Thanks to my readers, I’ve uncovered some wonderful ideas on how to integrate facts into fiction.
In regard to the credibility issue of my juvenile heroine in THE TRAZ opening a bank account on her own, one readers suggested Katrina could phone the bank to discuss account policies or she could pick up a brochure on juvenile accounts. Although this would satisfy some, I’m not sure it would work for everyone, since an astute reader would quickly realize that the phone call or the brochure was as fictional as all else in the story, i.e. not necessarily credible.
I had an idea of my own—have an old and wise character relay the information that juvenile accounts are easily opened. If readers view a character as wise as trustworthy, they will likely be willing to believe (at least in the context of the story) what he says.
I could have had Katrina's grandfather say, “Katrina, did you know you can open a bank account in your name and your parents wouldn’t be able to touch it?” However, I wove this information in more seamlessly by having the grandfather gift Katrina a sum of money and tell her to go to his bank and ask for a certain teller who was expecting her. He told Katrina that by opening an account of her own, her alcoholic mother wouldn’t be able to misspend the money on booze.
I was very happy with the way that turned out. It didn’t seem at all like I was forcing an issue, sticking in facts to make sure readers knew I’d done my research, or overworking a detail that, in the long run, has little to do with the plot.
Perhaps, if writers create credible characters that readers can bond with, that credibility will naturally spill over into the action, plot, and scenes. Perhaps?
For further discussion on credible characters, I invite you to read my article "Credible Crime Characters" at http://criminalmindsatwork.blogspot.com/
Eileen Schuh
Author, SCHRÖDINGER'S CAT
http://www.eileenschuh.com/
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Facts & Fiction
At first glance, it may seem silly for fiction writers to do research for their stories--unless, perhaps, one is writing historical fiction. After all, most people don’t read novels expecting to be educated. (Does anyone really care if laptops were around in 1995 when my young heroine in THE TRAZ acquired one?)
Actually, I've discover that many people do care, and the more obvious the factual error the higher percentage of readers notice and care. Why? Because it interferes with the images the written words are creating in the minds of readers. If readers can’t imagine the action happening, rather than focusing on the characters and plot, they’ll try to adjust the scene they are reading to fit the reality they know. This spoils their enjoyment of the story.
Although laptops were around in 1995, if my story had taken place in 1955 and I threw in a laptop, I think you can imagine how distracting that would be. As a reader, you’d be poised to experience this tale in the world of 1955 and then suddenly, you’d be jolted away from the story by the incongruity.
Very skillful writers can make anachronisms meld smoothly into the plot so the reader doesn’t notice or doesn’t care, but alas, most of us are not close to being that talented.
As I often incorporate little known facts into my stories, even though my research is impeccable it remains a challenge to smoothly convince readers that the story is credible. For example, in THE TRAZ, Katrina, my 13 year-old heroine, opens a bank account in her name only and deposits a large sum of money that her grandfather gifted her. Her guardian has no control over the account.* Alas, fiction writers can’t use little asterisks and footnotes to cite sources but must find other ways to promote their credibility.
Some authors use a plethora of details to lend authenticity. One mystery I read had four paragraphs on what contact lenses were like in 1965—I found that quite distracting, especially since contact lenses had nothing to do with the murder.
Other writers will use the back covers of their novels (Author, Eileen Schuh, who bought her first laptop in 1995, .... Or ‘thank you’ pages (Eileen wishes to thank Sarah Butland for providing valuable banking info…) or sometimes their blogs and/or websites to shout to the world that they know of what they speak!
Oh….wait a minute….
*This scenario complies with Canada's banking laws and policies.
If you have a helpful hint on how fiction writers can increase their credibility, please leave a comment below.
For more research hints visit my blog at http://criminalmindsatwork.blogspot.com/
Eileen Schuh, Author
Schrödinger’s Cat
http://www.eileenschuh.com/
Actually, I've discover that many people do care, and the more obvious the factual error the higher percentage of readers notice and care. Why? Because it interferes with the images the written words are creating in the minds of readers. If readers can’t imagine the action happening, rather than focusing on the characters and plot, they’ll try to adjust the scene they are reading to fit the reality they know. This spoils their enjoyment of the story.
Although laptops were around in 1995, if my story had taken place in 1955 and I threw in a laptop, I think you can imagine how distracting that would be. As a reader, you’d be poised to experience this tale in the world of 1955 and then suddenly, you’d be jolted away from the story by the incongruity.
Very skillful writers can make anachronisms meld smoothly into the plot so the reader doesn’t notice or doesn’t care, but alas, most of us are not close to being that talented.
As I often incorporate little known facts into my stories, even though my research is impeccable it remains a challenge to smoothly convince readers that the story is credible. For example, in THE TRAZ, Katrina, my 13 year-old heroine, opens a bank account in her name only and deposits a large sum of money that her grandfather gifted her. Her guardian has no control over the account.* Alas, fiction writers can’t use little asterisks and footnotes to cite sources but must find other ways to promote their credibility.
Some authors use a plethora of details to lend authenticity. One mystery I read had four paragraphs on what contact lenses were like in 1965—I found that quite distracting, especially since contact lenses had nothing to do with the murder.
Other writers will use the back covers of their novels (Author, Eileen Schuh, who bought her first laptop in 1995, .... Or ‘thank you’ pages (Eileen wishes to thank Sarah Butland for providing valuable banking info…) or sometimes their blogs and/or websites to shout to the world that they know of what they speak!
Oh….wait a minute….
*This scenario complies with Canada's banking laws and policies.
If you have a helpful hint on how fiction writers can increase their credibility, please leave a comment below.
For more research hints visit my blog at http://criminalmindsatwork.blogspot.com/
Eileen Schuh, Author
Schrödinger’s Cat
http://www.eileenschuh.com/
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