Need help with categorizing...not sure this is considered historical

artemis31386 · Nov 23, 2010

So I'm writing a fiction piece set during Hollywood's Golden Age (1938-1950). In my mind this would make it a historical fiction since its about Hollywood's history.

I've read several conflicting things. Some said this would count as historical, others said its contemporary. Its not a romance. Just a story about the studio and star system and fictional characters affected by it.

Maybe some of you more knowledgeable AWers can help me.

YoursEvermore · Nov 23, 2010

I would definitely call that historical instead of contemporary. While there's no set "guideline" for when history becomes history, I think most people say anything older than the past 10-20 years counts as historical. And especially since part of your timeline includes WWII, WWII is definitely considered historical. Hope that helps.

Puma · Nov 23, 2010

We've kicked this question around quite a few times before on here. General rule of thumb - 50 years.

But, I'd still argue that it could be more recent than that. A novel centered around the Kennedy assassination in '63 would definitely be more historical than mainstream or contemporary (my opinion). Same would be true about one centered around the Reagan campaign in '80. But, obviously, part of the problem is "What fills the gap between historical and mainstream/contemporary?"

But with your topic, I think you're good to go with historical. Puma

pdr · Nov 24, 2010

I concur...

it would be regarded as historical by my agent and the HNS.

Sonsofthepharaohs · Nov 29, 2010

Yeah, I would say over 50 years is historical. I don't quite think the 80s qualify as historical yet, but the 60s are probably just about inside the line. The 70s currently occupy that no mans land between historical and contemporary, so I guess you could go either way on that.

Debbie V · Nov 29, 2010

I think of my Katrina novel as historical. It's a lower middle grade, so the readership was six or younger when the events occurred. It's sure history to them. Never thought about that definition before seeing this thread.

Sonsofthepharaohs · Nov 30, 2010

Debbie V said:
I think of my Katrina novel as historical. It's a lower middle grade, so the readership was six or younger when the events occurred. It's sure history to them. Never thought about that definition before seeing this thread.

As in hurricane Katrina? Definitely not historical. If you think otherwise, then I'm not sure you quite understand what 'Historical' means in terms of a genre of fiction. It does not simply mean it occurred in the past - this may be your lower middle graders' simplistic understanding of it, but that doesn't make it so. Historical fiction presents readers with a story that takes place during a notable period in history, as in notably different to the one we are living in now. You can't say this about hurricane Katrina - yet.

artemis31386 · Dec 3, 2010

Thanks all

Belle_91 · Dec 3, 2010

I like the idea of this! I've always wanted to read fiction set in the Golden Age of Hollywood. Are you going to mention noteable actors of the time like Clark Gable, Vivian Leigh, Jimmy Stuart?

I think people on here have already answered your question about whether it's historical or not, but it sounds great.

Need help with categorizing...not sure this is considered historical

artemis31386

All around miscreant

YoursEvermore

Puma

Retired and loving it!

pdr

Sonsofthepharaohs

Still writing the ancient Egyptian tetralogy

Debbie V

Mentoring Myself and Others

Sonsofthepharaohs

Still writing the ancient Egyptian tetralogy

artemis31386

All around miscreant

Belle_91

With her nose stuck in a book