DISCUSSION -- August 2015 75-word Writing Challenge

I was just wondering what would happen if i don't follow the order.
Insubordination,sure,but what of this "keep a straight course ahead" insanity?
I feel a personal responsibilty.
My captain taps me on the shoulder "Don't even think about it".
Those icebergs look menacing.
But then again,they say she's unsinkable.
First navigator McIntyre,aboard the "Titanic" ,signing off
 
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Parson said:
I am having trouble attaching history to some of the stories. It was my understanding that historical fiction had to have a basis in "real" history, and either some of the settings are very obscure (at least to me) or they are more what I would alternative history.
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I simply put some 1800s civil war vibe into my story, without any research, and hoped it would be old-timey enough to sneak past the "genre-nazis" :D. Just how accurate does historical fiction need to be?? Do the characters need to have existed in real life?

ratsy said:
I had used Wikipedia to look up Historical Fiction, and it listed Alternate History and Historical Fantasy as sub-genres, so I figured that would still fall within the genre for the challenge.
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This. I wasn't aware of this, but now that you said it, I'll be its most passionate advocate, as if I had always known. In fact, I'll stick with "I've known this all along, and have written my story with this information in mind. I've hit the genre nail on the head, as far as I'm concerned". :lol::lol::lol:
 
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Ihe said:
I simply put some 1800s civil war vibe into my story, without any research, and hoped it would be old-timey enough to sneak past the "genre-nazis" :D. Just how accurate does historical fiction need to be?? Do the characters need to have existed in real life?
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Parson grumbles at being called a "genre-nazi." Sees the smiley and decides it really doesn't matter. Historical fiction does not have to be very accurate in my view. What I look for is a setting that is in touch with historical realities. The characters do not have existed but those who did are fair game as well. For me the setting and the technology have to fit the historical period. If they do not for me that pushes the story into Alt. History, which as Ratsy points out via Wiki, that this is a form of Historical fiction. Not absolutely buying that, but will yield to those who are much more knowledgeable than I.
 
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Ah, Parson.
The problem you have is that almost everyone is going to feel a bit targetted by your description, because eveyone bends the criteria a bit in order to write something interesting.

In my own case I knew I was stretching both the genre and the theme to the limit and beyond but it was only meant (hopefully) to raise a smile. Votes etc are out of the question.
So maybe your best bet is to say "It was that expletive Farntfar wot dun it!" and I will happily cry Mea Culpa and everyone else can feel unthreatened.
 
farntfar said:
In my own case I knew I was stretching both the genre and the theme to the limit and beyond but it was only meant (hopefully) to raise a smile. Votes etc are out of the question.
So maybe your best bet is to say "It was that expletive Farntfar wot dun it!" and I will happily cry Mea Culpa and everyone else can feel unthreatened.
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I believe that dubious crown maybe mine though. Unless you've out done for the most tenuos of links.

/Goes away to check

Edit: close call. Maybe we should have our own poll?
 
:):):):) Are we now all going to clamour to be the most guilty?


edit. But yes. It may be a toss-up.
 
Seeing as how both of ours are so far back who's to say that they are not both historically accurate... said with tongue very firmly in cheek
 
I actually wondered whether mine was historical enough to count as Historical Fiction, the other nuances of the genre I figured I had covered.
 
Mr Orange said:
@Parson, historical fiction is whatever you interpret it to be, and you can judge stories accordingly :)
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Ah yes, judge, jury, and executioner. I should fair well in that role. ...... NOT!!!! But I do appreciate the freedom it gives me.

farntfar said:
In my own case I knew I was stretching both the genre and the theme to the limit and beyond but it was only meant (hopefully) to raise a smile. Votes etc are out of the question.
So maybe your best bet is to say "It was that expletive Farntfar wot dun it!" and I will happily cry Mea Culpa and everyone else can feel unthreatened.
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A good Parson, which I aim to be, would never say that expeletive farnfar.... Why would anyone swear? Especially to point a finger when pointing a finger always means you have move pointing back at yourself, and probably rightly so.
 
I'm really loving the stories this month.

Someone's gonna have to write a cracker to dissuade me from voting for one of the two I absolutely love right now :D :)
 
:) There's always a fresh supply of crackers coming along, Vaz! (I often end up supplying the cheese.:)) CC
 
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Mmmm, I don't really read much Historical fiction. So I thought I'd go safe and pick an event that might have happened...
 
I think mine was very safe, the fiction was only in the characters thinking and motivation, but the man and the event obviously happened ;).

No idea if it was actually good or not but that would be for others to decide!
 
Cascade said:
I actually wondered whether mine was historical enough to count as Historical Fiction, the other nuances of the genre I figured I had covered.
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I considered writing a story about science history and even briefly wondered whether a story about New Horizons could be considered historical. Do current events count as history, if they are sufficiently momentous? The jury seems to be out on that question.
http://www.historyextra.com/feature/when-does-history-end

I'm still hoping that somebody will write a science history story.
 
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