With the wankfests going around on the blogs (and well they always go around, new week different wank), it’s important to remember that reviewers are just readers with opinions. Hopefully articulate and well-written opinions but in the end no reviewer should ever influence a writer on the “correct” way to write anything.
Just as there are those readers that crave historically accurate books, there are an equal number that won’t care if the Mr. Darcy character pulls out a cell phone to call his love interest in the historical setting. This can be applied to every single genre, theme, and content. I can – and do – point out books I think are bad for various reasons but I guarantee you every book I hate, there are several who LOVE that book to it’s very core.
When going over the current wankfests about “right” way to write BDSM, I think this quote from TeddyPig says it all (hope it’s ok to repost):
I think it’s OK to say “that is not my personal kink” but I don’t run around lecturing people on the “proper way” to write BDSM stories. I might discuss reasons for my likes and dislikes and provide other fact based sources for research but that is different.
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there are an equal number that won’t care if the Mr. Darcy character pulls out a cell phone to call his love interest in the historical setting.
I know. And this drives me insane. But I admit, that particular visual is not altogether unappealing. And I did once read a deliberately anachronistic historical that introduced vibrators into the early 19th century…
I can appreciate the work going into making something accurate for the time period or setting. But also reading for enjoyment (which all Fiction is) I kind of don’t care if the details are just that and not integral to the story. Like reading old time historical romances with the fabio-esque cover, those authors may have been accurate but it didn’t matter and who cares? It didn’t affect the story at all.
But that’s just a personal preference and I happen to like steam punk so technology in 19th century doesn’t bother me 😀
Hmm. I know it bugs me when people can’t be bothered to get even the 1970s right. I mean, heck, it’s not that hard to find a beta reader who was alive and remembers it tolerably well! And I can be harsh on details that can’t actually happen. On the other hand — if the story is good enough, or well-told enough, I might not notice a thing, hypnotized by a good yarn.
Best for the writer not to count on it, though, I suspect. One man’s hypnotic symphony is another man’s dreadful racket. Mostly I’m replying to say I loved the Captain Obvious.
I love the captain. I keep waiting for chances to use him *pets him*
I prefer details to be right but there are many stories I can say I enjoyed regardless.
Thanks for commenting and congrats on your new release!
As a writer I feel I’m letting the readers down if I didn’t attempt to get it right. If a writer can’t be arsed to do the research then they should label their books fantasy/au/steampunk whatever. as a reader I’ll wince when I find tea in Tudor times or a vibrator in the 1700’s And I won’t hesitate to point it out in a review, either, as other meticulous reviewers will do with my work. I’d expect it, and work harder next time.
I’ve made mistakes in my books, but I think a reader can tell when a reader has tried their best and when they simply haven’t bothered even to use Google once.
As a reader, I prefer something to be accurate for whatever setting that is depicted. I can sometimes get so into the story that then I honestly don’t care about details. As a reviewer, I also expect something to be accurate and have no problems mentioning if it’s not.
My comment is not that reviewers shouldn’t point this out. My comment is the difference from pointing out this mistake and saying how a writer should write, ie. historically accurate or not. Mentioning it is not helps readers who may dislike such wrong details and those who may not care.
I think some books are extremely obvious in their lack of attention to detail and surprisingly they still sell well, so clearly there is a large audience that aren’t picky.