citations in fiction

[mesa_boogier]

I'm relatively new to fiction and have a question about citations. I'm writing a book and there are various things in there that I will have to go to a source to find (ie - historical information, geographical info., stuff like that) Is there any kind of citation required for this?

Forgive me if I'm asking a question that's already been answered, but I couldn't find it in old posts. Thanks..................Evan

[Lyra Jean]

I've read historicals and at the end there were author's notes saying what really happened and what was made up and a bibliography where they got their information. I've never seen footnotes or citations within the text like in NF.

Hope that helps. I'm writing a historical what are you writing?

[Berry]

No citations at all are needed in fiction. Some few authors use them, notably George MacDonald Fraser in his "Flashman" books, where he shows how close to history Flashman's adventures are, and Nicholas Myers in the likes of "The Seven Percent SOlution", where he attempts the same thing, but it comes off more "look how clever I am to work this all in".

If you must, I'd suggest an authors note at the end mentioning works readers can consult for more information, and detailing where the historical facts were "bent" to suit your narrative, like what Cornwell does in his Napoleanic Wars historicals.

[Cath]

Lawrence Norfolk's In the Shape of a Boar uses citations in footnotes throughout the first section of the book.

Honestly, I find it a little distracting. But in that case it's a deliberate technique chosen by the author. It's perfectly acceptable to include a bibliography at the end instead of footnotes.

I believe for fiction, unless you directly quote something, citations are not essential - it's just part of the author's research.

[mesa_boogier]

Thanks for the replies. They are very helpful.

In response to the first one, I'm writing (or trying to write) a book set in the South during the Civil War. What's yours about?

[Lyra Jean]

16th century Europe about a Landsknecht fighting force named the Black Band. They fought in two battles for the French. The Battle of Marignano and the Battle of Parvia. In the Battle of Parvia they were completely wiped out. That's what happens when you fight against the Empire.

Good luck with your story. I'm a huge CW fan.

[JoNightshade]

Orson Scott Card wrote a fictional book about Christopher Columbus, the name of which I cannot now remember. In the back he included a bibliography of all the non-fiction books he had read for research purposes... and he mentioned specifically which books were the most helpful and the best written. I found this immensely helpful as I then went on to read all of the ones he recommended. Otherwise I'd have been floundering in the dark for a GOOD biography of Columbus, which is why I generally don't read biographies.

[Will Lavender]

Orson Scott Card wrote a fictional book about Christopher Columbus, the name of which I cannot now remember. In the back he included a bibliography of all the non-fiction books he had read for research purposes... and he mentioned specifically which books were the most helpful and the best written. I found this immensely helpful as I then went on to read all of the ones he recommended. Otherwise I'd have been floundering in the dark for a GOOD biography of Columbus, which is why I generally don't read biographies.

Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus. (http://www.amazon.com/Pastwatch-Christopher-Orson-Scott-Card/dp/0812508645 )

For more Columbus fiction, I recommend Harlan Ellison's masterful short story, "The Man Who Rowed Christopher Columbus Ashore."