Comments on: A Fine and Dandy Problem http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2009/10/13/a-fine-and-dandy-problem/ What's hip, what's now, what's tomorrow in the romance genre world. Sat, 09 Jan 2010 20:26:04 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Genella deGrey http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2009/10/13/a-fine-and-dandy-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-34091 Genella deGrey Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:56:22 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/?p=3056#comment-34091 subconscious* OY! This just isn't my week! :mrgreen: G. subconscious*

OY! This just isn’t my week!
:mrgreen:
G.

]]> By: Genella deGrey http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2009/10/13/a-fine-and-dandy-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-34090 Genella deGrey Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:54:40 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/?p=3056#comment-34090 After birthing three children I guess my subconcious wouldn't allow me to type "contractions." LMBO Yes, that's what I meant. :lol: G. After birthing three children I guess my subconcious wouldn’t allow me to type “contractions.”

LMBO
Yes, that’s what I meant. :lol:
G.

]]> By: senetra http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2009/10/13/a-fine-and-dandy-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-34075 senetra Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:27:15 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/?p=3056#comment-34075 If I'm unaware of the wrong history, then obviously I'm not bothered, but someone will be. And if I'm aware of it, then it becomes an annoyance for the remainder of the book, especially if it's something that could be easily found out. I have two complaints right now with regards to historical accuracy. The first is ease at which heroines bed down with the hero like they're some college students hooking up after a kegger. The second is the pre-1857 English heroine who thinks that she's getting divorced (not separated) and will live out her days quite happily shunned because she doesn't care about society anyway. Divorce until then required the modern-day equivalent of (for USians) Congress granting you one, along with the Church. After 1857, the only legal way to ge divorced for the next hundred years was adultery. I read that in a blurb or review and the book ceases to exist. If I’m unaware of the wrong history, then obviously I’m not bothered, but someone will be. And if I’m aware of it, then it becomes an annoyance for the remainder of the book, especially if it’s something that could be easily found out.

I have two complaints right now with regards to historical accuracy. The first is ease at which heroines bed down with the hero like they’re some college students hooking up after a kegger.

The second is the pre-1857 English heroine who thinks that she’s getting divorced (not separated) and will live out her days quite happily shunned because she doesn’t care about society anyway. Divorce until then required the modern-day equivalent of (for USians) Congress granting you one, along with the Church. After 1857, the only legal way to ge divorced for the next hundred years was adultery. I read that in a blurb or review and the book ceases to exist.

]]> By: Donna http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2009/10/13/a-fine-and-dandy-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-34074 Donna Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:51:17 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/?p=3056#comment-34074 I write historical romance, and I also write contemporary romantic comedy. I'm not a slave to historical accuracy, especially when I'm reading, but I do enjoy learning historical tidbits as I'm enjoying a book. My biggest complaint with historical romances lately is how "modern" the heroines' sensibilities are about losing their virtue - almost to the point of being cavalier. There are a lot of reasons in previous eras why this action would not be taken lightly, and it seems as if this aspect is being ignored in a way that doesn't make sense to me. Other than that, I enjoy reading historical romances and hope there will be plenty of them for many years to come. I write historical romance, and I also write contemporary romantic comedy. I’m not a slave to historical accuracy, especially when I’m reading, but I do enjoy learning historical tidbits as I’m enjoying a book.

My biggest complaint with historical romances lately is how “modern” the heroines’ sensibilities are about losing their virtue – almost to the point of being cavalier. There are a lot of reasons in previous eras why this action would not be taken lightly, and it seems as if this aspect is being ignored in a way that doesn’t make sense to me.

Other than that, I enjoy reading historical romances and hope there will be plenty of them for many years to come.

]]> By: ~~Olivia http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2009/10/13/a-fine-and-dandy-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-34072 ~~Olivia Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:08:25 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/?p=3056#comment-34072 I love historical accuracy, too. But I don't mind a little bending if the reader would not really know the difference. When the waltz was introduced to London? Or the difference between guineas and sovereigns? Don't get those wrong. But the dandy horse? I would not have known nor cared. I knew an author who obsessed over using an elevator in her story. The problem was not that elevators were not used in NYC during her time period, but that one had not been installed in the building she was using! Now that's too much historical accuracy for me. Just don't unzip anything before the zipper was invented. I love historical accuracy, too. But I don’t mind a little bending if the reader would not really know the difference. When the waltz was introduced to London? Or the difference between guineas and sovereigns? Don’t get those wrong. But the dandy horse? I would not have known nor cared.

I knew an author who obsessed over using an elevator in her story. The problem was not that elevators were not used in NYC during her time period, but that one had not been installed in the building she was using! Now that’s too much historical accuracy for me.

Just don’t unzip anything before the zipper was invented.

]]> By: Lynne Connolly http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2009/10/13/a-fine-and-dandy-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-34070 Lynne Connolly Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:50:17 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/?p=3056#comment-34070 Genella - you meant contractions, right? I can't think of an era where they didn't use conjunctions! The trouble with olde worlde speak is that they never spoke that way. In the Middle Ages they spoke and wrote Middle English, which most people today, including me, can't read without a dictionary and some syntax rearrangements. By the 18th century, the period I write in, they spoke English that we would understand, contractions and all. Some modern speech is too modern, but as long as you avoid obvious anachronisms, like psychobabble and words that weren't used until after the period, you're pretty much okay. Genella – you meant contractions, right? I can’t think of an era where they didn’t use conjunctions!
The trouble with olde worlde speak is that they never spoke that way. In the Middle Ages they spoke and wrote Middle English, which most people today, including me, can’t read without a dictionary and some syntax rearrangements.
By the 18th century, the period I write in, they spoke English that we would understand, contractions and all. Some modern speech is too modern, but as long as you avoid obvious anachronisms, like psychobabble and words that weren’t used until after the period, you’re pretty much okay.

]]> By: Genella deGrey http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2009/10/13/a-fine-and-dandy-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-34069 Genella deGrey Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:05:09 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/?p=3056#comment-34069 TOO modern* :roll: ugh. Typo's like that 'ill kill ya. :lol: G. TOO modern* :roll:
ugh. Typo’s like that ‘ill kill ya.
:lol:
G.

]]> By: Genella deGrey http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2009/10/13/a-fine-and-dandy-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-34068 Genella deGrey Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:03:05 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/?p=3056#comment-34068 I, too, dig deep to find accuracies. It helps us as readers to really get lost in a story. :) I happen to love period speak - although I understand most editors think it too stilted for their readers. One of the hardest things I had to do as a new writer is un-learn old-fashioned, lyrical speak and add conjunctions when it sounded to modern for my taste. I still cringe when I think about it. Did you watch the show, Deadwood? I loved the show for the very reason it showcased sophisticated speech. :) G. I, too, dig deep to find accuracies. It helps us as readers to really get lost in a story.
:)

I happen to love period speak – although I understand most editors think it too stilted for their readers.

One of the hardest things I had to do as a new writer is un-learn old-fashioned, lyrical speak and add conjunctions when it sounded to modern for my taste. I still cringe when I think about it.

Did you watch the show, Deadwood? I loved the show for the very reason it showcased sophisticated speech.

:)
G.

]]> By: Emmanuelle http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2009/10/13/a-fine-and-dandy-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-34062 Emmanuelle Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:59:19 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/?p=3056#comment-34062 A well-researched historical is certainly far more satisfying to read. That's why I'm obsessed with Meredith Duran right now, and I love Sherry Thomas, too. It's become the norm for me to ask writers about their methods of research when I get pitched at conferences. That said, some bending of the truth a la Hoyt and Johnson works for me if it serves the story. It's called fiction for a reason. A well-researched historical is certainly far more satisfying to read. That’s why I’m obsessed with Meredith Duran right now, and I love Sherry Thomas, too. It’s become the norm for me to ask writers about their methods of research when I get pitched at conferences. That said, some bending of the truth a la Hoyt and Johnson works for me if it serves the story. It’s called fiction for a reason.

]]> By: Lynne Connolly http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2009/10/13/a-fine-and-dandy-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-34061 Lynne Connolly Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:53:57 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/?p=3056#comment-34061 I'm with most of the people here. Accuracy in the historical romance is, to me, essential, or I can't believe in the characters or the story. Little twiddly bits, not so much, but the way people thought and acted then, as well as the historical detail - priceless. Also, and just my opinion, for what that's worth - it's an insult to the people who lived in those times and the modern reader to write an inaccurate or poorly researched book. We want romance to get a better press, so this is one of the ways we can do it. I’m with most of the people here. Accuracy in the historical romance is, to me, essential, or I can’t believe in the characters or the story. Little twiddly bits, not so much, but the way people thought and acted then, as well as the historical detail – priceless.

Also, and just my opinion, for what that’s worth – it’s an insult to the people who lived in those times and the modern reader to write an inaccurate or poorly researched book.
We want romance to get a better press, so this is one of the ways we can do it.

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