remember that victorian au?

[evocates]

Almost-random question:

An well-researched AU with many historical figures, filled with details of Victorian life, nearly-ridiculously accurate with descriptions of clothes, food, architecture, etc. Otherwise known as 'slotting in the fictional with the historical'.

OR

Fudge it and focus on the characters and emotions and let the readers fill in the blanks with regards to everything else. Otherwise known as 'a whole new fictional world'.

(Otherwise known as: I don't think I have as much time to research as I thought I would have, and I really want to start writing instead of flailing over writing. >: Dear Honours Thesis, you don't even exist yet and you are already torturing me. FML.)

Comments

[bluegerl.livejournal.com]

Fudge it!!! It'll taste just as good if not better otherwise you'll have 'experts' picking over the stitching in a bonnet or something. Do enough research that you understand/feel the era, the place, the sort of people you want to write, then let it all go...wheeeeeee then if you think you need to 'tighten up' a bit, go and do specific research. I don't think anyone wants a historical document... although I know you were very fussy with dates and places with Bean and Vigs lately. Somehow that did matter cos it was recent, but VIctoriana - I may be the only person alive on LJ who would know it if she tripped over it. Leave the rest to TV, pride and Prejudice or Upstairs Downstairs.... none of which is at all accurate!

So - bless you, and good luck the - a THESIS that's work isn't it??? W.E.R.K???? Bless, Blue.

[evocates.livejournal.com]

A thesis is work. So much work. Over fifty pages of writing. I'm cringing already. /weeps

I'm generally ridiculously fussy with dates and places; it comes from writing FPS, because I like writing fics that might possibly slip into canon. But rargh, screw it. I've started on the fic and it seems to require way less research than I first thought. I'm just going to fudge the rest and steal details and information from the Victorian/faux-Victorian novels that I'm supposed to read.

[bluegerl.livejournal.com]

Poor you! Beany looks like he would come over and sort it for you! Good lass about the fic. I really don't think it's worth being too too fussy because people read usually for the 'read' - the enjoyment, the picturing, the characters, plot and excitement etc. I don't think they worry - as DO some people in the film world picking holes in 'hat's on or hat's now off!', or 'heads being held or not held' (as in the death scene of Bor's) that some people will watch a film a thousand times to pick holes in one tiny detail. A pen on a desk, then not on the desk! dammit. I watch the film! But fics, I find that they are read, and then left alone, and not many pick holes - except if you have a superb Beta - wow. that does make a difference. Even then the tiny details aren't important to the STORY. unless it spoils it, or breaks the flow.

Good luck with the thesis. Once you start you'll be fine, it'll just roll off - next thing you know, it'll be DONE!!!! Moan if you wish, I have a broad shoulder! Love, Blue.

[j-flattermann.livejournal.com]

Hmm, difficult. I love researching proper. But that doesn’t mean that the story gets better by doing so.
I would say feel your way about and see which way works best for you.

[evocates.livejournal.com]

I'll probably end up doing both. Writing, writing, and then coming to a stop because AAAAAH I need to look up this tiny detail no one else would care about before I continue. I really like my accuracy, okay. sob.

[j-flattermann.livejournal.com]

*HUGS YOU*
I am just the same, I start writing and then suddenly pops an idea up which requires researching. I also have the tendency to write about countries or places I’ve never been to and so automatically I am sitting there with seven pages on the internet open (as just now) to check maps, historic data, names and places and stuff.
But I admit to loving to do that and so it’s only a minor nuissance.

[evocates.livejournal.com]

YES, EXACTLY. And I'll pause the writing to read way too much on whatever I'm researching on before I go back to the fic. Right now I'm looking up Romantic quotes and poetry. >_>

[j-flattermann.livejournal.com]

Hee hee, I am just researching the Indian wars at the Texan/New Mexican border during the Civil war.
Also have a map of Texas of 1864 up. Need to check out the forts and if they were manned during that time as many weren’t.

[evocates.livejournal.com]

... Same period, different continents! 8D

[aikonamika.livejournal.com]

I say fudge it, at least for a first draft. Just write the story with the characters as you want them to be, get the story out there. Once you have the story itself, you can always go back in a later draft to add the historical details. If nothing else, it'll make sure that you actually have the story completely written instead of only half-written while you're bogged down with writing. For that matter, if you're still pressed for time when editing, you can always just add in small details of the history here and there, and just gradually get deeper into the historical accuracy with each draft. The story comes first. The background details can come after.

Good luck! =D

[evocates.livejournal.com]

Thank you ♥♥♥ I think this is pretty much what I'm going to do - I think I have the details that matters plotwise, and whatever else I can look up later. The Internet is a wonderful tool for that.

[rubyelf.livejournal.com]

Do the writing now. Get the fiction written now and do the research later when you have time. Minor adjustmens can always be made to correct any historical inaccuracies. And I told you I'd offer whatever assistance I can squeeze in amidst grad school...

[evocates.livejournal.com]

I'll probably try to hammer out at least five chapters (I somehow have 21 outlined right now. What the hell just happened...) before I'll shuffle my feet over to disturb you for a beta. ♥ So it will be some time yet.

[rubyelf.livejournal.com]

You know where to find me! :)