Western or historical fiction?

[DivaNicoletta]

The next book I want to write, I would like to set it in the west ( CA or NM) in the 1800's ( Probably 1840's). Now tell me, how do I write a historical fiction novel set in the old west without writing genre fiction. What is the difference between a western and historical fiction? What makes a western a western?

Ciao!
Nicoletta

[DamaNegra]

I'm not sure about what makes a Western a Western, but I'd say it's the cowboys. It also depends on which half of the 1840's you want to place the novel, because during that time California and New Mexico used to be part of Mexico, so no cowboys, just dons and rancheros.

[DivaNicoletta]

Probably the second half of the 1840's. The era intrigues me because a lot of my family were in Southern CA when it was still Mexico in the late 1700's/Early 1800's and got integrated when the US took it over. They were called Californios. There is only one book I can think of with about this directly is a YA book called Carlotta by Scott O'dell.

[Elijah Phoenix]

I wrote one , one time. It was about some younguns from West Virginny who left the coal mines back home in 1849 for the gold fields of California. they met Buffalo Bill along the way, Saw wild Bill Hickok get shot in the back in Deadwood, Saw Custer make his last stand, met Billy the Kid, Chocise, Sitting Bull, crazy Horse and Geronimo in New Mrxico. Then I found out my chronology was all messed up. I left em in New Mexico last i knew of em. I quit the story and put it in the good, but no cigar drawer.

I figure a western needs Cowboys or Injuns, or at least outlaws. Chronology makes it historically accurate. Then its a historical novel.

[DivaNicoletta]

I guess that would make mine more of a historical novel. Thanks for the clarification.

[Lyra Jean]

I think a western is more concerned with the cowboy and indians aspect. While a historical fiction set in the west doesn't necessarily have either. I think also historical fiction is based on some event like the San Fran earthquake of 1902. The '49ers gold rush. Westerns maybe set in this time period but it doesn't revolve around the event.

Western - almost anyting by Louis L'Amour even though they are not set in modern times they are considered Westerns not historical fiction.

[Peggy]

There is only one book I can think of with about this directly is a YA book called Carlotta by Scott O'dell.
Have you read Ramona (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramona)? (free ebook (http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext01/rmona10.txt)). It doesn't really qualify as historical fiction, since it was written in 1884, but it paints a (highly romanticized) picture of 19th century southern California. It's definitely not a "Western".

[Jamesaritchie]

The next book I want to write, I would like to set it in the west ( CA or NM) in the 1800's ( Probably 1840's). Now tell me, how do I write a historical fiction novel set in the old west without writing genre fiction. What is the difference between a western and historical fiction? What makes a western a western?

Ciao!
Nicoletta

Well, you're going to be writing genre fiction either way. Historical fiction is genre fiction.

A "western" is generally set in the period of the cowboy and the cattle drives. . .roughly 1865-1890. It's also placed west of the Mississippi. Cowboys aren't an absolute necessaity in westerns. The novels can be about outlaws, lawmen, gamblers, land barons, the railroad, farmers, prospectors, etc., but the time period and locale of the cowboys is usually required.

A historical novel usually cover a long time span, can be set anywhere, usually has a wider scope, and covers a fairly large number of years.

[reph]

Now tell me, how do I write a historical...novel set in the old west without writing genre fiction.
You could do something with the California missions, for instance, and leave out cattle. It'd still be genre fiction, but it wouldn't have to be a western.

Why the missions? Because any setting where people having different backgrounds, values, and agendas meet contains possibilities for something interesting to happen.

[Jamesaritchie]

You could do something with the California missions, for instance, and leave out cattle. It'd still be genre fiction, but it wouldn't have to be a western.

Why the missions? Because any setting where people having different backgrounds, values, and agendas meet contains possibilities for something interesting to happen.

You might still have to mention cattle and cowboys. California had more cowboys than Texas, and there were cattle everywhere.

[reph]

Well, okay, but she doesn't have to mention sheriffs.