Someone to sit next to

[erastes]

Kiernan Kelly has written a really great article on "historical fiction writers:the remedial section."  Well, it's not called that, it's called "An Opinion from an M/M Historical Romance Writer Riding the Short Bus" but I didn't know what a Short Bus was. I do now, and I'm firmly on that bus myself. Probably sitting on my own and drooling.  But do go and read it, if you've been longing to start that historical (and I know there's a few of you on my flist who are) and are scared to death, I think it will bring a lot into perspective.

I often feel intimidated by my peers (or rather, my betters, seeing as they are in the fast lane and me and Kiernan are on the SB) when I read their bios and find they've got doctorates in history or degrees or whatever, that they studied Ancient Greek or Medieval Socio-politics, whereas all I've got is seven OWLs to my name. 

But like Kiernan, I'm an "information pack rat" - or a lover of unusual trivia.  I would be the Alan Davies on Q.I. (failing miserably and being the foil of Fry's pity) but Q.I. is one of my favourite programmes ever because of the things you find out from watching it (such as that Alexander G. Bell did NOT invent the phone, and that (obviously, although I didn't realise it until the lovely Mr Fry pointed it out) Queen Victoria had nothing to do with the legality of lesbian sex, despite the urban myth.

My research process is so similar to Kiernan's that it's not necessary to relate it here. I am a collector of trifles. Mmmm. custard.

One of the the most important points Kiernan makes is the empathy issue. It's pointless to know every single thread of fabric, every stick of furniture, but if you can't get inside the head of your historical character in a realistic manner you will lose the respect you may have gained from the reader.

I was gratified to find that there was, at least, another author who was, like me, feeling a bit of a lesser being, and while I sit here, drooling and playing with my piece of coal, I know that there are others out there, like me. On the Short Bus.

Comments

[crawling-angel.livejournal.com]

*pays money and gets ticket for short bus and joins you on seat*

I'll get off at the medical/m/m/romance stop, lol. Omg, I hope this bus does stop there :/

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I think it goes the long way round, but that's good. Gives you more time to crib.

[crawling-angel.livejournal.com]

Gives you more time to crib.

Or look out of the window...

[essayel.livejournal.com]

Well *eyes groaning bookshelves* that makes me feel a lot better about what I try to do.

I'll certainly buy a ticket and, while I may not end up going anywhere in particular, I'm sure I'll enjoy the ride.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

The ride is a great deal of the fun, for me, anyway!

[vashtan.livejournal.com]

A degree in history is overrated, trust me. :)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I suppose so...But I can't help but wish I could honestly say that I had one. It lends an air of authority to one's blurb rather than "failed at music"

:(

[vashtan.livejournal.com]

Honestly - I have a degree in history, got out of it with summa cum laude, and 90+% of everything I know I learnt from reading books and sources that I wouldn't have had to read/study at uni. I went well beyond the call of duty on that one. All you really do learn is to look at the sources how to evaluate, how to apply all the meta shit (which school of thought does the author belong to?) and the rest is an awful lot of navel-gazing.

After my thesis, I knew everything about 8th century Franks. Now, how much M/M stuff will I *ever* write about those in that time (no, not bloody likely).

"Historian" is a mindset rather than a qualification. I respect the pack rat mentality, I really do.

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

There's not enough gay Carolingian Frank romance!

Of course, I'm of the opinion there's never enough romance of any sort.

[vashtan.livejournal.com]

Give me a few more years (ten or so) to work through my trauma there. :)

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

I totally sympathize.

My degree is in English, obtained in 91. It took me until this year to even TOUCH the Victorian era and now I'm coming at it sideways with Steampunk and Westerns.

[vashtan.livejournal.com]

I left uni in 2003/4 - I had a historical novel set up, told from the perspective of one of Charlemagne's enemies ... but that novel died so often under my hand I've now banished it into the bottom drawer.

[kittymay.livejournal.com]

If you want one, why not try? You can do them part time, while you work, and it's not as intimidating as you may think. Believe in yourself!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Good Lord, no. I'm far too old and it would take years I could be doing something fun!

[kittymay.livejournal.com]

You're not old for it, not by a long shot! You'd be surprised.

Nonetheless, as has been said, when you are looking to research a book, it's very unlikely that it'll coincide with the specific things you've covered in history class recently, so you're still pretty much on your own. The information you need to know to write a good novel, it seems to me, is not generally covered in a class because it's the small details that tend to make the story come alive, these details that you will only find if you are looking for them. The reader looks for these details; the examiner tends to find them broadly irrelevant.

[vashtan.livejournal.com]

This keeps making me wonder - do you really feel like the author has to justify their interest/their authority when dealing with a topic? (I'm not provoking, I'm really, really curious).

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I don't think they have to justify their authority, no--but I, as a writer of things historical, feel like a pretender when I see "so - and so attended the Sorbonne and has a wossit and several historical awards." I feel the same way when I read that Bernard Cornwell has gone to India for months to research his books, and I'm someone who has the cheek to do it all from their living room in Norfolk.

[vashtan.livejournal.com]

Aaaah. Yes. I'm getting you. I've felt similar things. There's a historical novellist in Germany (let's call her TK) and she researches and travels 9 months a year and then writes for three. Her first novel was a bestseller (at the age of 22-24ish) and since then, she has produced at least one bestseller a year. She has all the resources and time you could wish for.

Well, reading her text, it still sucks.

That helps. :)

[kiernankelly.livejournal.com]

Jeez, we may have to charter a whole fleet of short busses. *grins*

It's reassuring to know I'm not alone out here, trying to play catch-up with everyone else, and that I'm in good company. :)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Perhaps we need to commission a long short bus. :) We'd blend in then.

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

The short bus is the special school bus they send around for the mentally and physically handicapped children so they won't be abused on the regular bus.

It's a very ablist term.

But yes, research. I spend a lot of time in my libraries (although my reviewers aren't sure of this) before and during the writing of any piece not set in 1985 or later. And even then, I still remember to check what was popular because high school was a long way back.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

high school was a long way back.

You and me both...

[xbeyondinsanex.livejournal.com]

Oh this was a great, encouraging read! I feel so much better...

[erastes.livejournal.com]

wasn't it?!

[haydenthorne.net (from livejournal.com)]

Hey, look, I can comment! Actually, hon, you don't need to do the screen anon comments anymore. :)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

OK - will turn it off again. hurrah!

Semi-randomly...

[aphephobia.livejournal.com]

I just wanted to say that I've been up half the night reading Standish and while I don't go in for historical fiction, you've had me drawn in completely, utterly mesmerised and unable to put the book down. I'm about 3/4ers of the way through, and... it's just stunning, and most likely about to become one of my favourite stories ever.

You totally got me in on the empathy level, too: this is the first time I've been crying at a book or a film or a comic in... I can't even remember.

Just... well done, d00d. *goes back to reading it*

Re: Semi-randomly...

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Oh! What a lovely message - thank you!

I always say that if a reader cries then it's the best compliment EVER. You don't know how happy you've made me, thank you again.

[mzcalypso.livejournal.com]

No short buses when I was in school, just bus drivers who yelled at kids who got out of line, which I think was a good idea.

I didn't finish a degree, either, though I worked in a number of universities and took some night classes. After a few years I realized that, although there are some fantastic, intelligent people with advanced degrees who deserve and get my respect, there are so many utter dolts whose only apparent skill is an ability to get good grades that a degree is no guarantee of a good mind or a good writer. How many degrees did William Shakespeare have?

A good writer is an autodidact. Writers have to be. To hell with the length of the bus--some of us took the express train, and some of us took the scenic route. And that's not even counting the folks like Terry Pratchett, who got a degree in one thing and wound up doing another.

You're a writer. You're a damned fine writer. Only lit'rachoore snobs check a writer's academic pedigree before deciding whether or not to read her book.

Let me know when some university awards you an honorary degree in the arts... I'll try to make it there for the ceremony.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

The whole short bus idea seems bizarre to me, better to have an adult on board to ensure that children behave!

Thanks hun--I know I shouldn't feel less than I am, but perhaps it's part of the whole English Publishing thing--it's much more "snobby" over here, I mean look at how little genre fiction is done over here. I shall wave my 7 O levels with pride in future.

:)