(no subject)
Dec. 21st, 2005 11:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
xenithOne thing I can't bring myself to do is write stories in real, historical settings. I get hung on getting everything write. Everything.
For example, one story starts with two characters going to a dinner party -- what are they wearing? how do they get there? who greets them at the door? what do they do inside? what are they eating? what is discussed over dinner? arck. This is just first scene
So I can do research and find out what they wear, but is that what they wear to dinner parties? and would they wear it in this particular time and place, and... Bah. Anyway, the roughed out story is too long so I shelved it.
Instead I use bits and pieces of real places and make up my own worlds where I can decide what they'll wear to dinner parties because I say so.
But I wonder about peopel who do write in real times & places. How much research do they do? Do they just include those details that they know? Create enough of the illusion, so the reader believes the rest is real? Cross figners and hope it's all right? Be arrogant enough to assume that you know it all and run with that?
For example, one story starts with two characters going to a dinner party -- what are they wearing? how do they get there? who greets them at the door? what do they do inside? what are they eating? what is discussed over dinner? arck. This is just first scene
So I can do research and find out what they wear, but is that what they wear to dinner parties? and would they wear it in this particular time and place, and... Bah. Anyway, the roughed out story is too long so I shelved it.
Instead I use bits and pieces of real places and make up my own worlds where I can decide what they'll wear to dinner parties because I say so.
But I wonder about peopel who do write in real times & places. How much research do they do? Do they just include those details that they know? Create enough of the illusion, so the reader believes the rest is real? Cross figners and hope it's all right? Be arrogant enough to assume that you know it all and run with that?
no subject
Date: 2005-12-21 09:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-23 08:11 am (UTC)That is what I was finding. At one point, I knew more about Hobart in the 1820s than any sensible person ever needs to know, but you think I could use that to write fiction?
(I've forgotten most of it now, maybe I should try again)
I always find myself wondering about accuracy if I'm reading/watching anything historical :\