rule' written later in time. (I know, I'm stubborn that way. *Grin*) Doris
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ReplyDeleteI love reading and escaping into the complex simpleness of that time frame. Yes, they didn't have the conveniences of today, but they also didn't have the same first world stresses either. I also think respect and honor were more prevalent and is generally missing in our society today.
ReplyDeletePlus, as much as a pitb it might have been, I love the dresses! haha!
So, I'm curious.... did you write this story? Because I like the sounds of this! lol "Perhaps the heroine thinks the hero jilted her at the altar when he doesn’t show up for their wedding when actually the villain intercepted the telegram, which explains the legitimate reason for the hero’s delay."