May 11, 2020
How soon is too soon to include a real-life event in a fictional story?
Let’s start with the most current event. You know the one I mean. I subscribe to a lot of book newsletters, and I cringed the first time I saw an ad for a self-help book with a quarantine related title. I think it was two or three weeks after most people in the US were asked to shelter at home. My first thought was – how does anyone pull together a meaningful book in that amount of time? And my second thought was – nothing like taking advantage of people in a time of crisis. Yes, I thought that was far too soon.
In the past week, I’ve started to see fiction books with titles like “Quarantine” and “Pandemic.” First, I despise the titles as being unoriginal. They certainly wouldn’t attract me to buy the book. Second, I wonder how well the book has been edited. Yes, I am aware that there are people out there that can write a book in less than thirty days, but I’m not among them.
What do I consider a reasonable time lapse to include a real-life event in a fiction book? It’s going to depend upon the event. For the tragedy of 9-11, it would have been at least a year if not more. For the space shuttle explosion, six months would have been a long enough of a wait. For the current virus? I can’t imagine turning it into fiction for entertainment while up to 2500 people a day are dying from Covid in the US, let alone the figures world-wide.
Now the first moon landing? Shoot, go ahead and use that before the dust had even settled. A presidential election? Have at it. The capture of a criminal? I’ll give you a soft maybe, depending upon the crime. The murder hornet? Better get that book written before they become a real problem.
It comes down to how many people have been hurt by the event and how deeply. I can’t imagine trying to profit from an event when people are still suffering. (Unless every cent of that money goes to organizations working to help the affected.)
My caveat to this discussion is that the author has to be mindful of their use of the event. Either disguise it appropriately, or make your use historically accurate. I don’t want to read about the first landing on the moon with fictional names.
So, that’s how I feel about it. Me, I avoid real world events with a passion. I don’t want to get them wrong.
I’d love to hear about how you feel. Share your thoughts in the comments. In the meantime, I’m going to head over and see what the other authors in this hop have to say.
May 11, 2020
How soon is too soon to include a real-life event in a fictional story?
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You’re right, P.J. I wouldn’t like to include any disaster in a book that happened in this century. Feelings are still too raw, and as you say, it feels like profiting from something that might have caused many deaths.
If it was done for the historical record, that might be one thing. For fiction, it’s pushing it.
Human tragedy should be off limits,at least in all but the most impersonal level. Achievement, especially against adversity, can be a cause for celebration, if the fiction is cleverly woven around it.
Now I want to read a murder hornet book. 😀
We meed to develop a whole new technology to keep them out of our living spaces. Darn insects can go anywhere!
“I don’t want to read about the first landing on the moon with fictional names.” Well now. I’ve used that very event in discussion with characters, based on a real event. I was a dishwasher/busboy at a restaurant when that landing went down. I was in early, with the big black lady who did salad and fresh battered onion ring prep. I said “Didja see the moon landing on TV?”
“Law-deee…Ain’t nobody done walked on the damn moon, child, you just get that right on outta yore head.I been to the desert there outside a Las Vegas, with mah sistah an her keeuds? An God’s truth is that’s where they done their moon walkin’ cuz I seen it before. Now you wash this here lettuce for me an stop talkin’ nonsense.”
Or were you talking about “Jim Bob an Rufus, they put that moon lander down like one a them Faberge eggs and then Jim Bob commenced…” because yeah, that wouldn’t work.
Phil, I was actually thinking in terms of “and now, Astronaut Harry Smith, climbs down the steps and in a few seconds, will be the first man on the moon…”
That was my second bit. Jim Bob and Rufus, first men on the moon. Crazy. I’m just glad Tom Hanks made it back on Apollo 13.
I totally agree with you on the predatory book seller stuff. No one can write, edit, and produce a book worth being written in a month. Editing takes longer than that! It would be a rare talent!
It’s sad, how these individuals affect the indie market, by flooding it with subpar products, and giving lead to the comments of mainstream publishing lofted our direction.
I bet the murder hornet books are on the way!
If I weren’t so deep into my WIP, I might try to write one for the fun of it!