Alternate history, eh? I'm sure I don't need to point you in the direction of Harry Turtledove (and if so, well; I'll write the rest of this taking a couple of liberties).
Turtledove writes excellent alternate history precisely because he is so well-versed in the eras he chooses to write in (even where he veers off the track of realistic history and into fanciful journeys). That you note research is key is very apt on your part; I imagine one could write speculative fiction while simply letting the imagination run off; however, it grabs the mental meat so much more when it's well-researched. I happen to fancy history, and the simple act of reading Turtledove's works taught me things (especially second-hand, where if I found a particularly appealing character or event; or even an analog of some historical event, I researched it later out of curiosity, and Turtledove's alternative treatment of it really punched up the colors of the real-life event).
I don't like genre so much. Though it's handy when talking sword-and-sandal, or the rivets of science fiction, genre goes to a good story as a costume, or physical description might go to an individual. What lies beneath is only ever barely hinted at by its appearance.
Genre: Hell, me, I'm trying to write me a love story, mostly to see if I can execute in fiction what I think could happen in fact, if I could just get the scene and dialogue right.
Trying new things: If I wasn't writing the urban myth I was attempting to now; I think I'd write something dystopian myself. Perhaps comically dystopian.
Going back to research: Research for one's World ain't too hard. A little concentrated study does the trick. Studying characters; now that requires living, either out in the street or in-between the ears, with both being equally exhausting.
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Date: 2010-09-27 05:06 am (UTC)Turtledove writes excellent alternate history precisely because he is so well-versed in the eras he chooses to write in (even where he veers off the track of realistic history and into fanciful journeys). That you note research is key is very apt on your part; I imagine one could write speculative fiction while simply letting the imagination run off; however, it grabs the mental meat so much more when it's well-researched. I happen to fancy history, and the simple act of reading Turtledove's works taught me things (especially second-hand, where if I found a particularly appealing character or event; or even an analog of some historical event, I researched it later out of curiosity, and Turtledove's alternative treatment of it really punched up the colors of the real-life event).
I don't like genre so much. Though it's handy when talking sword-and-sandal, or the rivets of science fiction, genre goes to a good story as a costume, or physical description might go to an individual. What lies beneath is only ever barely hinted at by its appearance.
Genre: Hell, me, I'm trying to write me a love story, mostly to see if I can execute in fiction what I think could happen in fact, if I could just get the scene and dialogue right.
Trying new things: If I wasn't writing the urban myth I was attempting to now; I think I'd write something dystopian myself. Perhaps comically dystopian.
Going back to research: Research for one's World ain't too hard. A little concentrated study does the trick. Studying characters; now that requires living, either out in the street or in-between the ears, with both being equally exhausting.