Why I am allergic to the term "historical fiction"

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Monday, 23 April 2012 11:25

I'm writing a novel set in the 1930s, but I never (never!) think of it as "historical fiction." 

I have an instant recoil reaction from the term "historical fiction" because I know how it would make my kiddos' (high-school seniors) eyes glaze over before they even tasted the prose. In novel #3, I am trying hard to rivet my readers so thoroughly that they will forget they ever thought such a boring thought ("historical fiction") at all. And it will then be "the amazing YA novel" that just happens to be set in 1930s. Kind of like how The Book Thief is just an amazing novel, not an amazing historical novel. (Delusions of grandeur, Ash?)

I've read a post from Laurie Halse Anderson who tries for the term "historical thriller" to describe Forge. Another option mentioned by Elizabeth Wein, whose fabulous Code Name Verity (I'm reading it now...) is set in WWII, was "historic suspense."

One of the commenters on Anderson's site pointed out the basic problem with these labels, which I think is true for "historic suspense" as much as for "historical thriller": the word of death in "historical fiction" isn't "fiction" but "history." That is because too many people have had crap history teachers; they think that "history" is where good stories go to die.

(For similar anti-social studies reasons, I don't want a glossary ANYWHERE NEAR any of my fiction, as I said here.)

Okay, so I'd rather not label the novel at all, but it's going to get labeled. What's a writer to do? This is a problem I hope my agent, editor, publicist, and others who generally know better will help me solve. But I'm open to suggestions from all sides.

comments  

 
#1 Kelly 2012-04-23 14:58
Historians, and writers like Harry Turtledove, refer to this style of writing as "alternative history." Unfortunately, that deathly, less marketable, "history" term is still used. How about borrowing from the film industry where they use the term "period film" when a film setting takes place in the historic past. Call your work a "period novel." Sorry it doesn't sound more catchy.
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#2 Sarah 2012-04-23 15:20
There are a number of teenagers (like me...well not Sarah of today, obviously, but Sarah of a decade ago) who love historical fiction. So if it does get labeled that way, you'll appeal to them. :)
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#3 e wein 2012-04-23 16:43
I'm allergic to the h-word too - historical suspense is Sharyn November's coinage, which I've used because she was my editor for many years, but I too agree that the problem with the term is the "historic" bit. IT'S A BOOK.

You know, when was a teen reader (I'm a bit older than you, I think), they really didn't subdivide YA into genres the way they do now. It is a feature of the past 20 years. It has ALWAYS irritated me. KM Peyton's books, and Robert Westalls, are shelved in FOUR different locations in our loal library. When I was a kid, they were shelved all together - and I read them all because I liked the AUTHOR, not the genre horses/horror/war/history.

Not sure what the solution is except to do what you're doing - write the best book possible!
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#4 e wein 2012-04-23 16:44
... that would be our "local" library.
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#5 ashleyp 2012-04-24 15:17
Thanks for weighing in, ladies! Best book possible is always the best plan--too bad it doesn't save an author from marketing woes, though. BT W, Elizabeth, I am reading Code Name Verity while doing a D-Day tour in Normandy NOW.
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#6 Marie 2012-04-30 10:18
Hi Ashley! I can only give you my perspective as a reader, not a writer. I LOVE historical fiction - whether it's historical romance, suspense, or adventure. If a book is labeled 'historical fiction,' it immediately makes me take a look at it. For me, historical fiction is so broad that the label makes me take a look and see if it's interesting to me. FOr instance, I'm reading "A Tainted Dawn" by BN Peacock (www.bnpeacock.com) right now, and I probably wouldn't have found it if it weren't labeled 'historical fiction.' The title doesn't give much away, and neither does the cover. It's becoming one of my favorite books very quickly, so I'm personally grateful for the label!
Best of luck to you!
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#7 ashleyp 2012-05-01 04:25
Hi Marie, you are so right to point out that labels can bring readers to books, not just send them away. Thanks for sharing your perspective... it's true, isn't it, that sometimes we might be drawn to a book just based on the promise (via the "historical fiction" label) that it will serve as a window onto another time.
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