Comments | kayberrisford: Fantasy and History: What's a Word Worth?

kayberrisford

Fantasy and History: What's a Word Worth?

Aug 19, 2011 17:37

I've been blogging about the joys and difficulties of writing historical fiction over at Flirty Author Bitches.

And - yay! It's sunny...on the day I'm staying in to write and edit madly. Isn't that always the way? awkbyname and I had a very pleasant trip to Brighton yesterday to generally talk non-stop and plot world domination, and did we see the sun ( Read more... )

flirty author bitches, bound for the forest, writing

Leave a comment

Back to all threads

kayberrisford August 20 2011, 07:51:00 UTC

Thanks :) but sorry if you had trouble posting. I'm still getting to grips with that site myself, and had the same trouble trying to comment on a post the other day. I couldn't find the 'reply' prompt on one entry anywhere!!

Wow, you are pondering a very similar problem to me at the moment. I am trying to write the character of Herne the Hunter in 1588, although he has been alive since 25AD when, of course, nobody spoke 'English' anyway!!

I guess for a ghost, however, she would use predominantly the language of when she was alive unless she's been busy haunting/interacting and picking things up?? When is your ghost haunting and when was she born?

Sounds very exciting, by the way :D

For me, it's a tricky one. To be honest, I think there has to be a point where U just draw the line and go for it with the 'contemporary' language otherwise it will be hard to communicate with readers. I have given him the same English as the rest of the people in the book (which is also necessarily modernized as, as much as I have tried not to put in 'modern' words, I can't write in proper Tudor formulations and I don't think anyone would thank me!!)

stevie_carroll August 21 2011, 10:26:57 UTC

My ghost is from the early to mid Victorian era (I need to check the Factory Acts yet again to figure out a point at which she wouldn't have been one of the youngest workers), but then she haunted the mill where she died up until it closed down in the middle of the 2oth Century. After which she slept until round about now, when the mill was restored and redeveloped as housing.

So most of her language is fairly contemporary, but lots of modern conveniences are strange to her (she's frightened by her first big plane flying overhead, and by the huge removal lorries that turn up with furniture). I just need to figure out how she would describe each new thing, and where she'd switch to using words she overheard for them.

Your story sounds exciting too.

kayberrisford August 22 2011, 15:02:36 UTC

Oh fantastic - I'm even more excited about your story now. I love Victoriana (and it makes me want to get back to my own late Victorian story...but better focus on the task in hand :))

It sounds like it might be both very fun and very tricky to ponde her reactions :D Good luck! I will keep my eyes open for any previews (do you have any of your multi-generational family story in your LJ? I would *love* to read more of that!!)

stevie_carroll August 22 2011, 19:39:11 UTC

kayberrisford August 22 2011, 20:02:21 UTC

Oh, Petworth is wonderful for so many periods, even the Ancient Greeks in that amazing gallery at the end. Have fun :D

And - yay!!! Thank you so much. I will enjoy getting stuck into these - it's very kind to send me all the links :)

Back to all threads