hedgebird: (Default)
hedgebird ([personal profile] hedgebird) wrote in [community profile] sutcliff_space2020-09-07 04:47 pm

Pro tips (1988)

Writing Historical Fiction by Rhona Martin, which you can read on Internet Archive, is about exactly what it says on the tin. The last chapter, Wisdom from On High, contains words of advice from "successful historical authors and others connected with the genre."

Sutcliff's contribution, in full:

Never make the mistake of thinking that you must use all the fruits of your research. You may not need more than a tenth of it; but the other nine-tenths will not be wasted, because it will have enriched and filled out your own knowledge of the place/period/subject of your story.

Nothing is worse for a book than to be clotted with too much and too obvious knowledge, which will stick out like the lumps in a badly made porridge.

isis: Write what you're told! (micah wright)

[personal profile] isis 2020-09-07 10:45 pm (UTC)(link)
That is very cogent advice!
dr_zook: (Default)

[personal profile] dr_zook 2020-09-08 12:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Amen! :D

Thank you for sharing this advice here. ♥
hyarrowen: (Swan)

[personal profile] hyarrowen 2020-09-10 02:18 am (UTC)(link)
Excellent advice from one of the very best.
chantefable: ([eagle] gladiator esca)

[personal profile] chantefable 2020-09-14 09:44 pm (UTC)(link)
That is very wise! Thank you for sharing it. :)