bookish_magpie asked Vicky Alvear Shecter:

Greetings Mrs. Shecter! I thoroughly enjoy Classics (it's my college major) and have loved both of your books. I also enjoy writing and story-telling. My question is more writing-themed, such as: How can you write an accurate story without bogging the readers down in the details of "this is how Roman houses were built/etc"? Any tips on keeping this delicate balance will be greatly appreciated! Thank you very much!

Vicky Alvear Shecter Hi WittySofa! (Great name)

I'm so glad you've enjoyed my books! Your question is an important one and I think all historical fiction writers struggle with this. After all, we wouldn't write about other time periods if we weren't completely enthralled with them and all their strange, delicious details!

Here's one rule: If the detail would not be of interest to or new to your character, don't include it. That sounds simple on the surface, but it's not. For example, if your character is a builder or an architect, then he might very well ruminate about how houses are built or notice architectural elements. But if he or she isn't, then you can't remark on it or include details about it because those little details are likely invisible to him or her. I know--ouch!

If you've read Robert Harris's POMPEII, then you know that the main character spends A LOT (some say too much) time thinking about pipes and wells and aquafers--but we forgive him because he is a water engineer. As an aquarius, that's his job, so he's allowed to be a "nerd" about it--in fact, it's expected!

Clearly Harris was fascinated by Rome's aqueducts, so he conveniently made his MC an expert so he could indulge in sharing some of the fascinating facts. So that's one solution--if you are fascinated by something, make your main character someone who does that work. That's a little more difficult if your character is a woman since women were forbidden from so much in the Roman world, but there are ways around that. For example, if you are fascinated by the painters of frescoes and your character is a girl, make her father or brother a fresco painter, giving her the opportunity to tag along to sites and learn the craft. Maybe she becomes a great master but has to pretend a male relative is doing the work and shenanigans ensue (I would read that!).

Another thing to remember is that most of what we find extraordinary would be absolutely ordinary to them. So while we may be shocked about public latrines where everyone "shares a bench," your character wouldn't think twice about it! You can draw attention to such fascinating details by making something unusual happen--such as someone runs out with the sponge-on-a-stick they use to wipe themselves with. Then your character would notice! But again, if it isn't somehow related to the main story, you're going to have to cut it.

One last example. When I was researching for my novel set in Pompeii, I was tickled/horrified to learn that there were many graffiti and official signs warning the locals to "not defecate here." Who knew public defecation was a problem? That detail cracked me up, but I couldn't make a big deal of it, not only because apparently it was common place, but also, it would set up the reader to worry about or look for a scene where she might step in it. I did manage to sneak in a mention, though, when she was hurrying through the city as she reminded herself to watch where she stepped. But overall, unless a detail plays a part in the growth of the character or the advancement of the plot, you've got to avoid it.

I hope this helps!

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