[VanatheEverYoung]

Hi everybody! I wonder if you all couldn't give me a little bit of advice about a story I'm working on. It's an AU story set during WWII.

How accurate do you (the readers) expect my historical facts to be? For example, can I stretch dates? If I want the elves to kill Hitler does it have to be exactly April 30, 1945 or can it be March? And if the Nazgul bomb Pearl Harbor does that have to be on Dec. 7, 1941? Or can it be the 6th? Or does that make a plot hole? (By the way, that is not my plotline. Have no fears.)

Also, my OC speaks quite a few langauges (German, Italian, etc.) Do you expect me to write in German and Italian? Or can I mention she's speaking a particular language and leave it at that? (I would like to take a moment to say that she cannot speak EVERY language that she will need to know. AND there is a logical explanation for her linguistic ability). Just so you know ....

The reason I ask all of this is because I know that inaccuracy can ruin a whole story. However, I do not speak German, Italian, or elvish nor do I claim to know a great deal about WWII.

I'm a history major, studying ancient history. If I read a story about Rome and the author incorrectly explained the Pax Romana, I would be turned off. In fact, I would stop reading because, to me, that is such a basic aspect of Roman life. Should I prepare for the expert? Or the person with basic knowledge?

But, I revert to my original question now. How accurate do my readers expect me to be? I'm especially worried about this because I know WWII Germany is a HUGE area of study. My plot line involves several months (so far) and six countries. I'm doing my research like a good little author, but modern history is just not my thing.

Thanks!

[SpaceWeavil]

For the language thing, I wouldn't be put off if you just wrote that she was speaking German or what have you.

As for historical fact, I am not sure. I am a bit of a research / accuracy freak when I write, as I work on the principle that you never know who might read it. I've submitted AU fics here now based on the Whitechapel murders and Ancient Egypt, and I've tried to be as accurate as I can be. Both stories have received reviews from people here who know a lot about the subjects, and asked questions about why I had quoted particular facts or used certain things. At the same time I always try not to overload the story with historical detail, quote dates all the time etc, and put off readers who aren't particularly interested in that subject.

That is just my way of approaching writing. I just like to keep things accurate, and also I enjoy researching a story as much as writing it (at the moment, in fact, I am surrounded by books on Tutankhamun's murder, all starting to get a bit dog-eared ).

As for reading, I tend to be the same as you. I get put off by inaccuracy, but this is just something about me personally. I used to be employed to check other tour guides in London and look out for mistakes, so my mind is kind of trained to look for stuff like that.

If the story was AU though, and it was explained to me in an author's note that some fact was being altered because it was important to the plot, like the elves killing Hitler or whatever, then that would not bother me, as it shows the writer has actually done the research, and it isn't that they just haven't bothered and made it up.

I think so long as you make it clear that you know things didn't happen that way, and you have deliberately changed it, even if you don't give away your plot, I would still read it.

That's my tuppence' worth anyway.

[Viv]

Important thing to keep in mind is that your readers, by and large, are not morons. They know when the attack at Pearl Harbor happened, and if you say it happened on a different date, you're basically treating them like morons. Response probably won't be very good for a story that does that.

Also, research often makes the difference between a mediocre story and a truly compelling one. A story can be ho-hum if you focus on your plot as if you wore blinders. It would be a lot better (and more likely to inspire awe and reviews) if you do a smidge of research and find out about rationing, scarcity of nylons, what soldiers ate when they were out soldiering. Details always bring a story to life, and readers will sense it if you just make the details up.

Good luck.

[sindohte]

Let me just echo what Viv and Jess have said, historical accuracy is important to me as a reader. I don't think that a writer who is going to write about WWII needs to spend weeks doing exhaustive research to find out the precise type of fabric Hilter's uniform was made from. How I would expect the writer to take the time to know when exactly Hitler was killed and have enough familiarity with the circumstances surrounding his death, so that they could accurately explain the presence of Elves killing him. If a story is going to be AU enough to have Elves running around 1940s Germany, I think you should try to maintain as much historical accuracy as possible in other areas.

[inglor]

Viv touched on an important issue. Using small details and little known facts can have a huge impact on the enjoyment of a fic. For instance, one of the most endearing aspects of Boz's Don't Panic is the little details about life without electricity and other modern technology (plumbing for instance). The little details lend credibility and really pull the reader into your setting letting them feel and touch and smell in your creation.


As to historical accuracy: People tend to give the written word credibility and if you are wrong, it is very offputting. For instance, in visual media, the facts are bent all the time yet people still watch (Braveheart, Gladiator, Patton), however if the facts are bent while writing, the work is ignored. You can try to explain your deviation but it better be ironclad and integral to the story.

I've found that a lot of Tolkien buffs are also history buffs. I guess it goes with the territory b/c history plays a big part in LoTR and the Sil is a history book. So, IMHO if you don't know about a particular fact, don't make assumptions or alterations and write about them, few readers will forgive you if you are wrong.

Inglor

[KhazarKhum]

Look on the bright side: You've picked the easiest period to research.
If you get the History Channel, you'll see WWII every night of the week.

The footage will give you an idea of what conditions were like in 1945 Berlin. (Not good.) Most Germans were terrified of the advancing Soviet army--with good reason. The brutality of the Red Army is well-known.

By 1945, the conditions were similar to the LOTR movieverse version of Helm's Deep & Minas Tirith: little kids & old men manning the guns, crude blockades in the city, constant aerial assault.

Maybe your folks or granparents are vets of the War; they'll be willing to help, I'd bet.

[VanatheEverYoung]

Thanks for the replies!

You've all stated the basic standards that I apply for myself. I guess I just panicked. I got worried when I read the reviews for "The Bodysnatcher." That's when I realized that I needed to do more research. My question really should have been "Do I need to do anything different to an AU story?" The more I think about it, the more I realize that the answer is basically no. Details are just as important to an AU as to a fic set in Rivendell or Minas Tirith or Mordor. Accuracy, fact-stretching, logic, and background are the same way.

I have a good Beta who loves history too, so I'm sure she will be able to help me with the little details. Still, it's nice to get advice for writers. Thanks for reassuring me that I'm doing okay!

[Yavanie]

Just my two cents: when a character switches to another language it would be nice to see a simple greeting in that language (no big lines or anything, just hello, welcome or maybe even a well placed epithet). That might make it a little easier to accept what is being said is not the common language of your story. As far as major details, yeah, keep those. Others less well known I'd expect you could have some liberty with, especially if you can find out if it is assumed knowledge or hard photographic type evidence. Still, don't sweat the small stuff. I'd much rather read an engaging story with characters that are well rounded than quibble about how many medals Hitler wore on his chest or small his mustache was.

[KhazarKhum]

Another way to show the switch in language:

"Hello!" she said, speaking in Swahili. "Welcome to our home."

You have now shown the language switch without having to learn a new tongue--one which may be alien to your readers as well.

[kalliope]

ciao is Hello in Italian and Buongiorno is Good morning.
I'm italian. do let me know if I can help you whit my language.

I like historic fics

[VanatheEverYoung]

Aw! That's so sweet! Thank you! They're are so many helpful people on OSA! I'm always shocked by it. Maybe that's because I'm American, and we're ... er, uh ... not so polite. Thanks, kalliope. I might take you up on that offer. I would be good to have something in my story that hasn't been translated by altavista.com.