Monday, July 28, 2014

Let's Be Real

As a writer of fantasy and science fiction I can use my imagination to create new unique things in every part of the worlds I create. My characters don't have to human. They don't have to need oxygen to breathe or food as we know it to live. But readers love stories where they can identify with or at least understand the hearts and minds of the protagonists. If the reader struggles to understand the world I've created because it's so different from the real world, they might put the book down and never pick up anything I've written again. There must be a balance.

I've never written historical fiction though I love reading it. I too big a coward to tackle historical fiction. Readers will spot those mistakes and let you know or worse let the whole world know in a review. But since the epic fantasy I write is set in a medieval setting, I try to insert some realism into the cultures I create.

A book I keep on my desk, What Kings Ate and Wizards Drank by Krista D. Ball, covers loads of interesting facts. For example, how long does it take to make a stew over an open fire? Two hours to get that meat tender. What vegetables and roots could travelers find in the woods? Does the hero carry a thick, metal cooking pot and the big knife needed to field dress game? Great answers in this book?

Getting enough to eat was a real concern during medieval times and malnutrition often made people vulnerable to other illnesses and diseases. Of course there was the scary bit one, the plague, that wiped out a third of Europe. And it's still around today though not nearly as frightening. Read about modern outbreaks. Of course in a fantasy novel magic is always an option for health woes but I can add some depth to my society by also including real methods that might be used in a medieval society. The History Learning Site has lots of interesting information on medieval life. Another resource I use is a book of herbal remedies, many that are served in teas. Doesn't every medieval book need to serve up a little tea now and then.

Did you ever read a historical novel and spot a glaring error? How about a fantasy novel or science fiction novel where you just didn't buy into a piece of the story? Ever read a novel like I did last week that was so confusing in the world building I couldn't get interested? Had you heard about the recent cases of plague in Colorado?

14 comments:

Liza said...

I'm not writing historical fiction, yet those links all sound intriguing. I do a lot of my research via Google, or the library.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I've not written historical fiction, but I had to do a lot of research for my contemporaries. Google Earth really helped.

mshatch said...

What a fabulous book! I'm going to order it right away. Thanks!

mshatch said...

ps I've used D&D rules to figure out how far my travelers can get in a day depending on how they're traveling - on foot, on horse, by water - and how encumbered they are.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Confusing world building often comes from trying to add too much.

Pat Hatt said...

Yeah, I'm not sure I'd want to tackle it either, as I know I'd make a few mistakes.

Jemi Fraser said...

I wouldn't want to tackle historical fiction either. I love research but I think I'd get bogged down in all the details :)

Robin said...

I have not heard about the recent cases of plague in CO. Yikes.

That books sounds like an excellent resource for anyone writing about medieval times (or even fantasy which contains elements of medieval times).

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

I can't say that I've ever caught a glaring error. However, this weekend I watched Captain America. At the end, Cap wakes up in a hospital bed that's disguised to simulate the era in which he's from so as not to shock him that he's been asleep for 70 years. Playing on the radio is a baseball game that he remembers because he attended it, so he knows something is off. He immediately panics and escapes into modern New York. The scenario kind of reminds me of what you're saying here. Captain America spotted "a glaring error," and it made the whole situation jarring for him.

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

What a great addition to any library. Thanks! This is excellent.

The Happy Whisk said...

I watch movies and comedy TV and spot culinary mistakes. There are so many. It's like they're not even trying.

Shannon Lawrence said...

I've pondered writing a little historical fiction. I know I'd get lost in the research. Those are great resources you listed! Off to check out the History Learning Site.

Michael Di Gesu said...

HI, Susan,

IT is SO important to get the scenes and timing right! As you say, it's blaring when not done correctly.

I write fantasy sometimes and your recommendation on What Kings ate... sounds like a reference book I need to have. Thanks!

cleemckenzie said...

I love little books filled with facts like that. They provide just what I need when I'm writing.

I have a hard time buying into a lot of fantasy. If the writer is good at building the world and fleshing out the characters, I'm all over fantasy. It think it's using those "real" facts creatively that make the difference for me.