Historical Fictionistas discussion

Hello, everyone!

First of all, I have greatly enjoyed being here, and my TBR list keeps growing! ;)

I'm a writer, and as I work on my stories I'm thinking about what people nowadays really look for in a good historical novel - especially because all the ones I read when I was younger were written over a hundred years ago. I thought this would be a great discussion here. So, I would love to hear everyone's thoughts and opinions on what makes a good HF novel in today's world!

Firstly, what kind of historical do you prefer? Adventure? Romance? WWII? Suspense? Ancient? Medieval? Etc...

Then, what do you look for in a HF novel? What gets you excited to read it? What makes you fall in love with the story?

And, on the flip side, what frustrations do you come across when you look for - or read - a historical novel? What makes you put down the book in frustration?

Thank you so much! I'm super excited to read everyone's thoughts on this! (:

I am tired of depressing HF. I realize those are the easy stories to tell because of the challenges to character and survival. Tired of WW2 period pieces. Need outstanding writing. Tired of the switching back and forth between past and present.

I would agree with Susan that WWII seems especially overdone (and I've quite had my fill of Rome as well). However, I'm a fan of those older historical settings, a la Daughter of Sand and Stone or The Secret History: A Novel of Empress Theodora.

I don't mind multiple POVs or dual timelines as long as they're equally compelling, or dovetail in such a way as to prove their necessity.

I've come to the realization that I tend toward one of two avenues when it comes to what I think of as a "good" historical fiction book - either a) a time period/setting with a lot of blank space and thus ample area to (plausibly) fictionalize to your heart's content, or b) sticking as close to the facts as one can with one or two major differences for plot purposes.

Those are great thoughts! I agree that it seems like WWII can be too overdone.

Agree about WWII, but I'm not sure the big publishers are tired of it yet!

I think historical fiction readers each have their own favorite era, whether it's Tudor England, Regency, Civil War, France, or the ancient world. Myself, I prefer older periods (ancient and medieval) but I'm willing to try other eras if a friend recommends it.

I like to learn something when I read so if it is a good story, I'll be happy to learn about that time period. I really hate it when it is not researched well and is anachronistic.

Cristiana wrote: "Hello, everyone!

First of all, I have greatly enjoyed being here, and my TBR list keeps growing! ;)

I'm a writer, and as I work on my stories I'm thinking about what people nowadays really look f..."

Hello Cristiana, very interesting tread and smart questions from an author to readers !

These are my answers :

1) "Firstly, what kind of historical do you prefer? Adventure? Romance? WWII? Suspense? Ancient? Medieval? Etc..."

Since I love history I like to read several eras, alternating Victorian, Regency, medieval, eighteenth century, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s periods... each era has its own charm both in the events and in the historical characters that characterized them and also in the fashion of clothing and architecture (therefore the scenario that is described).
It is up to the author to study the era he is talking about carefully and make the reader perceive the atmosphere and ideology of that time. The beautiful things of that era and the dangers or hardships that that type of society faced in that historical moment.

I rarely include the 60s, 70s, 80s, because I still perceive them as modern contemporaries (I was born in '71... probably those born in the 2000s consider the 70s prehistory, but not for me)


2) Then, what do you look for in a HF novel? What gets you excited to read it? What makes you fall in love with the story?

What makes me fall in love with the story are 3 things mainly:
_ the characters _ physical description is not enough, I need to see them in my mind thanks to the description of their gestures, facial expressions, way of thinking and their type of reaction to events.
If I like the characters temperamentally and become attached to them as if they were friends, I will also want to read the next book in the series.

___ plausible stories __ the story of the characters in the book involves me if it is plausible, therefore if it contains difficulties and delays as it could be in reality and if it is not predictable, but full of twists and turns, be it a romance novel or a mystery or a story of redemption or resilience and rebirth.

__ historical scenario __ a historical fiction in my opinion must contain historical details that qualify that the novel takes place in that historical era.
As a reader I like to have details that make me feel and breath the atmosphere of that particular time.
In some fiction such as cozy mysteries I am satisfied with more superficial details (clothing, objects in use in that era, entertainment and customs of that period), in other more intense novels I like to have notions about important historical events and real historical figures existed mixed with fictional characters.

3) And, on the flip side, what frustrations do you come across when you look for - or read - a historical novel? What makes you put down the book in frustration?

I usually get nervous and don't finish a book when:
__ the protagonists are too presumptuous or the author wants to make them too likable by forcing the ironic jokes too much.
Or when the characters are so frivolous that they border on stupidity.
(for each of the things I wrote I have examples of titles)
__ there are too many descriptive pages regarding the clothes, places, people, events and the author derails from the actual subject of the plot (mystery or love story or goal that the protagonists must achieve).

__ when there is no suspense, the plot could be interesting, but it is all predictable or told like in a newscast.
Furthermore, sometimes the authors, in an attempt to create a nice and intricate plot, actually create a lot of confusion and the reader is unable to follow and understand the events of the story in the right way.
________________________

I hope I was able to explain well what I meant, I'm Italian and my English has many gaps, forgive me :-)

Thank you so much, Eileen, Belle, and Tiziana!

I'm glad you joined the discussion, Tiziana! I was very interested to hear what you would say. I agree with all of that, and it is so insightful as I work on my own stories and keep an eye out for more good ones to read! That is an excellent point about when authors try to force the characters to be likeable and it becomes more annoying.

Thanks to you Cristiana !! :-)

Hello, Cristiana!

I'm an avid historical fiction reader, so here are my responses to your queries. :)

Firstly, what kind of historical do you prefer? Adventure? Romance? WWII? Suspense? Ancient? Medieval? Etc...
Right now, anything except WWII. I think the market is saturated with WWII books (especially in dual timeline). There are plenty other incidents tho inspire authors, and I don't mean just wars.
I am not that fond of romance, but like it when done right.
I avoid medieval books that focus on royal dynasties and I am not much aware of royal European lineages.


Then, what do you look for in a HF novel? What gets you excited to read it? What makes you fall in love with the story?
My favourite kind of historical fiction is one based on some inspiring person from the past. But even other than this, I generally go by the blurb. lf the story doesn't sound like a rehash of a dozen plots and I feel that twinge of curiosity while reading the synopsis, I check out the book.

And, on the flip side, what frustrations do you come across when you look for - or read - a historical novel? What makes you put down the book in frustration?
I never put down the book in frustration, but I might roll my eyes a hundred times and rant in my reviews. :D
Common frustrations:
1. Encountering a dual timeline where someone from the present discovers a journal/letter from the past. This trope of done to death.
2. Finding no author's note when the historical fiction is based on some true facts. I like reading about the author's creative choices, about what they kept as is and what they modified to suit the story.
3. Finding romance in a story where romance isn't needed at all.

Good luck to you for whatever writing project you are working on. :)

Closing this thread for comment. This would be better placed in the section specifically for authors as you seem to be looking for information about writing and not reading.