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12-08-2006, 08:34 AM
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#1
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Profound Writer
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,118
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historical or contemporary?
If the story in my novel was from the late 60,s would that be a historical
or contemporary novel? How much time has to pass before it is considered
historical? I know every second that passes is considered in our past, it is our history, right? Does one hundred years have to pass or one day?
Last edited by terrib : 12-08-2006 at 08:43 AM.
Reason: spelling
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12-08-2006, 12:32 PM
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#2
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Wordsmith
Join Date: Sep 2004
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some say 50 years is enough to qualify as historical fiction... others, 100... still others say it only needs to be set in any time that predates the lifetime of the author... take your pick...
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12-08-2006, 01:51 PM
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#3
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Writing Machine
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Canada, and proud of it EH!
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its more opinion i guess. You're the author, you should decide.
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12-08-2006, 03:39 PM
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#4
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Profound Writer
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
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well, I don't want to give away my age, but I guess it will be historical!
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12-08-2006, 03:41 PM
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#5
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Profound Writer
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
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A canuck, eh? well since I am married to one, I understand.
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12-08-2006, 04:55 PM
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#6
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Profound Writer
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ireland
Gender: Male
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Well I've never thought of the Bond novels as historical fiction, so I don't see why yours should be.
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12-08-2006, 05:09 PM
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#7
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Scribe
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Alabama
Gender: Male
Posts: 75
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I think 100 years would be historical enough. contemporary is like the past 50 years. Something like 1900 would be historical, right? but the 60's were only a few decades ago, so i would say contemporary.
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12-09-2006, 02:24 AM
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#8
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: South-east UK
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Does it matter?
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12-09-2006, 06:27 AM
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#9
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Writing Machine
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Mike C
Does it matter?
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indeed
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12-09-2006, 07:01 AM
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#10
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Profound Writer
Join Date: Dec 2006
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MIke, it doesn't matter to me, but the publisher is the one wanting to know, so yes I guess it matters.
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12-09-2006, 11:00 AM
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#11
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Wordsmith
Join Date: Sep 2004
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you don't have to use a label with the publisher... just say it's 'set in the 60s' and let them decide what to call it...
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For 100% free writing help/mentoring:
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"You must BE the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi
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12-09-2006, 01:34 PM
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#12
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Prolific Writer
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 469
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Period
I would have thought it would be called a 'Period' novel. I thought a historical novel was something like Colleen McCollough's Rome series where you take real events and real people and and fill in the gaps in history with fantasy (in a way that sounds believable). If, for instance you wrote a story about Bill Clinton and Monica and there were a lot of facts surrounding them like Iraq and a lot of characters like George W. , set in the mid-nineties, but you'd filled in the gaps with fiction, it would still be called a historical novel. Making up a totally fictious book set in 15th century Scotland with totally fictitious characters would be called a period novel- not historical. I'm only 80 percent sure of this. So if your novel is just one set in the sixties it is a Period novel.
Regards
Dennis.
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12-10-2006, 05:02 AM
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#13
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: South-east UK
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by terrib
MIke, it doesn't matter to me, but the publisher is the one wanting to know, so yes I guess it matters.
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If your publisher is asking YOU, they aren't much of a publisher, methinks.
Why not ask them how they'd prefer to market it?
Last edited by Mike C : 12-10-2006 at 05:05 AM.
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