Johny Nocash#writersofmastodon a question: I’ve written a novel for the young adult market, set in 1989. I was a teen myself then, but it has been suggested to me that it should be described as a historical novel (which makes me feel old!)
Thoughts?
N S Ford@JohnyNocash it's an interesting question where we draw the line between 'history' and 'contemporary'... I've even seen a history book about the 90s. I don't see an 80s-set book as being historical fiction but then if teens are your audience I guess they'll see it as such?
@nsfordwriter that’s what I was beginning to think… my mum spent her working life in libraries and it was she who suggested it. Part of me feels it’s too modern, and I never really saw novels by Stan Barstow or Alan Sillitoe as historical when I read them as a teen, though I guess they were written contemporarily.
@JohnyNocash another interesting point is that it might depend on the writing style. If it's more of a 'literary fiction' style it's less likely to be classified as historical.
@nsfordwriter hmm. That hadn’t crossed my mind at all. Maybe I should consider it as modern history, to try and capture both angles.
Thank you 😊
Thank you 😊