Happy Monday! Usually I post on Sundays, but out of respect
for the Easter weekend, I postponed this one.
The other day, I was double-checking the links on my blog
and remembered that the magazine where I first published some of my flash
fiction pieces no longer exists. *tear* Yes, you can still purchase the old
editions of Splickety, but for now, I have decided to move the ones that
were up on their blog over to Wattpad. I may move the ones featured in the
magazines as well, but for now, I’ve moved my freebies so you can read them
again.
I usually write long-winded stories—the rough draft for my
last novel was 88,000 words—but each story posted is a piece of flash fiction,
less than a thousand words. I could write subsequent stories for each one, but
I like them as stand alones. Enjoy!
As the daughter of the chief, Mayra has always had to live
up to everybody’s expectations. But when a horde of pterosaurs attack on wash
day, she takes her stand. Originally published on Splickety’s Lightning
Blog. Read for
free on Wattpad.
Victoria wants a
blue ribbon and her father's promise not to sell her horse. Can a little boy
with autism change her mind? Originally published on Splickety's Lightning
Blog. Read
for free on Wattpad.
I’m also thinking of posting some more flash fiction pieces that
have never been published, so keep an eye out for a dystopian piece! You can
follow me on Twitter or Facebook for further updates.
Let’s chat! Have you read my flash fiction yet? Which story
did you like better? Any fellow flash fiction writers out there?
This post was inspired by a friend who gave me a completely different blogging prompt. But hey, that’s what happens with writing! Not only do you get a million plot bunnies, but when you finally pick one, they also tend to run off on a rabbit trail. So long as you don’t end up down the rabbit hole…
Enough with Alice in Wonderland, though. This post is all about historical fiction! I’m here to talk about another one of my favorite genres, where fact meets fiction.
I’ve been on a historical fiction reading spree lately, particularly when it comes to WWII fiction. I read other historical novels as well, but this has been my latest preference, especially considering my recent travels in Europe. Here are just a couple of reasons I enjoy historical fiction:
1. It’s informative.
I get a better sense of place from historical fiction than from history books. While history books will tell you about dates, historical fiction will tell you what a city might have looked or smelled like and how people may have lived their day-to-day lives.
And let’s face it, reading or watching historical fiction makes us feel smarter. I know it does for me. Don’t deny it.
2. It’s easier to remember a story if I can empathize with the characters/people.
Need I say more? Fact: I can breeze through 300 pages of historical fiction, but it takes longer to get through 50 pages in a history book.
3. Culture!
I’ve touched on this topic before when it comes to 7 Reasons I Enjoy Sci-Fi, but I’m here to tell you about it again. I like culture. Once you take the time to truly understand somebody and where they’re coming from, they’ll be more open to interaction. And there’s nothing like understanding that not everybody lives their lives the way you do. If you can’t travel to a place to understand a certain culture, you can at least read about it. That way, you might even spare yourself the culture shock.
4. Time travel.
Time machines don’t exist… yet. And let’s face it, time travel would be a bit freaky. There are so many different theories about what could possibly go wrong and how such travel would work at all, but of course, that’s for a post on science-fiction not historical fiction. (Problems with time travel: germs vs. antibodies; language differences; spatial differences; the space time continuum; etc.)
But when it comes to books, you can “safely” travel back in time and the most likely dangers you’ll encounter include papercuts, depleted bank accounts, and broken hearts. Okay, I never said you’d make it off easy. Reading is a dangerous game, my friend.
5. Actual travel.*
It’s fascinating to read about a place and then travel there. That’s the problem with fantasy. The closest I’ll ever come to Narnia is the wardrobe in my house or visiting Oxford, which, let’s face it, looks nothing like I imagine Narnia to be. And sure, you can “visit” Middle Earth, but do you get to see Minas Tirith or Lothlorien? Unfortunately, not. (But I still want to go!)
With historical fiction, you can visit actual sights. And while I’ve been to many, many places in my wanderings, I enjoy and understand a place even more if I’ve read a story about it before. I may even fangirl over a historical sight. I’ve visited Siena, the town where the Betarrini have been. (Okay, so the River of Time books are part fantasy, but they’re historical fiction too!) I’ve been to London, where many famous authors lived and kings and queens ruled.
If you’re into actual travel and fiction, be sure to check out my latest newsletter, River of Books, and subscribe for more below!
*I can tell when an author hasn’t visited the actual historical location or done their research. The setting tends to lack the personal touch that you can only get from visiting a place or talking to somebody who has.
6. Author’s notes.
Once I’ve engaged with a story, I thoroughly enjoy getting a bit more context. Maybe it’s the intellectual in me, but I like to learn the facts about something that’s already fascinating. Elizabeth Wein does a great job of this when it comes to her historical fiction novels. I would seriously like to see where more authors get their historical research from.
And not just historical novels either. I want to know more about the facts and fiction when it comes to stories about people with disabilities or mental illness. A lot of stories just end, and I’m left asking what was real and what was made up. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell. Petition for YA authors to write more author’s notes. Seriously, people. I want to know more!
7. It’s sobering.
Historical fiction reminds us that the world does not revolve around us. There were hundreds of thousands, millions of people who lived before us. Reading historical fiction can help us come in contact with just a few of those lives through stories of actual people or places. It also points out many of the tragedies that have occurred throughout the years and helps teach us what it truly means to be human.
8. Bonus! (And because I can’t count): It helps me connect with my brother.
My older brother is obsessed with history. I often refer to him as a walking encyclopedia. And even though we were pretty close growing up, so much so that we were often mistaken for twins, college has seen us develop different opinions and interests. So I may not have as much in common with my brother as I like, but at least there’s still history.
Having watched BBC’s latest adaptation of Shakespeare’s history plays, The Hollow Crown, has enabled me to talk with my brother about the War of the Roses. Reading novels that include battle strategy is another favorite of mine because my brother could go on and on about the pincer movement or guerilla warfare.
Enjoy historical fiction? If you related to this post, you might enjoy reading the following books: The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant (early 1900s, immigration, USA) All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (WWII, France and Germany), Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai (1975, immigration, Vietnam and USA), and Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (WWII, pilots, France and England).
Let’s chat! Did I miss any great points about historical fiction? What are some of your favorite genres? How often do you read historical fiction? What is your favorite era to read about?
I go through various phases of reading. Some days, I’ll breeze through a really good book and then demand 100,000 more excellent stories. Other days, I’ll read 25 pages of a book I’ve been trying to finish for a week, and by the time I’m done, I don’t want to pick up another book for the next month. Good books are energizing. Mediocre ones are exhausting.
All the while, I keep reading because I’m in search of the next great story. I have this picture in my mind of what such a story should look like, and even books I give 5/5 stars don’t entirely line up with my expectations. Even books I end up thoroughly enjoying and buying because I want to read them again, if I tried hard enough, I could probably find faults with them. It happened with The Chronicles of Narnia, The Valley of Fear, and the Inkworld trilogy and will undoubtedly happen again.
Disclaimer: This post is not meant as an attack on your favorite stories. Therefore, I have picked my own treasured books to analyze and critique as an example. Likewise, when I say “story”, I mean fiction, not nonfiction, though there are certainly imperfections in nonfiction as well.
“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” –Aristotle, Metaphysics
I was quite surprised when during my postgraduate, I heard one of my professors criticize Henry V for its awkward structure. Apparently, characters are running around every which way, and how on earth are directors supposed to portray an entire battle on stage through messengers?
“It doesn’t really work as a play,” my professor said.
Wait, what? This is Shakespeare we’re talking about. Isn’t he supposed to be a genius, the standard for writers?
As it turns out, even classics have their faults.
Despite fans’ obsession with the famous detective, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle hated Sherlock Holmes, so much so that he couldn’t even stay consistent with John Watson’s injuries, and there are parts where the third-person narratives don’t make sense. How is Watson supposed to glean this information if the point of view character is dead?
In The Faerie Queene, not only is it difficult to follow the dialogue let alone the narrative, but also the later stories are, apparently, not as well thought out. Though I haven’t read all the books yet, I’ve heard characters disappear from the story if you’re not paying attention. That and Spenser never actually finished the collection. He only wrote six out of his initial idea for twelve books.
In Paradise Lost, audiences argue whether Satan is the antagonist or the protagonist. (Please be aware that the protagonist does not equate to a “hero”. Instead, the protagonist is the point-of-view character. That does not mean he/she is admirable.)
The Lord of the Rings reverts to Dues ex machina when it comes to the eagles and the army of the dead. Likewise, The Chronicles of Narnia has some narrative issues. How does the narrator know what to write in The Last Battle if the seven friends of Narnia told him the events of the other books?
I don’t mean to be terribly condescending when it comes to fiction. The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia will still be among my favorite stories from my childhood. Paradise Lost is among my Treasured Books, and I will probably always consider it to be among the best classics.
But there still remains the idea that a story doesn’t have to be perfect for it to be enjoyable. If we didn’t enjoy stories because we dislike one or two aspects of it (or five or ten), we might never find a story we’d like. But that doesn’t mean, just because we thoroughly enjoy something, that we can’t talk about the elements that bothered us. Neither does that mean we have to get defensive if somebody else has a different opinion on a story than we do.
But what can readers possibly do when it comes to flawed fiction? First off, acknowledge the problem. Believe it or not, ignoring an issue doesn’t make it go away. Unless it’s a mosquito bite. Then you should definitely try to ignore it. Secondly, discuss the issue with others. Thirdly, and finally, if you’re a writer, address these issues in your own stories. You may not get it all right, but you are human, after all.
Sherlock: It’s not a pleasant thought, John, but I have this terrible feeling from time to time that we might all just be human. John: Even you? Sherlock: No. Even you. (Sherlock, “The Lying Detective”)
Besides, I’d much rather read an imperfect story than a perfect one. After all, who can relate to a perfect life? As a gardener, I can often tell the difference between a fake houseplant and a real one. Fake plants are shiny and perfect and collect dust. Actual plants have scars and sometimes dried tips on their leaves, but at least they’re real.
***
Film references: Sherlock
Literary references: C. S. Lewis’ The Last Battle and The Chronicles of Narnia, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Valley of Fear and Sherlock Holmes collection, and Cornelia Funke’s Inkworld trilogy, Aristotle’s Metaphysics, Shakespeare’s Henry V, Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene, John Milton’s Paradise Lost, and J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.
Some of you might be wondering what a bunch of cupcakes has
to do with books. First of all, I’ve been craving chocolate lately, and you may
notice some of those little beauties have chocolate icing. (You can have the
cupcake. I’ll take the icing. Now we’re both happy!) Secondly, both chocolates
and books are delights of mine.
So, if cheap plots can be compared with potato chips, what
about comparing good books to mouth-watering chocolate? The more chocolate, the
merrier. Right? Or so people say. Is there really such a thing as not enough
chocolate? Even for the greatest of chocolate lovers, like myself, tubs of
ice-cream with five different flavors of chocolate can be overwhelming.
What about reading? Is there ever such a thing as too many
books? Many books worms would laugh and say “No!” Really? That’s just how the
chocolate lovers responded.
This summer I finished reading Anne of Green Gables for the first time, and one thing I found
surprising was some of the talk about books. Both Anne and her best friend
Diana enjoy reading fiction, much like myself, but Marilla (the woman who
adopts Anne) and Mrs. Barry (Diana’s mother) believe both the girls read too
much. In fact, in several instances the girls are discouraged from
reading so much because it might ruin their eyes or detract from their ability
to socialize.
Sound like something familiar today? The first thing that
came to my mind is technology. Perhaps one of the main concerns of parents (or
siblings) today is that children spend more time watching TV or playing video
games than they do playing outside, hanging out with friends, or reading a good
book. After reading Anne of Green Gables,
it was surprising to think that parents may have seen fiction in the same
destructive manner!
Of course, this book has to be considered in its own
cultural context, way before the time of technologies we have today. But
perhaps there has always been something throughout the centuries that detracted
from socialization, exercise, or chores. In Anne’s time it was books, later it
was the radio, then television, and today it’s video games and the internet.
Who knows what it will be in the future.
But the question remains: are books still a distraction
today? Perhaps they aren’t a major concern like different forms of technology
because many children and adults don’t read. Yet that doesn’t mean that an
abundance of books can’t hinder avid readers. While reading can provide a
welcome escape, it can, at times, serve as a hindrance just like technology if
readers aren’t careful.
After our most recent move, my sister was sitting around
reading in a social situation when everybody else was greeting each other. I
poked her and told her to come say hello to people. One guy behind me remarked,
“Yeah, don’t let her do anything intellectual like read!” I actually fully
support my sister’s reading, for it’s been a long struggle to encourage her to
do so! But this man didn’t realize this was the way she avoided people. We’d
just moved to a strange, new place. How could I expect her to socialize with
complete strangers when I was the introvert and her the extrovert? When I had
read to avoid people countless times before?
Yes, books can be a distraction. Sometimes there’s a fine
line between reading as an enjoyable, intellectual activity to an antisocial,
withdrawn one. It’s important for readers to recognize this line and know when
to put the book down. After all, even Anne and Diana ended up good friends, and
Anne came to be at the top of her class.
While it’s not a bad idea to pick up a
book, don’t abandon the opportunity to make a friend. After all, other readers
can engage in excellent bookish discussions. Like how there are too many books
in the world for a person to possibly hope to read. It’s not that readers can
never have enough books. It’s that readers can never have enough time.
How many books are on your shelf? Do they ever serve as a
distraction? Bonus question: What’s your favorite type of chocolate? Go!
Literary references: L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables.
Most days, I
struggle with nonfiction, whether it is academic papers, nonfiction, or even
blogging. Sometimes, I’ll just stare at that silly little curser for ten
minutes wondering what in the blazes do I write?
But I have just
the opposite problem with stories. Sure, I’ve had my times of writers block,
but it rarely comes from a lack of ideas. In fact, I find that when I’m trying
the hardest to focus on strict facts or basic opinions that a little story idea
pops up in the back of my mind and won’t leave me alone until I at least write
the basic idea down. Then, the idea will either leave me alone to focus on the
“important stuff” or it will develop into a full-fleshed outline by the next
week (*cough* exaggeration! *cough*).
Either way, I am
plagued by stories. I cannot escape them. Even when I take a vacation, I get
the nagging feeling that I should be writing something, even if I just finished
a major project and have earned a break. This happened recently when I went on
a C.S. Lewis trip to Oxford with several other students. I set aside writing
for a full 10 days (okay, I took notes and did a bit of editing and journaling,
but I didn’t write a story).
Walking along the Thames River just outside Oxford.
How could a view like this not be inspirational!
During this time,
I had the great opportunity to see Magdalen College where Lewis taught for a
time, visit his house The Kiln’s, eat at The Eagle and Child where he and the
other Inklings met, and visit his gravesite and church. Not only did I learn a
lot about Lewis and his books, but I also heard a theme reoccur throughout the
trip: while Lewis may have written many apologetically works discussing the
Christian faith, he also wrote works of fiction, which have the capacity to
leave an impact on a person’s heart. And 50+ years
later, people are still reading his books. Thus is the power of fiction. Not only does
fiction present itself when I’m doing something boring (like laundry), but it
also affects readers drastically. Have you ever laughed with/at a character?
Shouted at him/her? Cried while reading a book or wanted to throw it against
the wall?
No reader comes
away from a book without a new thought, feeling, or experience. Have you
ever heard of somebody who read a book that elicited no emotion? I haven’t.
Even dull books fill readers with boredom or dream-filled naps. Those who claim something is “just fiction” and
cannot influence them in any way are simply declaring nonsense.
But what does
this mean for us? Fiction is powerful. So what?
So, dear writers,
let’s use that power granted to us for a time. Let’s tell stories to make
people laugh when they need uplifting or to share experiences and create
empathy. Let’s use themes to declare a message only you can tell that way. Even
Jesus told parables.
As for you, dear
readers, do not just pass up fiction as something false. Even fiction can
contain seeds of truth. And may fiction inspire you to dream and achieve your
goals.
I couldn’t put it
in better words than Lewis himself:
“Why did one find
it so hard to feel as one was told one ought to feel about God or about
the sufferings of Christ? I thought the chief reason was that one was
told one ought to. An obligation to feel can freeze feelings … But supposing
that by casting all these things into an imaginary world, stripping them
of their stained-glass and Sunday school associations, one could make them for
the first time appear in their real potency? Could one not thus steal past
those watchful dragons?” –C.S. Lewis, “Sometimes Fairy Stories May Say Best
What’s To Be Said”
For further reading, I'd suggest the entire essay cited above.
Tell me your
thoughts. In what ways has fiction influenced your life? What stories have done
so?
In the mood for
reading some fiction? Check out my latest short story “Blue Ribbon” if you
haven’t already!
