Historical Fiction or Hist Romance?

bylinebree · Aug 22, 2008

Hey all,
I know this is tough without reading my WIP, but I'm not sure which genre my book falls into: Hist Fiction (even after taking a class I don't know) or Hist Romance.

I was told I need "more detail on the setting, period, etc" for it to be HF. I was told by romance writers that it doesn't follow the correct "formula" for a romance as the hero & his lady do not meet early enough in the story, and do not spend enough time together in the first part to the middle parts (although I've changed some to put them together before they part for a long time).

When I give a logline of the story, I alternate between the love relationships and the spiritual journey of the hero; they're both key, and affect each other, it seems equally.

Should I not even worry about it, keep writing the story to the end, and THEN figure it out? So many seem to say "no" - yet I refuse to write to a formula!

Puma · Aug 23, 2008

Hi bylinebree - What's the main idea / point of your story - to tell about an historic event with your mcs as players in that event or to tell a love story set against an historical backdrop? That's pretty much the distinction. History is an important character in one; love is an important character in the other.

I wouldn't want to write formula either. Looking back at some of the early historical romances, they were far from formula. But, unfortunately, that seems to be the way everyone wants them done these days. If you haven't finished writing the story, I'd finish it. You may find yourself taking some tangents getting to the end that will help answer your question. Puma

pdr · Aug 23, 2008

Write it...

the way you want it first.

Then you need some experienced eyes to check it through and help you make it marketable.

You might have to choose then and do some serious rewriting to make the novel marketable, but right now just finish it as you want it.

Carmy · Aug 23, 2008

Would it help you decide if you wrote one sentence to describe your novel? Not quite a back-page blurb, much shorter.

bylinebree · Aug 25, 2008

I alternate between two themes when I hand out the log-line. Sometimes I give the love story as the main one, sometimes it's the spiritual journey of the male MC.

Good advice - to keep writing it the way "it comes out" - then worry about editing it in the later stages, if that's what it takes to make it saleable. Sellable? Publishable!

Thanks, you guys (and gals) :Sun:

jennontheisland · Aug 25, 2008

One of the best ways to tell if it's a romance is to see what would happen if you took out that part of the story. If the hero and his lady didn't hook up, didn't get their HEA (or HFN) would the story still work? If so, it likely is a romance. Or a love story at least.

As for the formula, only Harlequin seems to insist on a formula (and those things are set in stone). I read nothing but historicals and though it is preferable for a romance to have the H/h meet earlier in the story, there is little that is formulaic about them.

I agree with pdr and Puma. The best thing to do is just write it the way you want. Worry about editing it to suit a market later.

Historical Fiction or Hist Romance?

bylinebree

Still Seeking the Dream

Puma

Retired and loving it!

pdr

Carmy

bylinebree

Still Seeking the Dream

jennontheisland

the world is at my command