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Military history fiction

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by Mark (U2073932) on Wednesday, 28th September 2005

  I am half way through writing my masterpiece. A story against the backdrop of ww1. Main characters are from all the armies involved, bit like the longest day.
  
  However, trying to get dates and places and regiments correct is severly hampering my flow and the rythym of the story.
  
  How much artistic license should be allowed?
  
  Redcoat

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Anglo-Norman (U1965016) on Wednesday, 28th September 2005

  My own efforts, which tend towards short stories, have all been set earlier than yours, and I've never tried publishing them except on the internet. However, I should say that with something as relatively recent and well known as WWI, you need to be pretty careful with such as. There are always going to be pedantic morons like me who will pick up things like that and annoy with with e-mails about it (actually I've never done that - I'm not THAT bad )
  
  You're probably a bit far through to change this now, but using fictional units might free things up a bit for you.
  
  Furthermore, I wouldn't underestimate the value of the Author's Note at the end where you can explain about any areas where you've had to exercise a touch of 'literary judgement'.
  
  Hope this helps,
  
  A-N (would be writer who hasn't the patience to write anything long enough or the nerve to try getting it published)

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by arnaldalmaric (U1756653) on Wednesday, 28th September 2005

  redcoat,
  
  If the facts are getting in the way of a good story then you need to twist the facts (or spin them) somehow.
  
  Can I suggest (well I am going to anyway!) a few pointers.
  
  In the preamble to your book point out that the story is based upon fact and then point out a historical lie. Then say there are many others that a determined reader can find. (That should provide you with enough excuses).
  
  An alternative is to do a footnote whenever you cannot reconcile history with the story, and provide an alternative, any study of contemporary politics should provide you with enough "spin" to be able to do this.
  
  E.G. "He was unable to rejoin the battalion as he had been called back to another fruitless conversation with the staff, when he finally managed to return he was confronted with a different regiment manning the positions his friends had left just three hours before".
  
  Footnote: Although Regimental records show that Lt. X was with the battalion you must also realise that the Regimantal diary records Lt Y. as perfornimg this duty.
  
  For the best exponent of the footnote whilst telling a story see George MacDonald Fraser.
  
  You'll put this a lot better I'm sure.
  
  Hope it helps, and Good Luck AA.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by DL (U1683040) on Monday, 3rd October 2005

  In the area of historical fiction, I must admit to admiring Bernard Cornwell's approach, particularly in the "Sharpe" series. He simply writes a cracking good story, based loosely around factual events, and then adds a historical note as a postscript which describes the actual facts briefly.
  The books are, after all, fiction, and meant to be entertainment, not fact.
  
  Cheers

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